Leave of Absence and Benefits Specialist

Agropur•Appleton, WI

About The Position

People are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in working together, speaking honestly, taking ownership, and creating value in everything we deliver. Our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to growing stronger together. Joining the team means being part of an environment where people support each other and take pride in making a real impact. At Agropur, every role exists to deliver concrete results. What matters is real impact, not the volume of activity. An environment that allows you to focus on what truly matters: The Leave of Absence and Benefits Specialist is responsible for the administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of all US leave of absence programs, with a strong focus on regulatory expertise and employee experience. This role serves as the subject matter expert for benefits and leave, including Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), parental leave programs, multi-state leave requirements, and other leave types. This position supports multi-site locations. The position also provides light support to HR shared services functions.

Requirements

Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience working with leave of absence programs and employee benefits preferred.
Experience working with US employment law and policies preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing complex leave cases and compliance requirements.
Experience with HRIS systems and benefits platforms.
Strong expertise in leave management and benefit administration.
High attention to detail and compliance.
Strong communication skills for navigating sensitive employee situations.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred.
Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.
Experience with multi-state employers strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage all leave and disability programs including: FMLA, ADA accommodations, Short- and long-term disability, Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), Company parental leave programs, unpaid company provided leave.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws and regulations.
Develop and maintain expertise in multi-state leave programs, with the ability to learn and adapt to new and evolving legislation.
Track and manage leave cases end-to-end (documentation, timelines, approvals, return-to-work coordination, pay information).
Provide guidance to managers and employees on leave eligibility, documentation, and expectations.
Partner with third-party administrators to ensure effective case management.
Ensure compliance with all benefits and leave-related laws and regulations.
Prepare and submit required filings.
Conduct regular audits of benefits and leave data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Support onboarding and offboarding processes related to benefits and compliance.
Maintain accurate employee data in HRIS systems.
Respond to employee inquiries related to benefits, leave, and HR policies.
Assist with HR projects and process improvements as needed.
Deliver high-quality front-line support to employees by answering questions, removing barriers, and offering empathetic, timely guidance through life events.
Develop and deliver benefits and leave communications.
Educate employees on available programs and resources.
Improve clarity, accessibility, and utilization of benefits offerings.