Leave Specialist

About the Role We have a current opening for a Leave of Absence Specialist and are actively reviewing applications. The Leave of Absence Specialist provides expert, compliant, and empathetic administration of employee leave and workplace accommodation programs. This role partners closely with key stakeholders, including the third-party disability vendor, People Business Partners, Health & Safety, People Operations, Labor Relations, and business leaders, to ensure consistent application of leave and accommodation practices. The position has a strong focus on the skilled execution of the ADA interactive process, as well as FMLA, state and local leave laws, and short- and long-term disability programs—balancing employee experience with business and operational needs. Main Responsibilities Serve as the primary point of contact for complex leave and accommodation cases, managing end-to-end administration with a strong emphasis on ADA interactive process execution. Partner with the Leave Manager and leave team to support and enhance leave and accommodations capabilities, including strengthening ADA interactive process consistency and contributing to best practices. Collaborate cross-functionally with third-party disability vendor, People Business Partners, Health & Safety, People Operations, Labor Relations, and managers to ensure coordinated, compliant case management. Facilitate the ADA interactive process, including medical documentation review, accommodation assessments, and return-to-work planning, applying sound judgment to achieve compliant and practical outcomes. Advise employees and leaders on leave policies and the interaction of FMLA, disability, workers’ compensation, paid time off, and workplace accommodations. Maintain ongoing communication with employees on leave to support engagement and timely, successful return-to-work outcomes. Ensure leave and accommodation cases meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate, complete, and audit-ready documentation. Collaborate with the third-party administrator to ensure accurate adjudication, documentation, and data integrity. Identify trends and risks through reporting and analysis and provide insights to support continuous improvement efforts. Contribute to policy updates, process enhancements, and system optimization initiatives. Stay current on evolving leave and accommodation laws and support updates to ensure ongoing compliance. Maintain strict confidentiality of employee medical and personal information. About You Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field preferred, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent certification preferred. 5+ years of experience in leave, disability, and accommodations administration required. Demonstrated experience administering ADA accommodations and supporting the interactive process. Experience partnering with a third-party disability vendor required. Strong working knowledge of FMLA, state and local leave laws, disability programs, and workplace accommodations. Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders and navigate complex employee situations. High level of empathy, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to balance employee needs and business considerations. Proactive, solution-oriented approach with strong judgment and attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities. Experience with UKG (UKG Pro/UltiPro) or similar HRIS platforms preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; reporting and data analysis experience a plus. Specialized training or certification in leave administration and ADA compliance a plus. Experience with AbsenceSoft a plus. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure As part of our recruitment process, Ferrero may use artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools to assist with reviewing candidate applications. These tools are used solely to support recruiters by summarizing application information and identifying potential alignment with job requirements. AI does not independently screen out or select candidates, and it does not replace human judgment. Final decisions regarding candidate progression are always made by Ferrero recruiters and hiring managers. Our Benefits & Perks Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here. The base salary range for this position is $75,300 - 100,500. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time. In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits. About Ferrero Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com. DE&I at Ferrero Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding. Find out more here. Ferrero is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable human rights laws. Ferrero will recruit, hire, train, and promote all persons without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or history of disability (except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is not able to perform the essential functions of the position even with reasonable accommodations), citizenship, or any other protected characteristic. Ferrero will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise the People & Organization (HR) Representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially. #J-18808-Ljbffr