Leave Administration Manager

O'Melveny & Myers LLP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

O’Melveny & Myers LLP in New York/DC seeks an experienced Leave Administration Manager to oversee U.S. leave programs for all employee populations. You will ensure accurate, timely, and compliant administration while delivering a high-touch employee experience in a complex environment.

The role reports to the Sr. Benefits & Wellbeing Manager and partners with HR, Payroll, Legal, and leadership to optimize leave processes, vendors, and platforms. Hybrid work in NY or DC is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or HR certification preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of HR and/or leave administration experience, including at least 3 years in a senior or lead capacity.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience administering FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and other federal/state/local leaves.
• Experience with Unum Total Leave or similar TPAs preferred.
• Working knowledge of Workday leave administration modules and Monday.com.

Responsibilities

• Administer and oversee all U.S. leave of absence programs (FMLA, CFRA, disability, parental/ family leave, etc.).
• End-to-end management of leave cases in partnership with the Sr. Wellbeing & Benefits Specialist.
• Advise employees, managers, and HR partners on entitlements and procedures; monitor balances and communicate timely.
• Serve as escalation point for complex or high-risk cases; ensure compliance and risk mitigation.
• Oversee relationships with Unum Total Leave and external brokers; coordinate state and federal leave programs with firm policies.
• Maintain leave tracking in Workday, Monday.com, and Unum Total Leave; provide data for reporting.
• Mentor and collaborate with HR colleagues; support cross-training and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure compliance with FMLA, CFRA, ADA and related laws; update policies as needed.

Skills

Leave administration

HR policy

Mentorship

Vendor management

Workday

Monday.com

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Unum Total Leave

Workday leave module

Monday.com

Job description

It’s more than what you do: it’s how you do it. That’s why O’Melveny is counsel of choice to an ever-expanding list of market leaders. Opportunity at O’Melveny means working alongside dynamic and team-oriented colleagues on evolving legal and business issues and opportunities for prominent clients around the world. It’s a place to build a rewarding career by tackling new challenges; being appreciated, included, and supported; and creating lasting connections.

With approximately 850 lawyers on three continents, more than 80 practice and industry service areas, and strong cultural ties to its 17 locations, O’Melveny is a global law firm with a local feel. At our core, you’ll find a dedication to excellence, a drive to lead and innovate, and a deep sense of civic responsibility.

So, tell us. What do you want to achieve? Visit us at www.omm.com/our-firm/our-dna; read our Insights 2024 report; explore our firm at-a-glance; and find us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

O’Melveny has an immediate opening for an experienced Leave Administration Manager in our New York or DC office with hybrid work capabilities. Reporting to the Sr. Benefits & Wellbeing Manager this role is responsible for the day-to-day administration and oversight of the firm’s U.S. leave of absence programs for all employee populations, including Business Professionals, Associates, and Partners. The role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant leave administration while delivering a consistent, high touch employee experience in a complex, highly regulated professional services environment. The Leave Administration Manager partners closely with the Sr. Wellbeing & Benefits Specialist, providing hands-on mentorship and acting as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex or sensitive cases. Additionally, this role will evaluate current leave processes, tools, and vendor partnerships, providing strategic support and recommendations for improvements, leave platforms, and third-party administrators (TPAs).

The salary range in NY for this role is $140,000 -$165,000 and represents the firm’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location.

Leave Administration & Operations

• Administer and oversee all U.S. leave of absence programs, including FMLA, CFRA, short‑term and long‑term disability, parental leave, family leave, Workers’ Compensation, and other statutory or firm‑sponsored leaves.
• Manage leave cases end‑to‑end in partnership with the Sr. Wellbeing & Benefits Specialist.
• Advise employees, managers, and HR partners on leave entitlements, policies, benefit coordination, and procedures.
• Monitor leave balances and ensure timely, accurate communication.
• Act as an escalation point for complex, sensitive, or high‑risk leave cases.

Systems, Vendors & Tools

• Partner with the Sr. Benefits & Wellbeing Manager to oversee the firm’s relationship with Unum Total Leave and external benefits brokers.
• Coordinate state and federal leave programs with firm policies.
• Maintain accurate leave tracking and documentation across Workday, Monday.com, and Unum Total Leave.
• Serve as a primary resource for HR teams on leave systems and processes.
• Liaise with the firm’s Workers’ Compensation carrier regarding escalated claims.

Mentorship & Collaboration

• Provide day‑to‑day mentorship, guidance, and technical coaching to the Sr. Wellbeing & Benefits Specialist.
• Promote knowledge sharing, cross‑training, and consistent application of leave practices across the Benefits Team.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues, Payroll, Legal, and firm leadership to support compliant and employee‑centric leave administration.

Compliance, Policy & Risk Management

• In collaboration with the Sr. Benefits & Wellbeing Manager and the Directors of HR and Employee Relations, ensure compliance with FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and other federal, state, and local leave laws.
• Review and recommend updates to HR leave policies and procedures.
• Support the resolution of complex compliance issues, with a focus on risk mitigation and employee experience.

Process Evaluation & Strategic Support

• Collaborate with the Sr. Benefits and Wellbeing Manager to evaluate and enhance leave administration processes, workflows, tools, and controls.
• Assess the effectiveness of existing systems and vendor solutions, including integration between Workday, Monday.com, and Unum Total Leave.
• Support vendor evaluations, RFPs, and implementation efforts, including requirements gathering, process mapping, testing, and change management.
• Develop SOPs, maintain process documentation, and governance practices, and provide leave data and metrics for reporting.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay current on legislative changes and industry best practices, with particular focus on California.
• Proactively leverage technology and data to improve service delivery, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in regular status meetings with benefits leadership and vendors.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or professional HR certification preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of HR and/or leave administration experience, including at least 3 years in a senior or lead capacity.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience administering FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and other federal, state, and local leave programs.
• Experience working with Unum Total Leave or similar third‑party leave administrators strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Workday, particularly leave administration modules, strongly preferred.
• Experience using Monday.com (or similar workflow/project‑tracking tools) to log, track, and manage leave cases.
• Experience evaluating or implementing leave platforms or TPAs a plus.
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and collaborate with HR colleagues.
• Exceptional discretion, confidentiality, judgment, and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support time‑sensitive matters.

We offer an excellent salary and benefits package.

For more information, or to be considered for this position, please apply online at www.omm.com. Response will be given to candidates who closely meet our qualifications. EOE M/F/D/V. No phone inquiries, please.