Leave of Absence Specialist - HR Operations - San Jose (Third-Party Associate)

Responsibilities

• Manage routine leave of absence management workflow with high quality.
• Ensure data accuracy per payroll cycle; monitor data quality over time and troubleshoot data discrepancies (e.g., mismatches between leave requests and payroll deductions) with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure data completeness and consistency through regular data cleaning (e.g., resolving duplicate entries, standardizing leave types, validating date formats) and establishing data governance rules (e.g., defining LOA data metrics, updating data dictionaries).
• Perform pay audits for employees on leave, including validation of paid leave, unpaid leave, salary continuation, benefit deductions, offsets, and corrections.
• Cook with payroll to confirm accurate and timely pay processing for employees on leave.
• Identify payroll discrepancies related to LOA and work with payroll, vendors, and internal teams to resolve issues promptly.
• Maintain clear documentation of pay calculations, audit findings, adjustments, and follow-up actions.
• Conduct descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analysis on LOA data:
• Track key LOA metrics (e.g., total LOA cases per quarter, average leave duration by type, department-wise leave rate, approval/rejection rate).
• Investigate anomalies (e.g., sudden spikes in medical leave in a specific team, unusually long unpaid leave) and identify root causes (e.g., workplace stress, seasonal illnesses, policy gaps).
• Forecast future leave demand (e.g., peak parental leave periods, Q4 sick leave trends) to support workforce planning.
• Develop regular (weekly/monthly/quarterly) LOA reports and dashboards for stakeholders (HR leaders, department managers, executives).
• Translate complex data insights into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Present analysis results in meetings (e.g., quarterly HR reviews) and tailor communication to non-technical audiences.
• Partner with payroll teams to ensure LOA data integrates with payroll processes (e.g., accurate calculation of paid leave wages, deduction for unpaid leave).
• Work with cross functional stakeholders and support LOA related workflow e.g. offboarding, reasonable accommodation etc.
• Liaise with tech teams to enhance HRIS functionality for LOA data tracking (e.g., adding custom fields for leave reason codes, automating leave request workflows).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in LOA administration, benefits operations, payroll operations, or HR operations, with hands-on experience managing leave workflows and pay-related processes.
• Demonstrated ability to perform pay audits and leave-related calculations accurately, with strong attention to detail to catch and resolve discrepancies.
• Proven problem-solving skills: able to identify process gaps, data inconsistencies, or operational issues during day-to-day execution and take initiative to resolve them.
• Experience leveraging AI tools or automation technologies to streamline and improve HR/LOA operational workflows.
• Strong collaboration skills: able to work effectively with payroll, vendors, benefits teams, and internal stakeholders to drive timely resolution.
• Excellent attention to detail and time management: able to prioritize multiple cases and deadlines in a fast-paced operations environment.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP) and leave management systems.
• Experience working in a global or large-scale organization, with familiarity with US leave policies (e.g., FMLA, state-specific leave laws).