Leave Of Absence Specialist

Aston Carter•Minnetonka, MN

7d•$38 - $43•Hybrid

About The Position

The Leave of Absence Specialist administers and manages employee leave programs for a large, multi-state organization. The role is the primary point of contact for employees, leadership, Human Resources, and third-party leave administrators on leave-related matters. It manages leave programs and cases—including FMLA, statutory leave, short- and long-term disability, ADA accommodations, and Workers Compensation—while ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state requirements. The specialist supports employees and leaders throughout the leave lifecycle, from reviewing requests and documentation through return-to-work coordination. The position partners with HR, Employee Relations, Payroll, Benefits, Legal, management, and external vendors; resolves or escalates leave issues; maintains accurate records; and identifies process improvements using reporting and leave data. The position is described as a four-month contract based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with a hybrid schedule: onsite Tuesday through Thursday and remote Monday and Friday. The posting also separately describes the position as fully onsite.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 4 years of Human Resources experience.
At least 4 years of experience managing Leave of Absence cases, including FMLA, STD, and LTD, in a mid-to-large organization with 2,000 or more employees.
Strong knowledge of Leave of Absence administration, FMLA, ADA, statutory leave programs, Workers Compensation, and STD/LTD programs.
Experience working directly with third-party leave administrators.
Strong customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple cases and priorities while maintaining attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience administering leave programs across multiple states.
Understanding of payroll and benefits administration and their impact on leave management.
Experience with UKG, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Excel.
Strong analytical and reporting skills.
Ability to navigate multiple HR systems and databases.

Responsibilities

Review employee leave requests and determine eligibility and certification in accordance with company policies and state and federal regulations.
Manage and process leave cases, including FMLA, statutory leaves, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
Maintain leave-related documentation accurately and upload it into employee records.
Track leave cases throughout the leave lifecycle, including coordinating return to work.
Serve as the primary contact for employee questions about leave, disability, and absences.
Provide guidance, policy interpretation, and support regarding leave programs and processes.
Communicate absence status and return-to-work information to employees and leaders.
Participate in the ADA interactive process when accommodations are required.
Liaise between employees, HR, and the third-party leave administrator.
Resolve leave-related issues accurately and promptly, escalating complex or sensitive cases to appropriate stakeholders.
Collaborate with Management, Employee Relations, Payroll, Benefits, and Legal to administer leave cases compliantly.
Maintain compliance with FMLA, ADA, Workers Compensation, and state-specific leave regulations.
Identify process improvement opportunities and work with internal teams and external vendors to implement solutions.
Pull reports, analyze leave data, and recommend improvements to leave administration processes.
Serve as a subject matter expert for leave-related policies and procedures.

Benefits

Medical insurance, if eligible.
Dental insurance, if eligible.
Vision insurance, if eligible.
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage, if eligible.
401(k) Retirement Plan with pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions, if eligible.
Voluntary life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents, if eligible.
Short- and long-term disability coverage, if eligible.
Health Spending Account (HSA), if eligible.
Transportation benefits, if eligible.
Employee Assistance Program, if eligible.
Time off/leave, which may include PTO, vacation, or sick leave, if eligible.