PS Benefits & Absence Consultant

National Heritage Academies•Grand Rapids, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits and Leave Administration Consultant will report to the manager of Benefits & Leave Absence and will work from the Service Center, located in Grand Rapids. The ideal candidate for this position will have earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources and possess strong technical aptitude. This role ensures efficient program delivery, regulatory compliance, and a high-quality employee experience by partnering with employees, managers, vendors, and HR stakeholders. The consultant also supports plan design, system optimization, reporting, and change management initiatives. National Heritage Academies (NHA) partners with communities to build and operate public charter schools. Founded in 1995, today NHA serves over 100 schools in nine states, with more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Our schools are designed to eliminate the achievement gap and provide school choice to families, so their children are prepared for success in college, career, and life. A majority of our schools consistently outperform their local district on the state test. According to the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, NHA is a leading performer among charter schools and management organizations, outperforming both conventional district schools and other charter school operators. In addition, according to our employee survey, over 90% of respondents agree that the work they do is meaningful to them. Join our team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
3-5+ years of HR experience with a focus on leaves, accommodations, and compliance.
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in HRIS systems and leave management software.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

Administer and manage all employee leave programs, including FMLA, disability, personal, military, and workers’ compensation leaves.
Provide guidance to employees and managers on leave policies, eligibility, and processes; ensure timely and accurate communication of leave approvals and parameters (including intermittent leave).
Partner with third-party administrators and vendors to monitor leave status, ensure compliance, and coordinate payments.
Manage ADA accommodation cases, including facilitating the interactive process, evaluating requests, determining reasonable accommodations, and communicating outcomes.
Monitor ongoing accommodation and adjust as needed in partnership with employees and managers.
Partner with managers to address leave trends, utilization, and potential abuse.
Support the administration and maintenance of health and welfare and retirement plans.
Perform day-to-day benefits operations, including claims resolution, eligibility updates, change reporting, and invoice review/approval.
Assist with plan design evaluation, cost analysis, and implementation of benefit changes, including change management support.
Participate in vendor and broker meetings and maintain effective vendor relationships.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, ERISA, and workers’ compensation).
Complete and review annual compliance activities and required filings.
Maintain accurate and confidential employee leave and benefits records.
Prepare regular and ad hoc reports for internal stakeholders and external vendors.
Coordinate leave-related and retirement-related payroll processes, ensuring alignment with bi-weekly payroll cycles.
Leverage HR systems and technology to administer programs, maintain data integrity, and improve operational efficiency.
Provide system support, including testing functionality, troubleshooting issues, and supporting end users.
Coordinate data transfers to vendors and third-party administrators for eligibility, premiums, and reporting.
Deliver a high level of customer service through daily support of employee inquiries via phone and email.
Develop and deliver training for managers on leave of absence and ADA processes.
Partner with HR Business Partners and school leaders to ensure clear, consistent communication and understanding of programs.
Support communication strategies to enhance employee awareness and participation in benefit programs.
Provide backup support for benefits and leave administration processes as needed.
Perform additional duties as assigned.