HR Specialist (Leave Specialist)

Location: Lake County, Illinois
Work arrangement: Hybrid
Contract duration: 12 months

Schedule

• Monday–Friday, 40 hours/week
• Flexible hours: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM or 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

About the role

The HRConnect Leave Specialist is a key part of our Human Resource (HR) Operations group supporting the HRConnect delivery model. This role supports US benefits and leave administration, partners with vendors, advocates for employees on health-care issues, and oversees payroll auditing for employees on leave.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to HR Operations–Benefits/Leave Specialist for leave, disability, and workers’ compensation administration
• Address return-to-work status questions regarding job protection, workers’ compensation claims, and transition from active employment
• Manage central mailbox and escalate inquiries related to disability, workers’ compensation, and leave issues
• Assist with payroll integrations: audit payroll for employees on leave and resolve payroll matters
• Create disability notices and process separations/terminations for employees on leave
• Assist with HRIT integrations including benefit delivery, status changes, updates, and problem resolution
• Ensure compliance with all state and local paid-leave and sick-leave laws, including coordination of state filings
• Provide Tier 2 & 3 support for escalated health and welfare issues not resolved by external vendors or the HRConnect service center
• Contribute to HRConnect initiatives, projects, and goals
• Perform other responsibilities, activities, and projects as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3–5 years of leave-of-absence, workers’ compensation, and disability experience or other relevant transferable skills in benefits or disability management
• Excellent business writing and oral communication skills
• Strong project-management skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Ability to work well in a team and contribute independently
• Self-directed; able to handle large, concurrent projects with minimal supervision

Skills

• Disability and leave administration
• Payroll processing and auditing
• Workday experience
• Workers’ compensation claims management

Key competencies

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners
• Learns quickly and adapts course as needed
• Drives continuous improvement and raises performance standards
• Fosters a learning environment open to suggestions and experimentation
• Embraces and nurtures innovation, managing ideas to reality

Pay

$28–$32 per hour

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Paid parking or public-transportation subsidy
• Paid time off, sick and safe time
• Paid vacation time
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays