Leave & Accommodations Program Manager

LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Comprehensive benefits program

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP is seeking a strategic Leave Administration and Accommodations Manager to oversee the firm’s leave of absence and accommodation programs across U.S. offices, ensuring compliant, consistent and efficient administration.

You will guide HR, management, and employees on complex leave matters while managing vendor performance and driving process improvements. The role requires a strong background in FMLA/CFRA/ADA/ PWFA, multi-state leaves, data analytics, and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in leave of absence administration, benefits, or human resources, including direct experience managing complex, multi-state leave programs
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local leave and accommodation laws and regulations (including FMLA, CFRA, ADA/ADAA, PWFA, and applicable state/local leave laws)
• Demonstrated experience managing complex or sensitive leave and accommodation cases, including exercising sound judgment in ambiguous situations
• Experience working with and overseeing third-party leave administrators or vendors
• Proven ability to partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, including HR, Legal, Payroll, and management
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Firm’s center of excellence and subject matter expert for leave and accommodations, ensuring consistent application of policies, high-quality service delivery, and full regulatory compliance with all federal, state, and city-specific laws across all U.S. offices.
• Manage the full lifecycle of leave cases including intake, eligibility, notification, documentation, tracking, and return to work.
• Centralize and manage the end-to-end interactive process for disability and religious workplace accommodation requests, in coordination with HR, Compliance and Legal.
• Leverage understanding of return to work strategies and accommodation expertise related to regulatory laws and requirements.
• Provide guidance on complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters, and serving as an escalation point for issues requiring advanced judgment, legal coordination, or policy interpretation.
• Manage and develop the Leave & Accommodation Specialist, including overseeing day-to-day work, setting performance expectations, monitoring service standards, identifying leave and accommodation training, and supporting ongoing professional development.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives by establishing workflows, service levels, and best practices that enhance efficiency, ensure timely case resolution, and deliver a high-quality employee experience.
• Lead the Firm’s approach to leave- and accommodation-related risk management, including supporting audits, investigations, and responses to complex or sensitive matters, in coordination with Legal and Human Resources leadership.
• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, Payroll, and Benefits to ensure seamless coordination of leave, disability, and accommodation matters, and to support consistent decision-making across the Firm.
• Leverage data and reporting to monitor trends, identify risks, and develop actionable insights and recommendations to mitigate risk and improve programs, processes, and employee experience.
• Own and optimise leave and accommodation administration systems and processes, partnering with HRIS and vendors to enhance functionality, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiency.
• Manage the Firm’s relationship with its third‑party leave administrator, including:
• Overseeing day-to-day vendor performance and service delivery.
• Ensuring the vendor administers leaves in compliance with applicable laws and in alignment with Firm policies and practices.
• Conducting regular audits and reviews of vendor determinations, communications, and processes for accuracy and consistency.
• Resolving escalations and discrepancies between vendor determinations and Firm policies.
• Partnering with the vendor on process improvements, reporting, and service enhancements.
• Ensure accurate and timely communication with employees.
• Develop, maintain, and update leave and accommodation policies, procedures, and internal guidance materials to reflect evolving legal requirements and Firm practices.
• Develop and deliver trainings, SOPs, templates, educational tools and communications for managers and employees to drive awareness, compliance, and effective application of leave and accommodation policies and practices.
• Continually monitor the effectiveness of approved workplace accommodations, recommending improvements or updates as needed.
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping and confidentiality of all leave‑and‑accommodation‑related documentation in accordance with legal and Firm standards.
• Lead or support HR projects related to leave and accommodation systems, process improvements, and policy enhancements.
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory developments impacting leave, absence management and accommodations.

Skills

Leave management

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Workday

AbsenceSoft

HRIS

Leave management systems

Job description

Sidley Austin LLP is seeking a strategic Leave Administration and Accommodations Manager to oversee the firm’s leave of absence and accommodation programs across U.S. offices, ensuring compliant, consistent and efficient administration.

You will guide HR, management, and employees on complex leave matters while managing vendor performance and driving process improvements. The role requires a strong background in FMLA/CFRA/ADA/ PWFA, multi-state leaves, data analytics, and cross-functional