Benefits Specialist-Leaves Management & Employee Support

Summary

Join Care Access as a Benefits Specialist and manage employee leaves of absence, partnering with medical leave and disability vendors. You will administer leave programs, provide guidance to employees and managers, and monitor for disasters to support affected employees. As a key point of contact for employees on leave, you will ensure compliance with regulations, audit leave cases, and collaborate with other departments. You will also contribute to employee and manager training. This role requires strong communication, attention to detail, and the ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy. The ideal candidate will have experience in benefits administration, leave management, and working with vendors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; in lieu of a degree, we welcome candidates with significant hands-on experience (typically 5+ years) managing leave programs and benefits administration
• 3+ years of experience in employee benefits administration, with a strong focus on managing leaves of absence
• Experience working with medical leave and disability vendors; familiarity with leave case management best practices
• Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leave laws
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and ability to act quickly in sensitive situations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong sense of empathy
• Ability to balance process rigor with flexibility and care in employee interactions

Responsibilities

• Administer leave programs including FMLA, ADA, parental, short-term disability, long-term disability, and personal leave
• Serve as the primary liaison between employees and our third-party leave management vendors
• Provide clear, compassionate guidance to employees and managers on leave policies and processes
• Monitor U.S. news and emergency alerts to proactively identify disasters (e.g., wildfires, hurricanes, mass transit incidents)
• Assess potential employee impact based on geographic data, initiate outreach, and coordinate with HRBPs or leadership to ensure timely response and support
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local leave regulations
• Audit and track leave cases to ensure accuracy and timeliness
• Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, Legal, HRBPs, and People Operations to ensure smooth execution and employee experience
• Contribute to employee and manager training on leave and emergency response protocols

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a multi-state or remote workforce
• Familiarity with Workday or similar HRIS tools
• Previous experience in healthcare, clinical research, or other mission-driven environments
• Experience with employee emergency response coordination or crisis management