HR Benefits Specialist

Aquent is partnering with a leading organization at the forefront of its industry, dedicated to providing exceptional support and comprehensive benefits to its employees. This client fosters a dynamic and collaborative environment where every team member plays a crucial role in ensuring employee well-being and operational excellence.

Are you passionate about making a tangible difference in employees’ lives by navigating complex benefits landscapes? We are seeking a highly skilled and empathetic Senior Specialist to join our client’s team, focusing on Leave of Absence and Accommodations. In this vital role, you will be at the heart of supporting employees through significant life events, ensuring they receive the care and resources they need while maintaining compliance with critical regulations. Your expertise will directly impact employee satisfaction and contribute to a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

This role is critical for ensuring that employees receive timely and compliant support during periods of leave or when accommodations are needed. You will be instrumental in upholding employee well-being, fostering a fair and equitable work environment, and contributing to the overall success of the organization by expertly managing complex benefit programs. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with various internal and external partners, offering solutions to complex challenges and driving continuous improvement in benefit administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and administer disability, leave of absence (continuous and intermittent), return to work, and accommodation programs, ensuring strict adherence to Local, State, and Federal laws.
• Serve as a primary liaison, partnering closely with third-party disability and leave of absence vendors and employees to facilitate seamless program administration.
• Ensure the proper integration of vendor-managed Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) administration with short-term disability plans.
• Interpret evolving HR policies and legislative developments to maintain continuous program compliance.
• Expertly handle and resolve complex case escalations and inquiries from employees, managers, vendors, and internal/external support centers.
• Collaborate with internal functions, including legal and management teams, as well as external vendors, to address and resolve time-sensitive and intricate issues.
• Proactively identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance existing practices for greater efficiency and scalability.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, management, or a related field, or equivalent practical work experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in leave of absence, return to work programs, accommodations, extended medical leave programs, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
• Demonstrated experience working in a high-volume, fast-paced, and deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong understanding and experience with accommodations requirements.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of interacting effectively with employees and leadership at all levels.
• Proven ability to identify the root cause of issues and propose effective solutions to management.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to execute high-quality work efficiently.
• Experience working with third-party disability and leave of absence administrators.
• Solid knowledge of HR systems.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with specific HR systems such as Workday and/or ServiceNow.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. 

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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