Leave of Absence Specialist

URM Stores•Spokane, WA

16h•Onsite

About The Position

URM Stores is seeking a knowledgeable and compassionate Leave of Absence Specialist to manage and support employee leaves and accommodations across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon — with a primary focus on Washington State’s complex leave programs. This role combines technical expertise in leave law compliance with a genuine commitment to employee care, ensuring every case is handled with accuracy, empathy, and confidentiality. The Leave of Absence Specialist reports to the Workers’ Compensation and Leave Manager and is responsible for the full lifecycle management of all employee leave programs across a multi-state organization of approximately 2,000 employees. This role partners closely with HR, Payroll, Operations, and external vendors to ensure leave processes are compliant, well-communicated, and seamlessly integrated into business operations. Important Note: This role is 100% on-site — remote work is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
3+ years of HR experience with a strong focus on leave administration
Strong working knowledge of: FMLA and ADA
Washington/Oregon PFML, Paid Sick Leave, and WA Family Cares Act
Multi-state leave programs (WA, OR, ID, MT)
Proven ability to manage high-volume, complex cases
Strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy
Ability to manage deadlines and prioritize in a fast-paced environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience working in HRIS systems (Paylocity preferred) & Excel Spreadsheets
Maintaining confidentiality isn’t just policy, it’s a cornerstone of professional integrity and essential to the credibility of the HR function.
Selected candidate must successfully complete URM’s pre-employment process, including background check and verification steps.

Nice To Haves

Experience in grocery, retail, or distribution environments
Experience in union environments and understanding of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR)

Responsibilities

Lead Leave Administration & Compliance for the Company’s Retail Stores
Oversee all leave programs including FMLA, ADA, Military and state-specific leaves
Serve as the subject matter expert on: Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), Washington Paid Sick Leave, Washington Family Care Act, Comparable programs in Oregon, Montana and Idaho
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations
Proactively monitor and implement changes based on evolving leave laws
Manage Complex Cases with Confidence
Administer leave cases from intake, eligibility, documentation, coordination of pay and benefits through return-to-work, including intermittent and overlapping leaves
Guide leaders and HR partners through complex or high-risk situations
Lead the ADA interactive process in partnership with HR leadership
Drive Accuracy, Systems & Reporting
Ensure accurate tracking of all leaves within Paylocity and designated systems
Maintain audit-ready documentation and centralized records
Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate pay and benefit coordination
Develop reporting to identify trends, risks, and operational impacts
Elevate the Employee & Leader Experience
Communicate clearly and professionally with employees throughout the leave process
Provide practical, easy-to-understand guidance to leaders
Develop tools, resources, and training to improve understanding and consistency
Deliver a leave experience that is respectful, timely, and well-managed
Partner Across the Team
Collaboration with Payroll, Benefits, Legal, Safety, Workers’ Compensation and Operations
Manage relationships with our disability carrier
Support compliance audits and regulatory inquiries
Continuously Improve the Process
Identifies gaps and implement process improvements
Standardizes workflows across locations
Leverages technology to improve efficiency and compliance

Benefits

URM pays 100% of the Medical/Dental/Vision/RX Insurance premiums for the employee and over 93% for the employee’s dependents!
401k Retirement Plan with an amazing Company match up to 9% of your annual salary!
Subsidized Life Insurance for employees and great rates for the employee’s family.
Company paid Long-Term Disability insurance.
Short-Term Disability and Cancer Insurance available.
Life Flight Insurance at Special Rate.
Great vacation plan!
Six Paid Holidays and four Paid Personal Holidays.
Paid Sick Days.
Paid Volunteer Service Day!
Company sponsored activities
variety of corporate discounts, from gym memberships, cell phone plans, to computer discounts!
Amazing Employee Discount Program at our Company-owned Grocery Stores!!!!