Human Resources Generalist

Job Title: FMLA Leave Specialist

Type: 6-8 Months Contract to Hire

Location: Tempe, AZ

Type: First 3 weeks is in office and then they’ll go to a hybrid role of 3 days onsite and then 2 days remote with Tues/Wed/Thurs in office

Salary: $22/Hr. - $26/Hr. W-2

Visa: US Citizen and Green Card Only

FMLA Leave Specialist

The FMLA Leave Specialist is responsible for supporting employees and managers with all types of leave of absence requests, with a primary focus on FMLA and related leave programs. This role is part of the HR team and is highly customer-facing, handling phone and email inquiries and ensuring a clear, positive employee experience throughout the leave process.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for employees and managers regarding leave of absence policies, procedures, and eligibility
• Process and administer multiple types of leaves, including Federal FMLA, military leave, state-specific leave (e.g., CA, WA, CO), and personal leaves while ensuring continued benefits where applicable
• Review and enter leave requests into HR systems accurately and in a timely manner
• Communicate clearly with employees about required documentation, timelines, and next steps for their leave
• Partner with HR, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure leaves are coordinated correctly and employees are paid and benefited appropriately
• Track leave cases, monitor deadlines, and follow up with employees and managers to ensure compliance and closure
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee information and handle sensitive situations with professionalism and empathy

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of HR experience in a generalist, HR operations, or HR shared services role (not focused on recruitment)
• Experience in a customer-facing HR role (phone and/or email) supporting employees with HR or transactional questions
• Prior experience processing HR transactions such as new hires, status changes, or benefits administration preferred
• Familiarity with FMLA and other leave laws and regulations (federal, state, and company policies) preferred; willingness to learn in-depth leave administration required
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple cases at once
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain policies in clear, simple language
• Comfort working in HRIS and case management systems