Leave of Absence Specialist

Ferrero•Parsippany, NJ

2d•$75,300 - $100,500

About The Position

The Leave of Absence Specialist provides expert, compliant, and empathetic administration of employee leave and workplace accommodation programs. This role partners closely with key stakeholders, including the third-party disability vendor, People Business Partners, Health & Safety, People Operations, Labor Relations, and business leaders, to ensure consistent application of leave and accommodation practices. The position has a strong focus on the skilled execution of the ADA interactive process, as well as FMLA, state and local leave laws, and short- and long-term disability programs—balancing employee experience with business and operational needs.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in leave, disability, and accommodations administration required.
Demonstrated experience administering ADA accommodations and supporting the interactive process.
Experience partnering with a third-party disability vendor required.
Strong working knowledge of FMLA, state and local leave laws, disability programs, and workplace accommodations.
Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders and navigate complex employee situations.
High level of empathy, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to balance employee needs and business considerations.
Proactive, solution-oriented approach with strong judgment and attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field preferred
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent certification preferred
Experience with UKG (UKG Pro/UltiPro) or similar HRIS platforms preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; reporting and data analysis experience a plus
Specialized training or certification in leave administration and ADA compliance a plus
Experience with AbsenceSoft a plus

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for complex leave and accommodation cases, managing end-to-end administration with a strong emphasis on ADA interactive process execution.
Partner with the Leave Manager and leave team to support and enhance leave and accommodations capabilities, including strengthening ADA interactive process consistency and contributing to best practices.
Collaborate cross-functionally with third-party disability vendor, People Business Partners, Health & Safety, People Operations, Labor Relations, and managers to ensure coordinated, compliant case management.
Facilitate the ADA interactive process, including medical documentation review, accommodation assessments, and return-to-work planning, applying sound judgment to achieve compliant and practical outcomes.
Advise employees and leaders on leave policies and the interaction of FMLA, disability, workers’ compensation, paid time off, and workplace accommodations.
Maintain ongoing communication with employees on leave to support engagement and timely, successful return-to-work outcomes.
Ensure leave and accommodation cases meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate, complete, and audit-ready documentation.
Collaborate with the third-party administrator to ensure accurate adjudication, documentation, and data integrity.
Identify trends and risks through reporting and analysis and provide insights to support continuous improvement efforts.
Contribute to policy updates, process enhancements, and system optimization initiatives.
Stay current on evolving leave and accommodation laws and support updates to ensure ongoing compliance.
Maintain strict confidentiality of employee medical and personal information.