Leave & Absence Specialist - Temporary

UC Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Irvine is seeking an experienced Leave Administration Specialist to guide departments on absence management and administer leaves (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability, and personal leaves) in line with university policies and legal requirements.

The role serves as the liaison with Central HR on disability and workers' compensation, supports return-to-work protocols, and maintains accurate case tracking and reporting to ensure compliance across the campus.

Qualifications

• 5 to 7 years of specialized leave administration experience in California.
• 5 to 7 years of HR generalist experience.
• Experience in a university setting (UC preferred) or large, complex organization.
• Thorough knowledge of HR functions, labor laws, and HR management systems (HRMS/leave software).
• Strong interpersonal, listening, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Preferred bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Guide departments on overall absence management and administer leaves (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability, and personal leaves) in compliance with university policies, collective bargaining agreements, and legal regulations.
• Act as a primary liaison with Central HR on disability and workers' compensation claims, facilitating communication regarding leave accruals, return-to-work protocols, and accommodations.
• Conduct one-on-one counseling sessions to identify leave and financial options and guide individuals through the process beyond paperwork processing.
• Maintain tracking, documentation, and reporting requirements for all leave cases and monitor compliance deliverables.

Skills

Active listening

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Communication

Tools

HRMS/HRIS

Job description

UC Irvine is seeking an experienced Leave Administration Specialist to guide departments on absence management and administer leaves (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability, and personal leaves) in line with university policies and legal requirements.

The role serves as the liaison with Central HR on disability and workers' compensation, supports return-to-work protocols, and maintains accurate case tracking and reporting to ensure compliance across the campus.