Leave Administrator

Alston & Bird•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Leave Administrator administers, coordinates, and ensures compliance for the firm’s leave of absence and accommodation programs. The position supports employees and managers as they navigate leave matters, managing cases from initiation through return to work and coordinating documentation, accommodations, and return-to-work planning. The role works closely with employees, managers, Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits, and third-party administrators to apply firm policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws consistently and support a positive employee experience. The role also supports the day-to-day administration of health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefits. Responsibilities include responding to employee questions, processing and auditing Workday benefit transactions, resolving vendor and Finance discrepancies, and supporting Open Enrollment, vendor implementations, plan changes, communications, and related initiatives. The Leave Administrator maintains confidential employee and benefit information and contributes to compliance, employee well-being, and operational improvements.

Requirements

4–7 years of progressively responsible experience administering leave programs, disability benefits, accommodations, and related HR processes.
Experience interpreting and applying federal, state, and local leave laws and regulations.
Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, workers’ compensation, disability programs, and state and local leave laws.
Ability to manage multiple complex leave cases while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including professionalism, empathy, and discretion when handling sensitive situations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and independently resolve complex leave and accommodation issues.
Proficiency with HRIS, leave management systems, Microsoft Office applications, and reporting tools.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with third-party leave and disability administrators.
Experience in a professional services, legal, or other highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities

Administer leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, disability, workers’ compensation, military, parental, paid and personal leave, and applicable state and local programs.
Serve as the primary contact for employees and managers regarding leave and accommodations, including eligibility, documentation, timelines, and return-to-work procedures.
Evaluate and process leave requests in accordance with firm policies and applicable laws.
Maintain accurate leave records, documentation, and case files while protecting confidential information.
Track leave status, certification deadlines, benefit continuation, accommodation requests, and return-to-work dates.
Coordinate leave administration with employees, supervisors, Human Resources, Benefits, Payroll, and third-party administrators.
Facilitate the interactive accommodation process and collaborate with stakeholders on reasonable accommodations and return-to-work solutions.
Partner with managers on modified schedules, transitional duties, and other accommodations.
Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and leave-management best practices.
Assist with guidance and training for managers, HR team members, and employees on leave policies and requirements.
Prepare reports and analyses on leave utilization, trends, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
Assist in reviewing, developing, implementing, and improving leave policies, procedures, and programs.
Support vendor management, issue resolution, and monitoring of third-party administrator service delivery.
Participate in HR initiatives related to employee well-being, compliance, benefits, and process improvement.
Identify opportunities to streamline leave workflows and improve employee experience and operational efficiency.
Assist with administration of health and welfare benefit programs and respond to questions about eligibility, enrollment, coverage, and claims.
Process and monitor Workday benefits transactions, including new hires, qualified life events, and terminations.
Conduct audits and reconcile eligibility, enrollment, rates, deductions, dependent information, vendor files, and invoices; work with vendors and Finance to resolve discrepancies.
Support Open Enrollment, vendor implementations, plan changes, system testing, data validation, employee communications, enrollment support, and post-enrollment audits.
Maintain employee-facing benefits resources and handle confidential benefit and health information appropriately.