National Leave of Absence & Accommodations Expert

How you create impact

The Leave of Absence expert will serve as the primary point of contact, managing the day-to-day administration of employee leave programs, including Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Paid Family Leave (PFL), Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFMLA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). This role also oversees and coordinates employee accommodation processes, ensuring alignment with company policies and legal requirements. The position requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders across 35 states to ensure full compliance with federal and state regulations, while delivering a consistent and employee-focused leave experience.

• Serve as a subject matter expert, providing training and guidance to management and local HR teams on company policies related to leaves of absence, statutory leaves, FMLA, and Long-Term Disability.
• Lead regular absence management committee meetings, including setting agendas and facilitating discussions on complex leave and accommodation cases.
• Partner with HR, Legal, and Compliance teams to support informed decision-making regarding leave approvals, accommodations, and employee separations.
• Maintain close collaboration with Payroll, Management, Legal, and HR teams to ensure medical leaves are administered and paid in accordance with company policies.
• Work alongside the third-party administrator (TPA) to ensure timely, accurate handling of claims and delivery of exceptional employee service.
• Act as a key resource for employees requesting leaves of absence, providing clear guidance on policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Monitor and communicate legislative updates impacting statutory leaves; maintain and distribute updated procedures to relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records for all leave cases, including non-compliant claims, job protection thresholds, and transitions to Long-Term Disability.
• Prepare documentation and case summaries for bi-monthly Absence Management Review Committee meetings.
• Support the interactive process under the ADA, partnering with HR leadership to develop accommodation plans and ensure proper documentation.
• Track and manage reports including STD Pending/Active reports, Appeals reports, and maintain committee tracking tools.
• Provide detailed claim chronologies and documentation as needed to support the Legal Department.

What we would like you to bring

• 5+ years of experience in HR management, HR business partner, or other senior-level HR roles, driving people strategies and HR initiatives.
• 3+ years of experience managing national Leave of Absence (LOA) programs, including FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, and related leave processes.
• Strong knowledge of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with employees, managers, and HR partners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with sound judgment and accountability.
• Excellent organizational and time-management capabilities.
• Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and customer service skills.

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship.

What's in it for you

At Kuehne+Nagel we strive daily to inspire, empower, and deliver not only to our customers, but also to our colleagues. We offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programs and career mobility. The target base salary range for this position is between $95,000 and $115,000. Base salary is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. Kuehne+Nagel reviews pay ranges regularly to ensure competitive and fair pay based on industry market data. #LI-TD1

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in specific processes [e.g. screening applications, interview scheduling]. These tools analyze information to support decision-making, but final decisions are made by human reviewers.