Afognak Native Corporation has an exciting opportunity for a Human Resources (HR) Leave Administrator to work at one of our corporate offices either in Chesapeake, VA or Huntsville, AL.

The (HR) Leave Administrator is responsible for managing complex leave of absence cases in a federal government contracting and corporate environment, supporting a diverse employee base across the U.S. and international locations.

Utilizing a third-party absence-management partner, this role ensures compliance with federal (e.g. FMLA, USERRA), state, and local leave laws; ADA disability accommodations, as well as company policy, collectively bargained leave benefits, and client contract requirements. The Administrator monitors utilization to identify outliers, suggest program modifications/enhancements, and reduce costs. Administers self-billing and proper crediting of benefits payments for employees on a leave of absence.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manages all leave of absence (LOA) programs. Including FMLA, state, corporate and CBA leaves of absence. Ensures seamless coordination and integration with other HR functions.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for leaves of absence under the general direction and guidance of HR leadership. Provides expert advice and support to employees, managers, and HR Business Partners and Directors.
• Oversee outsourced absence management administration. Develops and maintains strong relationships with vendor representatives to ensure accurate, efficient, and timely claims administration. Establish controls to monitor customer service and enhance employee experience.
• Educates and explains leave of absence programs and application process to employees. Provides dedicated, empathetic guidance to employees to ensure understanding and compliance.
• Corresponds with employees, managers and HR regarding leave status and expected return to work (RTW). Enters PANs placing or returning employees from a leave of absence. Requests for addition of leave codes to employee timesheets.
• Partners with internal teams (HR, Benefits, project management, Legal, Risk, Payroll) to ensure proper handling of complex leave scenarios.
• Coordinates LOA with other benefit programs, such as STD, LTD, WC and ADA accommodations. Ensures a holistic approach to employee benefits and leave management.
• Collaborates on appropriate handling of benefits impacted by leaves of absence, and return-to- work such as: medical, dental, life, and disability. Prepares self-billing as required and ensures employees are properly informed about payments
• Facilitates the interactive ADA accommodation process when protected or corporate leave of absence benefits are exhausted. Works closely with employees, managers and HR to assist in identifying suitable accommodation.
• Develops working relationships with union benefit vendors to ensure accurate and efficient coordination of LOA with union-sponsored benefit plans. Acts as a liaison to resolve any issues and improve processes.
• Maintains knowledge of the regulatory environment for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and related laws in all 50 states to efficiently administer leave of absence programs. Keeps abreast of changes and updates to ensure compliance.
• Produces and manages reporting metrics and analytics for all leave cases. Monitors utilization and compares against benchmarks. Use data to identify outliers, suggest education/training, recommend enhancements, and reduce costs.
• Assists in creating leave-related policies, process improvements, communication, and training programs. Develop materials and participate in sessions to educate employees and managers about leave policies and procedures.
• Assists in administering group benefit plans. Specifically focuses on regular employee communication and education, as well as compliance. Ensure employees are well-informed and supported throughout their leave of absence.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 3-5 years leave of absence management experience for multi-state employer
• Extensive knowledge of FMLA, ADA, USERRA, HIPAA, and relevant state and local laws
• Experience working with outsourced vendors
• Experience with HRIS and leave tracking systems.
• Demonstrated ability to provide support to employees during their leave of absence, understanding their needs and concerns.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with employees, managers, vendors, and union representatives.
• Ability to address and resolve issues related to leave administration, ensuring a positive employee experience.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office/Office 365.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work independently in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling PHI and other sensitive information.

Key Competencies:

• Initiative:
• Actively influences events to achieve goals.
• Self-starts and takes proactive actions beyond requirements.
• Flexibility:
• Adjusts behavior and methods in response to changing priorities and conditions.
• Remains open to new ideas and manages conflicting priorities effectively.
• Interpersonal Skills:
• Understands and responds to others' needs with sensitivity and respect.
• Provides constructive feedback to reinforce desirable behavior.
• Oral Communications:
• Clearly and convincingly expresses ideas and facts appropriate to the audience.
• Listens and facilitates open exchanges of ideas.

Preferred Qualifications or Skills:

• Experience managing leave of absence for 1000+ employees.
• Government contracting experience.
• Experience in a unionized environment
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• HRCI or SHRM certification.
• Deltek CostPoint experience.