Leave Of Absence Specialist

Job Title: Leave of Absence Specialist

Job Description

The Leave of Absence Specialist manages and supports all Leave of Absence (LOA) processes and employee lifecycle events for employees in the United States. This role serves as a primary point of contact for employees, managers, HR Business Partners, and external vendors, ensuring that leave programs are administered accurately, compliantly, and with a strong focus on customer care. The position handles confidential and sensitive matters while balancing a positive employee experience with strict adherence to company policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee and manager inquiries related to Leave of Absence programs, including medical, family, military, personal, and other statutory leaves.
• Manage leave cases from intake through closure, ensuring timely documentation, clear communication, accurate recordkeeping, and complete end-to-end case resolution.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers on leave eligibility, required documentation, job protections, pay implications, benefits impacts, and return-to-work processes.
• Partner with third-party leave administrators, payroll, benefits teams, HR Business Partners, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless and coordinated leave administration.
• Support employees throughout the leave process by delivering clear, empathetic, and professional communication at every stage.
• Research and resolve escalated or complex leave-related questions and issues, ensuring consistent and compliant outcomes.
• Maintain accurate employee records and perform data entry, audits, reporting, and case documentation within HR systems, case management tools, and leave administration platforms.
• Follow established service level agreements (SLAs) and performance metrics while delivering a high-quality customer experience.
• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and local leave regulations, as well as internal policies, and escalate issues as appropriate.
• Analyze leave-related data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous process improvement.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and actively participate in projects focused on standardization, simplification, automation, and operational excellence.
• Maintain current knowledge of leave legislation, company policies, HR procedures, and system capabilities to ensure accurate guidance and compliant administration.
• Contribute to knowledge management efforts by creating and updating process documentation, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and knowledge articles for employees, managers, and HR colleagues.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism, ensuring appropriate data privacy and security.
• Collaborate closely with HR colleagues and external partners while embodying a culture of challenge, collaboration, and care in all interactions.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor"s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in Human Resources, People Operations, Leave of Absence, Benefits Administration, or Employee Relations.
• At least 2 years of demonstrated experience administering leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave programs, disability, and return-to-work processes.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with HR processes, policies, systems, and employee lifecycle events.
• Demonstrated experience administering leave programs such as FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave programs, disability, and return-to-work processes.
• Strong understanding of HR processes, policies, systems, and the full employee lifecycle.
• Experience working with HRIS platforms, case management systems, and leave administration tools.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with a high level of discretion.
• Experience providing employee and manager support in a customer-focused environment.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, legal requirements, and case documentation related to leave and employment matters.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and support continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of applicable employment laws and leave regulations, including federal, state, and local requirements, is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex leave concepts clearly and professionally.
• Ability to embody and demonstrate principles of challenge, collaboration, and care in daily work.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in benefits administration, including coordination of leave with benefits and disability programs.
• Experience in employee relations, with exposure to sensitive employee issues and case resolution.
• Familiarity with absence management processes and tools, including disability insurance and related programs.
• Understanding of disability law, ADA requirements, and relevant state leave laws.
• Experience working in or supporting a manufacturing or similar corporate environment.
• Comfort working with insurance-related processes and terminology tied to leave and disability programs.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to standardization, simplification, and automation initiatives within HR or leave programs.
• Experience contributing to or maintaining knowledge bases, FAQs, and process documentation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines simultaneously.
• Customer-centric mindset with a focus on providing a positive and supportive employee experience.
• Interest in growing into a longer-term opportunity, as the contract may be extended and can lead to a full-time role based on performance and business needs.

Work Environment

This position is based onsite in Chandler, Arizona and requires regular in-person attendance for collaboration, meetings, training, and team activities. The role operates in a desk-based corporate environment that relies on HRIS systems, case management tools, leave administration platforms, and Microsoft Office for daily work.

The work involves handling confidential employee information and coordinating with multiple internal and external stakeholders in a professional office setting. The dress code is business casual.

The position is offered as a contract role with the potential for extension and the possibility of conversion to a full-time opportunity, depending on performance and organizational needs.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Chandler, AZ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $34.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chandler,AZ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 6, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.