Leave of Absence Specialist (Houston, TX, 77041) bei Elior North America

The Role at a glance:

Join Elior North America and help support our employees during some of life’s most important moments. As a Leave of Absence Specialist, you will administer and coordinate company leave programs—including FMLA, ADA, short-term disability, long-term disability, and personal leaves—ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

In this role, you’ll serve as the subject matter expert on leave policies, providing guidance to employees, managers, and HR partners while ensuring a seamless and compassionate experience for our workforce. You’ll work within our HR systems to process and track leaves, manage vendor relationships, and generate reports to support compliance and business needs.

#LI-RK1

What you'll be doing:

Leave Administration

• Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, ADA, short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and personal leaves.
• Process and track leave requests, ensuring timely and accurate documentation in HR systems.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and HR Business Partners to clarify leave rights, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Manage return-to-work processes, including accommodations in coordination with HR and managers.
• Recommend and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency and employee experience of leave administration.
• Stay current on legislative changes impacting leave programs and communicate updates to HR and management.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, ADA, state leave programs).
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive medical and personal information.
• Generate regular and ad hoc reports on leave metrics for HR leadership.
• Audit leave records for accuracy and adherence to company policies and legal requirements.

Employee & Manager Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding leave policies and procedures.
• Partner with third-party administrators and insurance carriers for disability and leave claims.
• Provide clear, empathetic communication to employees navigating leave processes.

What we're looking for:

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience administering leave programs (FMLA, ADA, STD, LTD).
• Strong knowledge of federal and state leave laws and compliance requirements.
• Experience with HRIS platforms and leave management systems.
• High attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a multi-state environment.
• Prior experience in food service, hospitality, or large-scale operations.
• Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist or Certified Leave Management certification (preferred but not required).

Where you'll be working:

This position is based on site at our corporate office in Houston, TX (4920 Westway Park Blvd, Suite 150), four days a week with the option to work remotely one day per week.

Compensation Range

Compensation for this role is $55,000.00 to $65,000.00 commensurate with experience.

Our Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (for full-time employees)
• Voluntary UNUM coverage: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
• Employee Discount Program
• Commuter Benefits (Transit and Parking)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Sick Time
• Holiday Pay (9 paid holidays)
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement (for full-time employees)