Leave of Absence Manager

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. You’ll manage all types of leave—including FMLA, ADA, disability, parental, personal, workers’ compensation, and statutory leaves—and partner closely with third-party administrators, HR, payroll, and managers. Our Leave of Absence Manager reports to the Compliance Director and supports our growing, distributed workforce of approximately 5,000 employees across North America. 

Key Responsibilities 

• 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, and ensure 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. 

Estimated Base Pay Rang: $64,100 - $104,700 USD/annually