Sr. Benefits Analyst - Leaves & Time Away - Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Nordstrom is seeking a Senior Analyst to join our Benefits team and serve as a subject matter expert for Leave of Absence and Time Away programs. This role is a highly skilled individual contributor responsible for supporting the administration, governance, and ongoing effectiveness of U.S. time away programs, including discretionary time off (vacation), sick and safe leaves, Company‑Paid Holidays, and Leave of Absence programs. The Sr. Analyst partners closely with Benefits, HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Legal, Payroll, Technology, and third‑party vendors to support leave and time away modernization efforts, improve operational consistency, and help reduce risk. In addition, this role participates as a core member of a Leave & Time Away strategy working group, contributing analysis, benchmarking, and operational insights to support future‑state program decisions. Key responsibilities include data analysis and reporting, project support and execution, policy and documentation management, operational process improvement, and consultative support for internal partners. This position plays a critical role in ensuring time away and leave programs are administered accurately, consistently, and in alignment with plan documents and applicable laws, while supporting a clear and positive employee experience.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related field
3+ years of experience supporting Leave of Absence and/or Time Away programs
Experience contributing to strategy development, program design, or enterprise initiatives through cross‑functional working groups
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, USERRA, ADA, state paid leave programs)
General understanding of ERISA, HIPAA, and IRS/DOL requirements impacting employee benefit plans
Experience partnering with third‑party leave and disability administrators
Demonstrated ability to support and drive complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and dependencies
Strong analytical skills, including experience interpreting data and creating clear, effective presentations
Experience working with Workday preferred
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and execute effectively in a fast‑paced environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience influencing and presenting to senior leaders
High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive employee information
Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
Benefits or HR certification preferred (CEBS, PHR, SHRM-CP)

Responsibilities

Supports the administration, governance, and operational execution of Nordstrom’s Time Away and Leave of Absence programs, within applicable legal and regulatory frameworks
Serves as a trusted advisor to HRBPs, leaders, and internal partners by providing guidance on program interpretation, operational processes, and complex scenarios
Supports and manages workstreams for leave and time away modernization initiatives, including policy updates, process improvements, system enhancements, and vendor changes
Partners cross‑functionally with Benefits, HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Legal, Payroll, Technology, and vendors to deliver aligned outcomes
Participates as an active contributor in a cross‑functional strategy working group, supporting strategy development through data analysis, benchmarking, and operational insights
Supports policy governance by drafting, updating, and maintaining time away and leave‑related policies, job aids, and employee‑facing materials
Interprets and applies laws such as FMLA, USERRA, ADA, and state paid leave requirements to support compliant and accurate program execution
Conducts analysis on utilization, eligibility, duration, timely filing, and employee impact to inform leadership discussions and decision‑making
Supports vendor coordination and oversight, including requirements definition, process alignment, reporting, and issue resolution
Contributes to the development of training materials, education, and communications to improve leader and employee understanding of programs
Identifies opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and improve the employee and manager experience
Serves as a subject matter expert and point of escalation for complex questions or issues involving vendors, HRBPs, Legal, or the Employee Contact Center
Supports the maintenance of program documentation to ensure operational practices accurately reflect plan rules and approved policies