Leave and Benefits Specialist

YES! Communities; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

YES Communities is hiring a Leave & Benefits Specialist to administer leave programs, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with Benefits on annual enrollment and communications. The role focuses on FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and state leave programs across multiple locations to deliver a seamless employee experience.

You will partner with HR, payroll, and risk to coordinate leave, return-to-work, documentation, and timely updates, while maintaining confidentiality

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience administering employee leave programs for a multi-location employer.
• Experience managing FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and state-specific leave programs.
• Experience supporting employees and leaders in a fast-paced, service-focused environment.
• Experience with HRIS and confidential employee records.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate leave cases with UNUM and ensure timely processing and communication among employees and HR stakeholders.
• Manage leave programs including FMLA, state leaves, personal and other company-sponsored leaves.
• Guide employees through intake to closure and handle medical certifications.
• Monitor leave durations, intermittent leave, and compliance with regulations.
• Provide guidance on leave requirements, payroll impacts, and return-to-work expectations.
• Coordinate reasonable accommodations and maintain documentation.
• Support benefits and payroll with leave coding and premium payments.
• Prepare reports and identify process improvements related to leave and accommodations.

Skills

Leave administration

FMLA

ADA accommodations

Workers’ compensation

State leaves

HRIS

Excel Pivot Tables

Data analysis

Customer service

Communication skills

Multi-location experience

Documentation & confidentiality

Tools

HRIS system

Job description

YES Communities, founded in 2008, owns and operates manufactured housing communities with locations across the United States. YES takes a new approach to manufactured home communities and works to build and maintain an environment in each community that reflects their positive YES attitude.

Life at YES

YES Communities strives to hire a diverse workforce that shares our vision. We empower our employees to develop a strong sense of community because we know that happy, dedicated employees make the difference. Our culture is one where leaders set clear expectations and give you the freedom to manage your goals. We invest in our employees and take pride as we watch them achieve results and make a difference in their roles every day.

Position Summary

The Leave & Benefits Specialist plays a critical role in supporting employees throughout their leave and benefits experience. This position is primarily responsible for administering leave of absence programs, including compliance with applicable laws and company policies, while also partnering with the Benefits team on benefits administration, employee communications, annual enrollment, compliance activities, and special projects. The ideal candidate is highly organized, service-oriented, and committed to delivering an exceptional employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Leave Administration

• Partner closely with UNUM, the Company’s leave administration vendor, to coordinate leave cases, ensure timely and accurate processing of leave requests, monitor case status, resolve discrepancies, and facilitate effective communication among employees, managers, payroll, and HR stakeholders.
• Manage employee leave programs, including but not limited to Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), state-paid leave programs, personal leaves of absence, military leave, parental leave, disability-related leaves, and other company-sponsored leave benefits.
• Evaluate leave requests, determine eligibility, and guide employees through the leave process from initial intake through case closure.
• Ensure timely completion, collection, and review of medical certifications, supporting documentation, and leave-related correspondence.
• Monitor leave durations, intermittent leave usage, and required employee updates while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.
• Provide guidance to employees, community leaders, and HR partners regarding leave requirements, employee responsibilities, payroll impacts, benefits continuation, and return-to-work expectations.

Accommodations & Employee Support

• Coordinate the interactive process for workplace accommodation requests and partner with HR Partners and leaders to evaluate reasonable accommodation solutions.
• Maintain thorough documentation of accommodation discussions, decisions, and supporting records.
• Consult with HR leadership regarding complex accommodation situations or requests involving operational considerations.
• Partner with the Company’s Risk Department on workers’ compensation cases that involve leaves of absence, including situations where workers’ compensation may run concurrently with FMLA, state leave programs, or other protected leave entitlements.
• Coordinate with the Risk Department, employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate leave tracking, timely communication, and compliance with applicable leave laws and company policies.
• Support the return-to-work process by monitoring employee restrictions, leave status, and anticipated return dates, ensuring alignment between workers’ compensation and leave administration requirements.
• Partner with HR, Risk, and operational leaders to facilitate reasonable accommodation and interactive process discussions, as appropriate, and support successful employee reintegration into the workplace.
• Maintain accurate documentation and communication regarding leave, accommodation, and return-to-work activities while ensuring a positive employee experience and regulatory compliance.

Payroll, Benefits, and Compliance Support

• Collaborate with Payroll and Benefits teams to ensure accurate leave coding, wage replacement coordination, benefit deductions, and premium payments.
• Support annual compliance activities, workers’ compensation audits, OSHA recordkeeping requirements, and other reporting obligations.
• Maintain accurate records and audit-ready documentation within HR systems and designated tracking tools.
• Ensure all leave, accommodation, and occupational injury records are maintained in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.

Reporting, Process Improvement and Benefits Support

• Prepare recuring reports and workforce metrics related to leave activity, accommodation trends, and workplace injuries.
• Identify patterns that may indicate compliance risks, operational concerns, or opportunities for process improvement.
• Recommend enhancements to workflows, administration processes, and employee communications that improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Support the Benefits team with a variety of initiatives and programs, including benefits administration, employee communications, annual enrollment activities, compliance-related efforts, and other departmental projects as needed.

Qualifications

Education

Required

• 3+ years of experience administering employee leave programs for a multi-location employer.
• Demonstrated experience managing FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and state-specific leave programs.
• Experience supporting employees and leaders in a fast-paced, service-focused environment.
• Previous experience working within an HRIS platform and managing confidential employee records.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, lookup functions, and data analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of federal and state leave laws, including FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation requirements, and paid leave regulations.
• Ability to interpret regulations and apply them consistently while balancing employee needs and business requirements.
• Exceptional customer service mindset with the ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify practical solutions to complex situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex policies in a clear and understandable manner.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with operations leaders, HR Business Partners, Payroll, Benefits, and outside vendors.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.

Preferred Certifications

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or related HR certification preferred.
• Workers' Compensation or Leave Management certification preferred.

Compensation: $72,000 – $78,000 + 10% annual bonus opportunity