Leave Of Absence Specialist

Job Title: Leave of Absence Specialist Job Description
The Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist processes and manages employee leave of absence requests and serves as a key liaison between employees, Human Resources, and the external leave administrator. This role requires strong knowledge of leave policies, short-term and long-term disability programs, and applicable employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), statutory leave, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Workers Compensation. The Leave of Absence Specialist provides a high level of customer service and support to team members and leadership, ensuring accurate administration of leave programs and clear communication throughout the leave lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Administer leave programs by reviewing employee leave requests to determine eligibility and certification in compliance with company policies as well as state and federal leave laws.
- Ensure all leave-related documentation is accurately collected, maintained, and uploaded into the appropriate employee files.
- Act as the primary liaison with the outside leave administrator, ensuring all issues are addressed and resolved appropriately and in a timely manner.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements in leave administration and partner with the external leave administrator to implement enhancements.
- Manage and track leave of absence processes manually and in coordination with payroll, benefits, and the outside leave administrator.
- Escalate complex or sensitive leave cases to leadership or appropriate stakeholders when necessary.
- Serve as the main point of contact for employees with inquiries about leave of absence, short-term disability (STD), and long-term disability (LTD), providing clear policy interpretation and guidance.
- Engage in the interactive process with employees when needed, in alignment with ADA and other applicable regulations.
- Act as a subject matter expert for leave of absence administration under the general direction and guidance of HR leadership and the Legal department.
- Communicate absence status and return-to-work information to employees and relevant supervisors or managers in a timely and professional manner.
- Partner closely with Management, Employee Relations, and Legal to ensure consistent and compliant handling of leave cases.
- Pull reports and analyze leave-related data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Utilize HR systems and ticketing tools to manage and document leave cases and related inquiries.
- Perform other duties as assigned, including participation in project work related to leave programs and HR operations.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 4+ years of experience managing leave cases (FMLA, STD, LTD) for a mid to large size organization with 2,000+ employees.
- 4+ years of experience working in Human Resources.
- Strong knowledge of leave of absence policies and programs, including FMLA, short-term disability, long-term disability, statutory leave, ADA, and Workers Compensation.
- Demonstrated ability to administer leave programs in compliance with state and federal laws.
- Experience serving as a liaison between employees, HR, and third-party leave administrators.
- Ability to manage and track leave processes in coordination with payroll and benefits functions.
- Strong customer service skills with the ability to support employees and leadership professionally and empathetically.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with employees, supervisors, and managers regarding leave status and return-to-work information.
- Comfortable working independently, managing multiple cases, and prioritizing workload in a fast-paced environment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Understanding and knowledge of benefits and payroll and how they impact leave of absence administration (preferred but not required).
- Experience administering leave of absence for organizations with employees across multiple states.
- Comfortable learning and navigating multiple systems, including pulling reports and analyzing data.
- Experience working with UKG and ServiceNow ticketing systems, particularly in coordination with a third-party leave vendor.
- Strong analytical skills to review leave data and identify trends or process improvement opportunities.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Management, Employee Relations, and Legal teams.
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and record-keeping.
Work Environment
This role follows a hybrid work schedule based in Minnetonka. The position requires working in the office Tuesday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work from home on Monday and Friday. The environment involves regular use of HR technologies and systems, including leave administration platforms, UKG, and ServiceNow ticketing tools. The role is office-based on in-person days, with typical professional business attire expected, and offers a balance of independent work and collaboration with HR, Management, Employee Relations, Legal, and external vendors.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Hopkins, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $38.47 - $43.27/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Hopkins, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Hopkins,MN.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award 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 [email protected] 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.