Leave of Absence Manager

Role Description

Zayo is seeking a knowledgeable and empathetic Leave of Absence Manager to administer and support the company’s leave of absence programs across the U.S. and Canada. This position plays a critical role on the Benefits Team, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies while delivering a positive employee experience during leave events.

• Manage all types of leave—including FMLA, ADA, disability, parental, personal, workers’ compensation, and statutory leaves.
• Partner closely with third-party administrators, HR, payroll, and managers.
• Report to the Compliance Director and support a growing, distributed workforce of approximately 5,000 employees across North America.

• Administer end-to-end leave of absence processes for employees in the U.S. and Canada, including federal/provincial and state-mandated leaves (e.g., FMLA, ADA, CFRA, STD/LTD, ESA leaves, QPIP, EI sick benefits).
• Act as a primary point of contact for employees requesting or taking leave; guide them through the process with clear, timely, and empathetic communication.
• Collaborate with third-party leave administrators and internal partners to ensure timely processing, accurate tracking, and a seamless experience for employees.
• Maintain accurate leave records in HRIS and case management systems, ensuring all necessary documentation is collected and retained in compliance with privacy laws (HIPAA, PIPEDA).
• Support coordination of disability and income replacement programs (e.g., U.S. STD/LTD, Canada EI and LTD plans), including understanding regional differences.
• Partner with Payroll and Benefits to ensure accurate pay, benefits continuation, and return-to-work processes.
• Provide consultation to managers and HR Business Partners regarding leave eligibility, job protection, accommodation needs, and return-to-work strategies.
• Support the ADA and Canada duty-to-accommodate processes, ensuring a collaborative and compliant interactive process.
• Stay current on U.S. federal/state and Canadian federal/provincial leave regulations and industry trends; recommend process updates and policy enhancements as needed.
• Contribute to the development of leave policies, employee-facing resources, and internal training materials.
• Participate in audits, compliance reviews, and data reporting as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent work experience will be considered.
• 4-6 years of experience managing employee leave programs in both the U.S. and Canada.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, U.S. state leave laws, and Canadian provincial leave entitlements (e.g., Ontario ESA, Québec QPIP).
• Experience working with third-party leave administrators and HR systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, UKG).
• High level of confidentiality, emotional intelligence, and professionalism.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage high volumes of concurrent cases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex processes clearly and empathetically.
• Experience in a tech or fast-paced, high-growth environment is a plus.
• Benefits or HR certification (CEBS, PHR, SHRM-CP, CHRP) is a plus.

Requirements

• Estimated Base Pay Range: $64,100 - $104,700 USD/annually.
• The base pay range shown is a guideline and reasonable estimate for this role.
• Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted range based upon geographic location, work experience, skill level, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.
• Non-sales roles may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan.
• Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a sales incentive plan.
• This position may be eligible for certain benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, disability retirement plans, and paid time off.
• The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

Benefits

• Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance.
• Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan.
• Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave.