Description

Job Description Summary

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Analyst - Regulatory & Appeals Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a key subject matter expert within the Leave of Absence Center of Excellence, providing advanced expertise and practical application of federal and state leave and accommodation requirements. This role is responsible for administering fully cycle leave requests for all corporate (GSC) assigned colleagues who are based throughout the U.S. This role will support the team by reviewing complex leave requests and claims, evaluating escalations and appeals, interpreting applicable regulations and company policies, and providing well-reasoned recommendations to ensure consistent, compliant, and equitable leave administration.

Our Global Support Center/ Corporate Office is in the Energy Corridor- off I10 and N Eldridge.

Address: 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077

This is a hybrid position requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week. Please note that the number of days on-site can increase based on business needs.

Job Summary:

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Analyst - Regulatory & Appeals Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a key subject matter expert within the Leave of Absence Center of Excellence, providing advanced expertise and practical application of federal and state leave and accommodation requirements. This role is responsible for administering fully cycle leave requests for all corporate (GSC) assigned colleagues who are based throughout the U.S. This role will support the team by reviewing complex leave requests and claims, evaluating escalations and appeals, interpreting applicable regulations and company policies, and providing well-reasoned recommendations to ensure consistent, compliant, and equitable leave administration.

Key Responsibilities:
Leave Administration

• Review and support all corporate leave requests for eligibility and accurate processing. Work directly with the colleague and HR as the main POC throughout a leave of absence.
• Communicate with leave administration vendor as necessary to ensure smooth processing of internal systems, regulatory updates for system enhancements, accuracy and claim support.
• Partner and communicate with HR regarding LOA related claims and payments including coordinating and applying time o for a colleague throughout their leave of absence period.
• Collaborate with Payroll to ensure proper coding, time tracking, and compensation is applied for colleagues during leave.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and company-specific policies.
• Provide reporting to HR and management as needed.

Regulatory Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as a trusted SME on FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, and applicable federal and state statutory leave requirements.
• Interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical guidance for LOA Analysts, Field HR, and business leaders.
• Maintain working knowledge of evolving federal and state leave legislation and regulatory guidance.
• Review complex and sensitive LOA cases involving FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutory leaves, company leave policies and overlapping leave requirements.

Escalations & Appeals

• Serve as a primary reviewer for complex LOA escalations, disputed determinations, employee concerns, and appeals.
• Develop clear recommendations for resolution and communicate the rationale to appropriate stakeholders.
• Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, and other functions on high-risk or highly sensitive cases.

Quality & Compliance Review

• Identify trends, control gaps, and opportunities to improve case handling.
• Assist with internal audits, regulatory inquiries, and documentation requests as needed.

LOA Team SME Support

• Serve as an escalation resource when analysts encounter unusual, high-risk, or diicult-to-interpret situations.
• Support the development of resources as needed.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, Total Rewards, Occupational Health, Risk Management, and other stakeholders on complex LOA matters.
• Support communication and training initiatives to improve understanding and consistent application of LOA requirements.

Reporting & Trend Analysis

• Provide insights and recommendations to LOA leadership regarding compliance risks, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Leave of Absence administration, HR compliance, disability/absence management, employee relations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise administering and applying FMLA and ADA/ADAAA requirements in actual employee cases.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state statutory leave requirements and their practical application.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing complex leave cases, escalations, appeals, medical documentation, intermittent leave, extensions, and return-towork situations.
• Ability to independently analyze complex facts and documentation and reach well-supported conclusions.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting regulations and translating them into practical operational guidance.
• Strong understanding of the interaction between FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutoryl eaves, company policies, and other benefit programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex regulatory concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with HRIS and/or leave management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

• Experience supporting a large, complex, multi-state employer.
• Experience working in a centralized LOA Center of Excellence or similar operating model.
• Experience reviewing third-party leave administrator determinations.
• Experience with LOA appeals, quality audits, compliance reviews, or regulatory audits.
• Experience with Workday
• Familiarity with leave management software
• Experience supporting unionized or highly regulated employee populations.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Labor Relations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Professional certification such as DMEC, SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, or related leave/disability certification.