Leave of Absence Specialist

Copeland•St Louis, MO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are a global climate technologies company engineered for sustainability. We create sustainable and efficient residential, commercial and industrial spaces through HVACR technologies. We protect temperature-sensitive goods throughout the cold chain. And we bring comfort to people globally. Best-in-class engineering, design and manufacturing combined with category-leading brands in compression, controls, software and monitoring solutions result in next-generation climate technology that is built for the needs of the world ahead. Whether you are a professional looking for a career change, an undergraduate student exploring your first opportunity, or recent graduate with an advanced degree, we have opportunities that will allow you to innovate, be challenged and make an impact. Join our team and start your journey today! If you are a BENEFITS professional looking for an opportunity to grow, Copeland has an exciting opportunity for you! As the Leave of Absence Specialist, you will play a critical role in optimizing our organization’s total rewards by overseeing a complex portfolio of employee leave programs and ensuring a seamless, compliant, and compassionate experience during key life events. Reporting to the Manager of Global Health & Welfare, this role blends operational excellence, regulatory expertise, and cross‑functional partnership to safeguard the organization’s compliance while strengthening colleague trust and engagement.

Requirements

Strong command of FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, state leave laws, and disability programs; ability to interpret and apply complex regulations.
Ability to translate complex policies into clear, actionable guidance for employees and leaders.
Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret market data
Excellent communication and negotiation abilities
Outstanding organizational skills
Ability to produce quality results in a highly matrixed, fast-paced environment
Maintains composure and efficiency in stressful situations
Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite
Legal Authorization to work in the United States - sponsorship will not be provided for this role.

Nice To Haves

Five (5) years in leave administration, benefits operations, or HR compliance within a multi‑state or enterprise environment
Prior experience in a large global company
Experience with Workday HCM and ServiceNow
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject‑matter expert for all leave programs, ensuring policies, workflows, and communications reflect current legal requirements and organizational priorities.
Coordinate with GBS Tier 1 teams on case management, process improvement, and escalations
Act as a trusted partner for GBS Tier 1 support, leaders, and colleagues navigating medical, parental, military, and other leaves, delivering clear, empathetic communication that reduces friction and uncertainty.
Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, ADA, state PFML, etc.), ensuring organizational compliance and escalating risk appropriately.
Partner with GBS, HR Business Partners, Payroll, Legal, Employee Relations, and external vendors to ensure alignment across systems, pay practices, and operational processes.
Partner with Employee Relations team on return‑to‑work processes, including accommodation pathways, transitional duty, and leader coaching.
Produce actionable reporting on leave trends, compliance risks, and operational performance; identify opportunities to optimize program design and colleague experience.
Manage leave vendor(s) to drive optimized service levels and colleague experience.
Provide expert guidance to leaders and colleagues on policy interpretation, ensuring consistency and fairness across the organization.