Sr. Leave & Benefits Specialist

E. & J. Gallo Winery•Modesto, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

In this role, you’ll play a critical part in delivering a seamless, compliant, and employee-centered leave experience across the organization. You’ll administer a wide range of leave programs and partner closely with third-party administrators, state agencies, and internal teams to ensure leaves of absence, disability, and workers’ compensation are coordinated effectively and accurately. Your work will directly support employees during some of their most important moments, balancing empathy with precision and regulatory rigor. You’ll serve as a trusted subject matter expert, applying deep knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws while ensuring company policies are followed consistently. From intake and eligibility determination through return-to-work coordination, you’ll manage complex cases with discretion, sound judgment, and a service-focused mindset. Clear communication with employees and managers will be central to your success, as will your ability to meet deadlines, maintain confidentiality, and ensure data integrity across systems. Collaboration will be at the heart of your day-to-day work. You’ll partner with HR, Legal, Payroll, Benefits, Disability Management, Workers’ Compensation, and operational leaders to review cases, support return-to-work planning, and transition employees into the interactive process when additional accommodations are needed. You’ll also contribute to continuous improvement by identifying trends, developing training, and supporting strategic leave management initiatives that strengthen the employee experience and business outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of experience in leave, absence, disability, benefits or case management reflecting increasing levels of responsibility; OR High School diploma or State-issued equivalency certificate plus 9 years of experience in leave, absence, disability, benefits or case management reflecting increasing levels of responsibility.
Knowledge of leave administration practices using applicable federal, state, municipal regulations and Company policies and collective bargaining agreements, as applicable.
Demonstrates strong customer service, excellent written/verbal communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage deadlines, and maintain strict confidentiality.
Experience with HRIS/leave management systems and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), as demonstrated in work product and employment experience.
Required to travel to company offices, sites, and/or meeting locations for onboarding, training, meetings, and events for development, department needs, and business delivery up to 5% of the time, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Required to be 18 years or older.

Nice To Haves

Deep, hands-on expertise administering complex leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA/PDL, ADA/FEHA, PWFA, USERRA, and state and local leave programs, with the ability to identify and escalate high-risk or sensitive cases.
Proven ability to partner cross-functionally with HR, Legal, Payroll, Benefits, Disability, and Workers’ Compensation teams to deliver an integrated absence, accommodations, and return-to-work experience.
Strong analytical mindset with experience using data and reporting to identify trends, support compliance, and drive continuous improvement in leave management processes.