Senior Compliance Specialist/Leaves & Accommodations Specialist

This role provides expert case guidance, supports compliance activities, mentors LoAA Specialists, and leads capability improvements that strengthen service quality, consistency, and compliance. The role is responsible for handling more complex case interpretation, guiding employees and people leaders through sensitive leave and accommodation matters, supporting the interactive process, and ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Internal Title: Sr Specialist I, Leaves & Accommodations Specialist

M-F 8:30-17:00 EST
Hybrid Tues-Thurs Raleigh office
Potential for extension or conversion depending on the needs of the business at the end of 6 months

we re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.
Every member of our companies are team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join us and help create possible, together.

About the Team
The Leave of Absence & Accommodations team provides employee-centered, compliant, and consistent support for leave of absence, disability, return-to-work, and workplace accommodation services. The team partners across HR, Legal, Employee Relations, Benefits, Payroll, Risk, HR Shared Services, third-party administrators, and people leaders to support employees through sensitive and often complex life events. The team supports Leave of Absence and Accommodations services across the Americas region, including the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, as applicable.

Job Description
The Senior Leave of Absence & Accommodations (LoAA) Specialist I serves as a subject matter expert for complex Leave of Absence and Accommodations matters. This role provides expert case guidance, supports compliance activities, mentors LoAA Specialists, and leads capability improvements that strengthen service quality, consistency, and compliance.
The role is responsible for handling more complex case interpretation, guiding employees and people leaders through sensitive leave and accommodation matters, supporting the interactive process, and ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
This role does not own a full service capability, vendor relationship, or analytics portfolio, but is expected to act as a strong SME and improvement lead within defined areas of expertise.

Job Responsibilities
Serve as a subject matter expert for LoAA policies, procedures, case practices, and regulatory requirements.
Manage and advise on complex or escalated leave, disability, accommodation, return-to-work, and related employee matters.
Support the interactive process for accommodation cases, including documentation review, employee and manager consultation, solution exploration, and outcome communication.
Maintain comprehensive, accurate, and legally defensible case documentation, including detailed case notes, interactive process records, case rationale, and related correspondence.
Draft and manage complex employee and manager communications that may be subject to legal review and potential discovery in administrative, regulatory, or legal proceedings.
Provide guidance to LoAA Specialists on case routing, documentation standards, escalation criteria, and standard work.
Coach and mentor Specialists to strengthen case quality, employee experience, and compliance consistency.
Partner with employees and people leaders to explain processes, clarify requirements, and support resolution of sensitive or complex case questions.
Support compliance activities, including case reviews, documentation audits, process adherence checks, and issue identification.
Lead capability improvement efforts within assigned areas by identifying process gaps, recommending improvements, and supporting implementation of standard practices.
Escalate high-risk, legally sensitive, ambiguous, or precedent-setting matters to the Program Manager, Senior Manager, Legal, or Employee Relations as appropriate.
Support development and maintenance of templates, SOPs, knowledge articles, training materials, and case guidance documentation.
Bachelor s Degree and five years of relevant experience OR Master s Degree and three years of relevant experience.
Knowledge, Experience, and Skills
Progressively responsible experience in leave of absence, disability, accommodations, benefits, employee relations, HR operations, or related HR service delivery.
Experience using HR and payroll systems such as Workday, SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, ADP, or similar platforms.
Strong knowledge of leave of absence, disability, workplace accommodation, return-to-work, and related employee support processes.
Strong working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, state and local leave laws, accommodation practices, and related compliance obligations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment in complex, sensitive, or ambiguous case situations.
Strong case consultation, documentation, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
Demonstrated ability to document highly complex leave, disability, and accommodation matters with clear case rationale, risk identification, decision tracking, and comprehensive interactive process records.
Skilled in drafting sensitive communications that withstand internal review and may be subject to legal discovery.
Ability to coach and mentor Specialists and support consistent team practices.
Ability to identify process gaps and lead practical improvements.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly to employees, people leaders, HR partners, Legal, Employee Relations, Benefits, Payroll, and vendors.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information appropriately.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Workday, ServiceNow, and vendor systems.
Strong service orientation, empathy, professionalism, and ability to support sensitive employee matters.
Preferred Qualifications
Certified Professional in Disability Management, Certified Leave Management Specialist, Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, PHR, SPHR, or related certification preferred.
Experience with Workday and ServiceNow strongly preferred.
Experience supporting complex leave, disability, accommodation, return-to-work, or employee relations matters.