HR Specialist 3

Job Title: HR Specialist III
Contract Duration: 12 Months, Possible Extension
Location: Plano, TX
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Pay Range: $39 - $41/hr

Summary

The HR Specialist III will be responsible for administering and managing U.S. Leave of Absence (LOA), disability, and workplace accommodation programs. This role serves as a subject matter expert on leave administration, ADA accommodations, and regulatory compliance, while partnering with employees, managers, HR, Legal, Payroll, and third-party leave administrators to ensure a positive employee experience and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Responsibilities

• Administer all U.S. leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Paid Parental Leave, Military Leave, Personal Leave, and applicable state leave programs.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Reliance Matrix/Reliance Standard Life Insurance, managing case escalations, claim reviews, operational performance, and service delivery.
• Lead the ADA interactive process and coordinate reasonable accommodation requests with employees, managers, HR, Legal, and healthcare providers.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, USERRA, and applicable state leave laws.
• Create, maintain, and close Leave of Absence events in Workday while ensuring accurate records and timely return-to-work processing.
• Partner with Payroll, HRIS, and business leaders to coordinate leave administration and employee return-to-work activities.
• Educate employees and managers on leave policies, workplace accommodations, and available benefit programs.
• Monitor leave activity, analyze trends, and recommend process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and employee experience.
• Develop and maintain leave policies, procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Assist with audits, regulatory compliance initiatives, and reporting requirements.
• Advise managers and employees on employment regulations, benefits policies, and personnel procedures.
• Prepare reports and documentation related to leave administration, compliance, and workforce analysis.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, USERRA, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and multi-state leave regulations.
• Experience managing the ADA interactive process and workplace accommodations.
• Experience partnering with third-party leave administrators.
• Proficiency with Workday or a comparable Human Capital Management (HCM) system.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage highly confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience administering Leave of Absence, Disability, and ADA accommodation programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing workplace accommodations and the ADA interactive process.
• Experience working with a third-party leave administrator.
• Experience supporting a multi-state U.S. workforce preferred.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) certification preferred.
• Experience with Reliance Matrix/Reliance Standard Life Insurance or a similar leave administration provider preferred.
• Strong understanding of employment regulations, benefits administration, and HR compliance practices.