Absence Management Manager

About the role

Join a Mission-Driven Organization as our Absence Management Manager At Presbyterian Homes & Services, we’re more than a leading provider of senior living and care—we’re a values-driven organization with a bold commitment to cultivating a workplace where employees are inspired, supported, and empowered to thrive. We are currently seeking an Absence Management Manager, a pivotal role that blends strategic oversight with hands-on impact to ensure our leave of absence, workplace accommodation, and return-to-work programs support both organizational needs and the well-being of our employees. This working manager will serve as a trusted partner to leaders across PHS, guiding compliance with federal, state, and local laws while creating an employee experience that reflects our values of compassion, integrity, and stewardship. With a focus on both operational continuity and individual support, this leader will be at the forefront of balancing regulatory requirements with a people-first approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day administration and continuous improvement of leave of absence, accommodation, and return-to-work programs across the organization.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, HIPAA, and state-specific legislation.
• Ensure integration and alignment of MN Paid FML with federal FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, PHS leave policies, and other benefit programs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal policies, procedures, communications, and tools to support a consistent and legally compliant employee experience.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, guiding leaders and employees through absence and return-to-work processes, balancing compliance with organizational needs, and ensuring the employee experience reflects PHS values.
• Lead training sessions and create resources for managers and employees on absence management topics.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and service quality.
• Establish metrics, reporting, and feedback loops to evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Independently manage a portfolio of complex and high-impact leave and accommodation cases, including medical, parental, personal, and disability leaves.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers on leave eligibility, documentation, accommodations, and return-to-work options.
• Facilitate interactive processes with employees and leadership to assess