**Position Summary:** Serves as the system lead for all leave of absence programs, providing leadership, compliance oversight, and process design expertise. This role owns the governance, optimization, and risk mitigation of leave programs across the organization, acting as an advisor to HR teams, Benefits, and Payroll. The position focuses on scalable program architecture, complex case consultation, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement of the employee leave experience. **Essential Functions and Responsibilities As Assigned** **:** 1. **Own the end-to-end process, structure, and governance of all leave of absence programs, including FMLA, ADA, state and local leaves, USERRA, parental leave, and company-sponsored programs.** 2. **Defines program and process requirements, service level agreements, and success metrics for vendors and technology platforms.** 3. **Designs and maintains system leave policies, frameworks, and operating models to ensure consistency and compliance.** 4. **Acts as final escalation authority and consultant for the most complex, high-risk, or precedent setting leave cases, in partnership with the legal department.** 5. **Supports employee relations, accommodations, and return-to-work strategies from a compliance and risk perspective.** 6. **Partners with the legal department on audits, claims, investigations, and litigation support related to leave administration.** 7. **Acts as the strategic owner of third-party leave administrators and internal systems** 8. **Serves as the organization’s primary subject matter expert on leave-related laws and regulations.** **Qualifications:** _Required:_ + Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or related field + 8 years of progressive experience in leave of absence administration or HR compliance _Preferred:_ + Master’s degree with emphasis in Human Resources + HR-related certification such as SHRM-CP or PHR + Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) certification