Leave Specialist

Radius Recycling; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental coverage

Vision plan

401k with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Radius Recycling is seeking a Leave Specialist to manage the full leave lifecycle, working with employees, a third-party vendor, and HR stakeholders. The role ensures compliance with FMLA, ADA, and state programs, while coordinating benefits and return-to-work communications.

The ideal candidate supports confidentiality and accurate documentation in a detail-oriented, employee-focused manner. Hybrid work is available, with three days per week at the Portland, Oregon headquarters and two days

Qualifications

• 2–4 years in leave of absence administration or HR operations.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and state leave programs.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion.
• Excellent organization with ability to handle multiple cases.
• Clear communication of complex leave information.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal resource for all leave requests and vendor coordination.
• Clarify information from the vendor and explain FMLA/ADA/STD/PTO interactions.
• Maintain accurate information flow between vendor, employees, and HR.
• Track intermittent leave and balances with vendor data.
• Follow up on medical certifications and escalate issues to HR Manager.
• Communicate return-to-work dates to managers and payroll.
• Identify ADA accommodation needs and support interactive process.
• Monitor benefit premium obligations during leave and coordinate repayments.
• Identify gaps between vendor procedures and internal HR practices.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Leave administration

FMLA

ADA

HR operations

Documentation

Confidentiality

Tools

HRIS

Vendor portals

Job description

General Position Summary

The Leave Specialist serves as the primary internal resource for all leave of absence administration, acting as the critical link between employees, the company's third-party leave administration vendor, and internal HR stakeholders. In this support role, the Leave Specialist guides employees through every stage of the leave lifecycle from initial request through return to work, ensuring they feel informed, supported, and treated with care and confidentiality. Working in close partnership with HR Business Partners and under the direction of the HR Manager, the Leave Specialist manages the day-to-day operational functions of leave administration including case tracking, documentation follow-up, benefits premium coordination, and return-to-work communication. This role requires a strong working knowledge of federal and state leave laws including FMLA, ADA, and applicable state programs, as well as the ability to identify compliance gaps and elevate complex matters appropriately. The Leave Specialist is a detail oriented, employee focused professional who plays an integral role in ensuring the company's leave program operates accurately, consistently, and in full alignment with regulatory requirements.

General Position Summary

The Leave Specialist serves as the primary internal resource for all leave of absence administration, acting as the critical link between employees, the company's third-party leave administration vendor, and internal HR stakeholders. In this support role, the Leave Specialist guides employees through every stage of the leave lifecycle from initial request through return to work, ensuring they feel informed, supported, and treated with care and confidentiality. Working in close partnership with HR Business Partners and under the direction of the HR Manager, the Leave Specialist manages the day-to-day operational functions of leave administration including case tracking, documentation follow-up, benefits premium coordination, and return-to-work communication. This role requires a strong working knowledge of federal and state leave laws including FMLA, ADA, and applicable state programs, as well as the ability to identify compliance gaps and elevate complex matters appropriately. The Leave Specialist is a detail oriented, employee focused professional who plays an integral role in ensuring the company's leave program operates accurately, consistently, and in full alignment with regulatory requirements.

This position offers competitive pay along with a variety of benefits including medical, dental and vision plans for both you and your dependents; 401k with company match, paid time off which starts with your first check, and paid holidays.

Salary Range: $32.25 - $38.00 per hour

Essential Functions

• Serves as the internal point of contact for all leave of absence requests (FMLA, state leave, ADA, personal, military, parental, etc.), ensuring cases are properly initiated and routed through the company's third-party leave administration vendor to support seamless intake and timely delivery of required employee notices
• Functions as a trusted internal resource for employees throughout the leave lifecycle, clarifying and reinforcing information received from the vendor, explaining the interaction between FMLA, state leave, ADA, STD, and PTO, and ensuring employees feel informed and supported at every stage with a compassionate and confidential approach
• Acts as the internal liaison responsible for maintaining accurate and consistent information flow between the vendor, employees, and HR stakeholders throughout the leave lifecycle
• Tracks intermittent leave usage and monitors employee leave balances in coordination with vendor reporting and system data
• Follows up with employees on missing or incomplete medical certifications and escalates unresolved documentation issues to the HR Manager in a timely manner
• Reviews return-to-work dates provided by the vendor and communicates them to managers and payroll to ensure seamless and well-coordinated transitions
• Flags potential ADA accommodation needs when leave is exhausted or a disability is identified, and supports the interactive process by gathering relevant documentation and escalating decisions to the HR Manager
• Tracks benefit premium obligations for employees on leave, communicates payment options and deadlines when payroll deductions are suspended, and coordinates with Payroll and Benefits to collect missed premiums and process repayment arrangements upon the employee's return
• Identifies gaps between vendor procedures and internal HR practices, brings recommendations to the HR Manager, and supports the development of manager and employee-facing resources to promote understanding of leave processes and effective use of the vendor
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Physical Activities Required To Perform Essential Functions

Ability to: lift and carry up to 10 pounds frequently; sit for extended periods of time, up to 6-8 hours per day; keyboard for extended periods of time, up to 6 hours per day; be mobile within an office setting; assemble papers, paper punch, staple, file, photocopy; apply sufficient force to open and close file drawers; communicate by speech and hearing in person and/or by phone in a businesslike, professional manner. Visual acuity needed to perform close detail work for preparation and proofreading of business correspondence and operating a computer terminal.

Interpersonal Contacts

This position requires regular communication with employees at all levels of the organization through phone, written, and in-person channels, ranging from routine inquiries to more complex discussions around leave policies and employee rights. External contacts may include government agencies, legal counsel, third-party vendors, and other HR professionals, requiring a consistently professional and informed approach in all interactions.

Job Conditions

This position operates in a hybrid work environment, currently three days per week at the company's corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon and two days remotely, subject to change based on business needs. The role requires the ability to manage competing priorities, meet time-sensitive deadlines, and maintain focus in a busy office setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in leave of absence administration, HR operations, or a related HR support role
• Working experience with FMLA, ADA, and state leave programs required; experience with Oregon and Washington state-specific leave laws including Oregon Paid Leave and Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML).
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple open cases simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex leave information in a clear and accessible manner
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate recordkeeping and documentation

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and leave management systems; ability to learn and navigate vendor portals and reporting tools
• Prior experience working with a third-party leave administration vendor
• Experience in a shared services or high-volume HR environment

PLEASE NOTE

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.

All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Radius Recycling participates in E-Verify for all U.S. new hires.

An offer of U.S. employment by Radius Recycling or any of its subsidiaries is contingent on the satisfactory completion of a post-offer drug screen and background check.

All new hires must review and sign an Arbitration Agreement. This applies to all U.S. non-union employees.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Radius Recycling does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, marital status, disability status, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, age, prior industrial injury, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected status under local, state or federal law.