Return to Work Specialist

Return to Work Specialist

Location: Hybrid\Remote – Santiago, Dominican Republic | Philippines |

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM US-EST

Position Overview

Spectra Management is seeking an experienced, compliance-minded Return to Work Specialist to oversee leave of absence (LOA) workflows, medical documentation processing, and disability management for our client.

In this role, you will serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in company policies, federal/state regulations, and internal HR best practices. You will act as a pivotal liaison between employees, leadership, HR Shared Services, and third-party vendors—ensuring seamless return-to-work transitions while maintaining strict adherence to legal compliance, SLA timelines, and confidentiality standard operating procedures.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Case Management & SLA Execution: Manage assigned leave-of-absence cases end-to-end, processing paperwork, responding to employee inquiries, and executing workflows within established Service Level Agreement (SLA) timelines.
• Return-to-Work Oversight: Coordinate the return-to-work process by communicating policy requirements, processing relevant medical documentation, and conducting timely outreach to employees on unauthorized leaves.
• Cross-Functional Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact between team members, department managers, external vendor partners, and local/corporate HR leaders.
• Interactive Process Support: Partner closely with Employee Relations to support the ADA interactive process, evaluating accommodation requests and facilitating structured return-to-work plans.
• Employee Consultation & Benefits Guidance: Advise team members on leave options, timelines, pay policies (including third-party sick pay), and internal in-house leave protocols.
• Compliance & Data Privacy: Maintain strict adherence to HIPAA, ERISA, and employee privacy standards, ensuring sensitive medical and personal data remains protected at all times.
• Continuous Improvement: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local leave regulations (FMLA, ADAAA, USERRA). Assist in drafting and refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the LOA function.

Required Qualifications

• Core HR & Leave Knowledge: Deep familiarity with statutory leave administration and U.S. federal/state employment regulations, including FMLA, ADAAA, USERRA, HIPAA, OSHA, IRS, and DOL requirements.
• Regulatory Application: Proven capability to interpret, apply, and explain complex HR policies, leave rules, and compliance guidelines to diverse employee groups.
• Communication & De-escalation: Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills, with a track record of delivering high-touch customer service and de-escalating sensitive employee situations.
• Analytical & Organizational Skills: Strong research, data analysis, and problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams).
• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience).

Preferred Qualifications

• Enterprise Experience: Prior experience managing leave of absence programs within a large-scale enterprise or multi-site employer setting.
• Systems Experience: Experience using Human Capital Management (HCM) platforms—specifically PeopleSoft—and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tracking systems.
• Professional Certifications: Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation.

Work Environment & Schedule Requirements

• Shift: Full-time, standard US-EST schedule (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday).
• Workstation Set-Up: Dedicated quiet home office space equipped with high-speed internet and professional communication capabilities.

A Quick Tip for Applicants

Make Your Experience Count!

Think of your resume as your "first handshake" with our recruitment team. Because we receive a high volume of applications for every role, our recruiters focus heavily on the skills and specific experience explicitly detailed on your CV.

To ensure your qualifications are clearly visible and to avoid being inadvertently passed over, please apply with an up-to-date resume that clearly highlights the skills, tools, and leave administration experience you bring to the table that align with this role. We want to make sure your talent gets the attention it deserves—help us spot your potential right away!