Leave Program Specialist

Position Type: Non-Certified Support/ Human Resources Specialist Date Posted: 5/22/2026 Location: Administration - Human Resources

ROCKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #205

Job Description Job Title: Leave of Absence Specialist Job Code: 3360 Department: Human Resources Date: 5/21/2026 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt COMPENSATION RANGE: $24.57 - $34.31/hourly

A COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE INCLUDING:

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Voluntary life insurance
• Paid Sick and Personal time
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Membership in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) or Teachers' Retirement

System (TRS)

• Optional 403(b) plan
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: TheLeave of Absence Specialist will coordinate and administer all aspects of employee leave to ensure compliance with District policies, federal and state leave regulations, and collective bargaining agreements while providing instruction, guidance, and excellent customer service to employees, managers and human resource professionals. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In addition to the requirements listed below, regular attendance is an essential function of this position. Ensures that all actions are in concert with the Board policies as well as the mission statement, beliefs, objectives, and parameters found in the Board's strategic plan. Participates in job training and professional growth opportunities in order to enhance ability to perform the essential functions of the job. Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment. Coordinates and monitors all District leaves of absence, including FMLA, ADA personal leave, military leave, educational leave, etc. Serves as the subject matter expert for the leave programs in alignment with current Laws, Regulations, and Collective Bargaining Agreements and under the general direction and guidance of the Benefits Manager and Internal Legal Counsel. Serves as the primary point of contact for all leave inquiries, educating employees and managers on the leave process and related policies. Work closely with the Leave of Absence Third Party Administrator to ensure all required notices, forms, letters, and determinations of leave eligibility are handled properly. Manages/monitors STD/LTD programs and vendor relationships. Ensures that STD claims are coordinated with FMLA or general medical cases. Monitor employee leaves to ensure proper timekeeping and compensation. Communicate with employees, managers, and human resource professionals to coordinate the return to work process, including accommodation requests and leave expirations Regularly review claim statuses and develop strategies for resolution. Propose revisions to internal documents, policies, and communications as necessary based on laws and regulations to ensure District compliance. Continuously improve overall process efficiency and accuracy. Calculate and collect monies owed by employees for benefits while on leave. Cross trains with other benefits positions to ensure smooth function of the department. Develop and deliver leave-related training for employees, managers, and human resource professionals.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field, or equivalent work experience. Three to five (3-5) years' previous experience in leave of absence administration in a high-volume environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to demonstrate qualities aligned to our core values of Character, Communication, Collaboration and Continuous Improvement. Knowledge of federal and state leave-related regulations including FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA. Thorough understanding of employee benefits as they relate to leaves of absence including short/long term disability, COBRA, state disability pay, etc. Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Excel (V-LOOK), Word, PowerPoint, Google Suite, and Outlook. WORK CALENDAR: 12 Months WORKING CONDITIONS: Moderate in-district travel as well as intermittent in-state and out-of-state travel.Intermittent prolonged and irregular hours of work. OTHER: This job description describes duties and responsibilities which are representative of the nature and level of work assigned to the position. The identified duties and responsibilities are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the school district and employee and is subject to change by the school district as the needs of the school district and requirements of the job change. Physical Aspects of the Position (Select all that apply) 1. - Climbing – Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. 2. - Balancing – Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. 3. - Stooping – Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. 4. - Kneeling – Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees. 5. - Crouching – Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine. 6. - Crawling – Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet. 7. - Reaching – Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. 8. - Standing – Particularly for sustained periods of time. 9. X Walking – Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances. 10. - Pushing – using upper extremities to press against something with steady force order to thrust forward, downward or outward. 11. - Pulling – Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion. 12. - Lifting – Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and required the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

13. X

Finger use – Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with the fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling.

14. X

Grasping – Applying pressure to an object with the fingers or palm.

15. X

Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word. Those activities in which you must convey detailed or spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly .

16. X

Hearing – Perceiving the nature of sounds. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sounds such as when making fine adjustments on machinery.

17. X

Repetitive Motions – Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers. The Physical Requirements of the Position (Select one) 1. X Sedentary Work – Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. 2. - Light Work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of force greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rate for Light Work. 3. - Medium Work – Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. 4. - Heavy Work - Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. 5. - Very Heavy Work – Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision (Select all that apply) 1. X Machine Operations – inspection, close assembly, clerical, administration. This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals largely with preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading, or visual inspection. 2. - Mechanics – Skilled tradespeople – This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals with machines such as power tools, lathes, and drills. 3. - Mobile Equipment – This is a minimum standard for use with those who operate cars, trucks, forklifts, cranes, and high equipment. 4. - Other – This is a minimum standard based on the criteria of accuracy and neatness of work for janitors, sweepers, etc. The Conditions the Worker will be subject to in this position (Select all that apply) 1. X The worker is subject to inside environment conditions. 2. - The worker is subject to outside environment conditions. 3. - The worker is subject to extreme heat or cold for periods of greater that one hour. 4. - The worker is subject to noise which would cause them to have to shout. 5. - The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, etc. Postings current as of 5/26/2026 3:04:38 AM CST. Powered by applicant tracking, a product of Frontline Education. #J-18808-Ljbffr Rockford Public School District #205