Leave of Absence and ADA Accommodation Specialist / Benefits Specialist

Overview

Swoon is seeking a dedicated Leave of Absence and ADA Accommodation Specialist / Benefits Specialist to join its team on a contract basis. This role involves managing comprehensive leave programs and benefits administration while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee employee leave cases end-to-end, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, short- and long-term disability, various state leave laws, and company-sponsored leave initiatives.
• Manage the ADA accommodation interactive process by assessing complex requests, gathering necessary documentation, and collaborating with employees and supervisors to identify reasonable accommodations.
• Evaluate and monitor the third-party administrator’s performance by reviewing leave records, employee communications, case progress, data integrity, and adherence to service level agreements (SLA).
• Work collaboratively with Payroll, Human Resources, Benefits teams, managers, and external vendors to coordinate leave payments, benefit deductions, employee status updates, and return-to-work protocols.
• Administer employee benefit programs encompassing benefit enrollments, qualifying life event processing, terminations, open enrollment, disability, retirement, and wellness benefits.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data within Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), preferably Ceridian Dayforce or AbsencePro; prepare reports, reconcile information, and identify any overdue or incorrect leave cases.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation such as FMLA, ADA, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Affordable Care Act (ACA), Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines, and applicable multi-state leave laws.
• Document processes, implement improvements in leave and benefits systems, and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies to enhance administrative efficiency.

Key Qualifications and Technical Skills

• Solid experience managing in-house leave of absence administration, including FMLA, state leaves, and employer-sponsored programs.
• Thorough understanding of the ADA accommodation interactive process, especially in assessing complex or ambiguous cases.
• Proficient in administering short- and long-term disability plans.
• Hands-on experience using HRIS platforms to manage leave records, employee status changes, documentation, reporting, and data audits.
• Capability in managing third-party administrators and vendors with a focus on auditing case files, communications, data accuracy, and SLA compliance.
• Familiarity with federal and multi-state leave laws encompassing FMLA, ADA, DOL requirements, and state-specific regulations.
• Strong self-management and organizational skills with the ability to independently prioritize overdue cases and implement process enhancements without intensive oversight.

Highly Desirable Skills and Certifications

• Experience with Ceridian Dayforce and AbsencePro or ComPsych platforms.
• Direct employer-side leave administration experience rather than exclusively third-party administrator experience.
• Expertise in benefits management including enrollment, life events, open enrollments, and vendor coordination.
• Advanced knowledge in reporting, auditing, analytics, and proficient Microsoft Excel skills.
• Proven ability to create SOPs, policies, and procedural guidelines related to leave administration.
• Relevant certifications such as CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist), PHR (Professional in Human Resources), SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional), or CLMS (Certified Leave Management Specialist).

Additional Information

• Work Type: Contract role with a one-year term and potential to convert to a permanent position based on performance.
• Location: Remote within the United States only; candidates must reside in the U.S. and are not permitted to work outside the country.
• Hourly Compensation: Between $30 and $35 per hour.
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. No visa sponsorship or contractor-to-hire (C2C / C2H) arrangements are available.