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. The Leave of Absence Manager 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. This role reports to the Benefits 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. 

• Minimum of four to six (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 salary range: $68,100 - $104,700 USD/annually