Specialist, Talent - Leaves Administration

About the role

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference! The Leaves Administrator plays a vital role in supporting Uncommon Schools' staff by managing employee leave requests with care, accuracy, and operational efficiency. By serving as a trusted primary point of contact during medical, personal, and family leaves, this position ensures employees receive clear guidance and support throughout their leave lifecycle. The Leaves Administrator collaborates closely with HR Payroll, Legal, and Total Rewards teams to maintain compliant, consistent, and seamless leave practices across the organization. Effective leave administration directly enhances staff well-being and retention, allowing school leaders and educators to remain focused on delivering educational excellence. Through detail-oriented case management and adherence to legal guidelines, this role ensures equitable policy application across all teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned leave cases through the full lifecycle, including intake, eligibility review, documentation collection, leave designation, ongoing case updates, and return-to-work processes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and key stakeholders, offering clear guidance on leave requirements, documentation, timelines, and next steps.
• Apply established organizational leave policies, standard operating protocols, and decision trees to make routine, case-level determinations.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records, including leave dates, status changes, employee communications, and medical certifications.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding Personal Health Information (PHI), Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and sensitive medical documentation.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), applicable state and local leave laws, and workers' compensation.
• Ensure case administration aligns with legal requirements and organizational policies, escalating policy exceptions or potential legal risks to leadership or Legal counsel.
• Conduct regular case reviews, quality checks, and internal audits to confirm adherence to documentation and workflow standards.
• Provide accurate case records and documentation to support compliance requests, audits, and employee relations inquiries.
• Enter and maintain accurate leave-related information within Workday and internal tracking systems.
• Perform routine data audits and quality checks to identify and resolve data discrepancies.
• Partner directly with the HR Payroll team to ensure accurate and timely pay processing for employees on leave.
• Support vendor coordination and internal or external audit activities as needed.
• Contribute to operational improvement projects and pilots focused on case workflows, tracking tools, and escalation handling.
• Participate in continuous training, process updates, and system enhancements to improve leave operations.
• Provide backup support to team members to manage full-cycle leave cases during peak volume periods or coverage gaps.

Qualifications

• 3–4 years of relevant experience in leave administration, human resources, or benefits administration.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, state and local leave laws, workers' compensation, and leave-related benefits.
• Proficiency in data entry and data analysis using tools such as Microsoft Excel.
• Prior experience utilizing Workday for HR systems or leave tracking (preferred).

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support