Senior Benefits Specialist

West Monroe•Chicago, IL

2d•$85,900 - $116,200•Hybrid

About The Position

West Monroe is seeking a full-time Senior Benefits & Leave Specialist to join our Shared Services function. Reporting to the Manager of HR Operations, the ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Our next Senior Benefits & Leave Specialist will be responsible for applying business knowledge and human resources expertise. They will assist in providing a wide range of HR support and advice and will work within the team to support the needs and priorities of the business and drive proactive, strategic, forward-thinking solutions to employee and organizational issues.

Requirements

Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, workers’ compensation, and paid family/medical leave programs.
Experience administering leave and accommodation programs across multiple states with varying regulatory requirements strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing complex and escalated leave and accommodation cases with a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Deep expertise in leave administration, accommodations, benefits coordination, and employment compliance required.
Direct experience partnering with or administering leave programs through New York Life preferred, including familiarity with vendor case management processes and escalations.
Strong experience utilizing Workday HRIS, including leave administration workflows, reporting, case tracking, and employee data management.
Experience leveraging HR technologies
Proficient in Microsoft Office tools, with advanced excel skills
Prior knowledge of principles and practices of human resources
Demonstrable experience with, or knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations with regard to the processing of health and retirement benefits.
Experience in managing leave of absence, time-off, and workers’ compensation programs.
In-depth understanding of state and local laws governing leave such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA to ensure compliance.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present, influence and collaborate
Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills with the capability to prioritize tasks and work quickly and accurately with minimal supervision
Demonstrated ability to drive HR processes and to deliver high quality HR services in a fast paced, high change environment
Strong skills at building relationships with various levels in an organization
Strong facilitation, influencing and conflict resolution skill
A commitment to inclusion and diversity, and openness to new ideas and perspectives

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Human Resources, business or related field strongly preferred
A minimum of (5) or more years of experience in Human Resources, preferably in a professional services or management consulting firm

Responsibilities

Administer and manage complex leave of absence cases from intake through resolution, including FMLA, ADA, state and local leave laws, workers’ compensation coordination, parental leave, personal leave, and military leave.
Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local leave regulations, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, company policies, and internal procedures.
Provide guidance and consultation to employees, managers, HR Business Partners, and leadership regarding leave processes, accommodations, return-to-work requirements, and policy interpretation.
Independently manage high-risk, escalated, or sensitive employee leave and accommodation cases requiring advanced judgment, discretion, and problem-solving.
Coordinate and facilitate the interactive process for accommodation requests in partnership with HR, Legal, managers, and external vendors as appropriate.
Review medical documentation and certifications to determine leave eligibility, accommodation needs, and return-to-work readiness while maintaining confidentiality and compliance standards.
Partner closely with third-party administrators, payroll, benefits, and HR teams to ensure accurate leave administration, timely communication, and seamless employee support.
Monitor leave case timelines, documentation, and approvals to ensure adherence to service level expectations and regulatory deadlines.
Identify trends, risks, and process improvement opportunities related to leave administration and employee accommodations; recommend and implement solutions to enhance efficiency and employee experience.
Configure, maintain, and optimize Workday leave and accommodation workflows, business processes, notifications, approvals, and reporting.
Partner with HRIS and technology teams to troubleshoot system issues, improve automation, and enhance employee and manager self-service experiences.
Identify opportunities to streamline leave administration processes through Workday enhancements and workflow optimization
Support audits, reporting, and compliance reviews by maintaining accurate and complete case documentation and records.
Lead and facilitate the ADA interactive process, including assessment of accommodation requests, collaboration with managers and HR partners, and evaluation of reasonable accommodation options.
Provide consultative guidance to leaders on accommodation-related employee relations risks and compliance considerations.
Assist in developing, updating, and communicating leave policies, procedures, templates, and training materials.
Develop and analyze leave and accommodation metrics, trends, and dashboards to identify operational risks, improve employee experience, and support strategic decision-making.
Mentor and provide guidance to junior leave specialists and team members, serving as a resource for complex case consultation and best practices.
Participate in cross-functional projects, system implementations, and process enhancement initiatives related to leave management and employee experience.
Deliver a high-touch, empathetic employee experience by guiding employees through sensitive leave and accommodation situations with professionalism, compassion, and responsiveness.
Maintain a high level of professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality when supporting employees through sensitive or complex situations.
Day-to-day administration of health and welfare plans, and support of related wellness programs
Employee H.S.A. audit and management, including partnering with payroll to ensure accurate payroll processing and reporting.
Holding meetings to discuss the details of a benefits program with employees and orientating new employees in terms of benefits.
Develop communications to explain changes in benefits to employees and answering employee queries about benefits policies.
Ensure accuracy of all new benefits enrollments for US, Costa Rica and UK including enrollments related to life events.
Provide employees and managers with an available first point of contact for questions and guidance on fundamental HR topics and issues, including regular monitoring of the HR Service now Benefits and Generalist groups.