Leave & Benefits Specialist

YES Communities•Denver, CO

1d•$72,000 - $78,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Leave & Benefits Specialist plays a critical role in supporting employees throughout their leave and benefits experience. This position is primarily responsible for administering leave of absence programs, including compliance with applicable laws and company policies, while also partnering with the Benefits team on benefits administration, employee communications, annual enrollment, compliance activities, and special projects. The ideal candidate is highly organized, service-oriented, and committed to delivering an exceptional employee experience.

Requirements

3+ years of experience administering employee leave programs for a multi-location employer.
Demonstrated experience managing FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and state-specific leave programs.
Experience supporting employees and leaders in a fast-paced, service-focused environment.
Previous experience working within an HRIS platform and managing confidential employee records.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, lookup functions, and data analysis tools.
Strong understanding of federal and state leave laws, including FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation requirements, and paid leave regulations.
Ability to interpret regulations and apply them consistently while balancing employee needs and business requirements.
Exceptional customer service mindset with the ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify practical solutions to complex situations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex policies in a clear and understandable manner.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with operations leaders, HR Business Partners, Payroll, Benefits, and outside vendors.
Strong judgment, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or related HR certification preferred.
Workers' Compensation or Leave Management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with UNUM, the Company’s leave administration vendor, to coordinate leave cases, ensure timely and accurate processing of leave requests, monitor case status, resolve discrepancies, and facilitate effective communication among employees, managers, payroll, and HR stakeholders.
Manage employee leave programs, including but not limited to Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), state-paid leave programs, personal leaves of absence, military leave, parental leave, disability-related leaves, and other company-sponsored leave benefits.
Evaluate leave requests, determine eligibility, and guide employees through the leave process from initial intake through case closure.
Ensure timely completion, collection, and review of medical certifications, supporting documentation, and leave-related correspondence.
Monitor leave durations, intermittent leave usage, and required employee updates while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.
Provide guidance to employees, community leaders, and HR partners regarding leave requirements, employee responsibilities, payroll impacts, benefits continuation, and return-to-work expectations.
Coordinate the interactive process for workplace accommodation requests and partner with HR Partners and leaders to evaluate reasonable accommodation solutions.
Maintain thorough documentation of accommodation discussions, decisions, and supporting records.
Consult with HR leadership regarding complex accommodation situations or requests involving operational considerations.
Partner with the Company’s Risk Department on workers’ compensation cases that involve leaves of absence, including situations where workers’ compensation may run concurrently with FMLA, state leave programs, or other protected leave entitlements.
Coordinate with the Risk Department, employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate leave tracking, timely communication, and compliance with applicable leave laws and company policies.
Support the return-to-work process by monitoring employee restrictions, leave status, and anticipated return dates, ensuring alignment between workers’ compensation and leave administration requirements.
Partner with HR, Risk, and operational leaders to facilitate reasonable accommodation and interactive process discussions, as appropriate, and support successful employee reintegration into the workplace.
Maintain accurate documentation and communication regarding leave, accommodation, and return-to-work activities while ensuring a positive employee experience and regulatory compliance.
Collaborate with Payroll and Benefits teams to ensure accurate leave coding, wage replacement coordination, benefit deductions, and premium payments.
Support annual compliance activities, workers’ compensation audits, OSHA recordkeeping requirements, and other reporting obligations.
Maintain accurate records and audit-ready documentation within HR systems and designated tracking tools.
Ensure all leave, accommodation, and occupational injury records are maintained in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
Prepare recuring reports and workforce metrics related to leave activity, accommodation trends, and workplace injuries.
Identify patterns that may indicate compliance risks, operational concerns, or opportunities for process improvement.
Recommend enhancements to workflows, administration processes, and employee communications that improve efficiency and service delivery.
Support the Benefits team with a variety of initiatives and programs, including benefits administration, employee communications, annual enrollment activities, compliance-related efforts, and other departmental projects as needed.