Leave of Absence Program Specialist

UMB Bank•Kansas City, MO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

UMB's Benefits team, part of the Human Resources department, manages the company's comprehensive employee benefits, which are an important part of the total compensation package. This team is involved in ensuring competitive offerings and helping associates understand and utilize their benefits, including: Health insurance Retirement benefits Paid leave Various other perks The team's work aligns with UMB's commitment to attracting, retaining, and rewarding top talent by providing robust support for employees' needs through these benefit programs. As a Leave of Absence (LOA) Program Specialist, you will administer LOA programs including FMLA and state-specific leave laws and ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions and supports employees throughout the leave process. You will be responsible for all aspects of day-to-day LOA administration while ensuring compliance with all legal regulations, best practices, and company policies and procedures. You will also partner with employees, managers, and third-party vendors to deliver timely, compassionate, and proactive guidance that fosters well-being and a smooth transition during periods of leave and return to work. This is a subset of the overall responsibilities which will include multiple initiatives as assigned by Human Resources leadership. This role is hybrid (Mon through Thu on-site / Fri remote) in our Kansas City downtown location.

Requirements

You have at least 5 years of experience in HR, with at least 2 years in leave administration.
You have strong presentation and writing skills with ability to explain complex leave policies and understand how to adjust communications to the audience.
You have experience with Workday or other HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
You have strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism and tact.
You demonstrated the ability to make sound decisions independently, using good judgment and critical thinking in ambiguous situations.
You have excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines simultaneously.
You can explain complex and sensitive information (like FMLA rights or accommodation decisions) clearly and compassionately to employees and managers.

Nice To Haves

You have multi-state experience.

Responsibilities

Administer and track employee leaves of absence, including intermittent, continuous, and reduced schedule leaves as well as ADA and accommodations from employee's initial notice to the employee's return to work.
Serve as the primary point of contact throughout the leave lifecycle for human resources, employees and managers regarding leave eligibility, documentation, and return-to-work procedures as well as collaborate with managers to develop modified work schedules or accommodations during intermittent leave periods.
Coordinate with third-party administrators to ensure timely and accurate processing of leave claims.
Maintain accurate records of leave status, documentation, and return-to-work dates in HRIS and vendor systems as well as coordinating the use of paid leave with employee and manager.
Ensure policy compliance with FMLA, ADA, and other federal/state leave programs and stays current on state and federal leave of absence laws and regulations.
Collaborate with HR, Payroll, and Legal teams to ensure proper pay, benefits continuation, and job protection during leave periods.
Identify and implement process improvements to help optimize workflow and improve customer experience.
Educate employees and managers on leave policies and procedures, including documentation requirements and timelines.
Support audits, reporting, and policy updates related to leave programs.
Stays current on state and federal leave of absence laws and regulations.
Ensures contact is made with employees on leave to monitor progress and return to work date.
Works with managers and human resources personnel to monitor leaves and provide regular status reports.
Provides support with ADA interactive process and assists with responses to accommodation requests
Coordinates use of lactation space for returning mothers.
Develops and implements leave administration best practices.

Benefits

Paid Time Off
401(k) matching program
annual incentive pay
paid holidays
a comprehensive company sponsored benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, and other insurance coverage
health savings, flexible spending, and dependent care accounts
adoption assistance
an employee assistance program
fitness reimbursement
tuition reimbursement
an associate wellbeing program
an associate emergency fund
various associate banking benefits