Leave of Absence Program Manager

Included Health is seeking a knowledgeable Leave of Absence Program Manager to be a part of the Talent and Organization (TAO) team. This role will own administration and managing our generous Leave of Absence program and  provide guidance to the business related to the interpretation of ADA.

The ideal candidate will build strong connections with team members as they prepare for an upcoming leave, while closely partnering with managers and HR talent partners (HRBPs). A significant focus of this role will be creating, maintaining, and continuously improving leave policies and processes. The candidate should have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to balance empathy with consistent enforcement of our leave policies. They should also have strong Excel skills, top tier organization, the ability to balance high volume requests, and exceptional attention to detail.

Responsibilities:

Leave of Absence and ADA

Serve as the enterprise Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all Leave of Absence programs and ADA, providing strategic guidance to employees, managers, and Talent Partners on policy, compliance, and best practices.

Lead the end-to-end administration of all leave programs (e.g., FMLA, ADA, state leaves, workers’ compensation, parental leave), ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while delivering a high-touch employee experience.

Own and manage the full leave lifecycle—from intake through return-to-work—driving proactive communication, clear documentation, and seamless coordination between employees, managers, talent partners, and external vendors.

Oversee vendor relationships and performance, partnering closely with third-party administrators to ensure timely processing, service-level adherence, and continuous improvement of the leave experience.

Provide expert consultation on ADA interactive processes and workers’ compensation matters, ensuring consistent, compliant, and equitable decision-making across the organization.

Serve as the liaison for ADA-related documentation, guiding managers and Talent Partners through the interactive process and ensuring appropriate accommodations are documented and tracked.

Act as program manager for leave operations, and partner with Benefits Manager to identify trends, risks, and process gaps; implementing scalable solutions to improve efficiency, compliance, and employee satisfaction.

Partner cross-functionally with Payroll to ensure accurate and timely pay administration for employees on leave; facilitate semi-monthly reconciliation reviews to resolve discrepancies and strengthen controls.

Collaborate with Workday/HRIS teams to optimize system workflows, enhance automation, and maintain data integrity across leave programs.

Manage inquiries through JIRA, maintaining SLA adherence while continuously improving service delivery standards and response quality.

Qualifications:

• At least 6 years of related experience

• Extensive knowledge employee leave of absence processes and applicable laws - including FMLA, ADA, Workers Compensation

• Ability to make independent decisions in complex situations

• Keen attention to detail and a strong sense of urgency

• Ability to keep information confidential and handle sensitive issues with empathy and strong judgment

• Strong ability to organize, keep track of details and produce results in a fast-paced environment

• Proficient Microsoft Excel skills

• Knowledge and previous experience with Workday a strong plus

Physical/Cognitive Requirements:

• Prompt and regular attendance at assigned work location.

• Capability to remain seated in a stationary position for prolonged periods.

• Eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to operate keyboard, computer and other office-related equipment.

• No heavy lifting is expected, though occasional exertion of about 20 lbs of force (e.g., lifting a computer \/ laptop) may be required.

• Capability to work with leadership, employees, and members in an appropriate manner.