LOA Specialist

What We Do At Applegreen, our mission is to delight customers in transit with passionate hospitality and brands they love. Applegreen is a leading roadside retailer operating high‑quality travel plazas and service areas in the US, Ireland, and the UK. Founded on a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer experience, we combine fuel, convenience retail, and a diverse portfolio of food and beverage offerings to create welcoming destinations for customers. In the U.S., we partner with major transportation authorities and operate more than 100 service plazas along some of the country’s busiest highways and turnpikes. Our company is known for modern facilities, strong national and local food brands, and an emphasis on freshness, quality, and sustainability. Our people are at the heart of what we do. We foster a culture that values teamwork, development, and accountability, offering employees opportunities to grow their careers in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment. We continue to expand while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to customers and creating a great place to work. Our Core Values Our customers and communities are at the heart of everything we do. We value and develop our people. We are driven by pace, passion and performance. We seek opportunities and embrace change. Benefits You Receive Hybrid position with three days per week worked in our Glen Rock, NJ office location and two days per week worked remotely. Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Paid Time Off 401(k) with Company Match Earned Wage Access – Pay on Demand Education Assistance Employee Referral Bonus Pet Insurance What You’ll Do The Leave Specialist is responsible for managing and administering all employee leave programs across a multi‑state workforce, including company‑sponsored and state‑mandated benefits such as Short‑Term Disability (STD), Long‑Term Disability (LTD), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state disability programs, personal leaves, and other unprotected leave requests. All leave programs are administered internally without a third‑party vendor. This role ensures compliance with company policies and all applicable federal, state, and local leave regulations. The Leave Specialist serves as a primary resource for employees and managers throughout the leave process, providing guidance, coordinating leave activities, maintaining accurate documentation, and ensuring timely case management. The position works closely with the Field HR Support Team to deliver high‑quality service, meet established service level expectations, and support overall business objectives through effective leave administration and case management. Maintains in‑house Excel spreadsheets tracking Leaves of Absence and ADA requests. Partners with management regarding ADA accommodation requests, providing communication, forms, job descriptions and related information per established guidelines. Conducts the interactive process with associates during requests for accommodations. Coordinates state disability program administration, ensuring coordination with state and/or insurance vendors to achieve correct disability payments and completing related audit reports. Coordinates workers’ compensation claims, ensuring timely communication and accurate status tracking regarding return‑to‑work, FMLA, ADA, and compliance issues. Completes payroll‑related processes by reconciling reports with vendor and HR system to ensure correct disability payments. Prepares, maintains and provides leave status and eligibility census reports, including weekly, monthly, and ad hoc reports. Provides accurate and timely reporting and communication with vendors, Payroll, HRIS, Risk Management, and Legal to ensure correct execution of leave programs. Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off and disability benefits. Maintains excellent records of all transactions, communications and resolutions to allow reconstruction of history in case of appeal or dispute. Delivers excellent customer service to associates. Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws. Tracks benefit premium payments during leaves of absence using Excel and makes appropriate termination decisions where needed. Coordinates with vendors to ensure timely and accurate benefit invoice payments. Performs monthly ACA classification review and follow‑up steps. Assists with special projects as needed. Essential Experience & Skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or similar software. Strong knowledge of benefit programs, including medical leaves and FMLA. Requirements Experience with ADP Workforce Now and UKG a plus. 5 years of HR experience in leave/ADA management required. Experience managing leave programs directly for an employer rather than through a third‑party administrator (TPA) preferred. Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field preferred. Completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration a plus. Experience administering leave programs in a multi‑state environment with varying state leave, disability, and paid leave requirements. Extensive knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and other applicable laws and how they interact. Ability to speak, read, and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and policy documents, and converse comfortably with coworkers and vendors. Able to sit for an extended period; occasionally bend, twist, lift and carry at least 10 pounds. Use of keyboard, mouse, and phone. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position. #J-18808-Ljbffr Applegreen (US) Welcome Centers