Benefits Manager (New York City Metropolitan Area)

Benefits & Leave of Absence Manager

Location: New York City, NY

Schedule: Hybrid — 3 days in office / 2 days remote

Hours: 40 hours per week

Compensation: $40–$45/hour

Duration: Ongoing

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Benefits & Leave of Absence Manager to oversee employee benefits and leave programs across both the United States and Canada . This role will be responsible for managing day-to-day benefits administration while serving as a subject matter expert on leave of absence programs and applicable regulations in both countries.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience administering U.S. and Canadian leave programs , including understanding the differences in statutory requirements, documentation, eligibility, and employee communications across both countries.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and other company-sponsored benefits.
• Oversee the full leave of absence lifecycle for employees in both the U.S. and Canada , from initial leave requests through return-to-work.
• Administer and coordinate various leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state and local leaves, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, medical leave, and applicable Canadian statutory leaves.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local requirements related to benefits and leaves of absence.
• Partner with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, payroll, benefits vendors, and other internal stakeholders to resolve benefits and leave-related questions.
• Maintain accurate employee leave and benefits records and ensure timely processing of changes.
• Coordinate with third-party benefits and leave administrators, insurance carriers, and other vendors.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers regarding eligibility, leave requirements, documentation, benefit continuation, and return-to-work processes.
• Support benefits enrollment, qualifying life events, employee changes, and annual open enrollment activities.
• Partner with payroll to ensure appropriate benefits deductions, leave payments, and related adjustments are processed accurately.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting U.S. and Canadian benefits and leave programs and recommend updates as needed.
• Develop and maintain benefits and leave documentation, policies, procedures, and employee communications.
• Handle sensitive and confidential employee information with a high degree of discretion.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in benefits and/or leave administration , preferably within a corporate HR environment.
• Required: Hands-on leave of absence experience in BOTH the United States and Canada.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. leave requirements, including FMLA, ADA, state/local leave programs, and disability leaves.
• Strong understanding of Canadian statutory leave requirements and benefits practices across applicable provinces.
• Experience working with benefits vendors, insurance carriers, payroll teams, and HRIS systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information and complex employee situations with professionalism and discretion.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with HR and cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on benefits and leave professional who can independently manage day-to-day employee inquiries and leave cases while navigating the complexities of both U.S. and Canadian regulations. They should be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and partnering with employees and internal stakeholders at all levels.