Senior Associate, Leave and Accommodations

Mass Digital Health; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

athenahealth in Boston is seeking a Senior Leave Associate to manage the full lifecycle of leave and accommodation cases, coordinating with HR, Payroll, and legal to ensure compliant, timely decisions. You will support employees, managers, and partners, guiding documentation and return-to-work processes with a focus on data accuracy and policy adherence.

This role may operate remotely or in a hybrid office setting, reporting to the Director of Global Benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Admin, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 3–5 years in leave administration or HR, with FMLA/ADA/ADAAA cases.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws.
• Experience interpreting documentation and applying policies.
• Experience using HR systems such as Workday or ADP.
• Ability to analyze data and prepare clear reports or summaries.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Leave Case Management: manage full lifecycle of leave and accommodation cases from intake to return to work.
• Decision-Making & Compliance: partner with third-party leave vendor to ensure compliant decisions.
• Employee & Manager Support: serve as main contact with updates and return-to-work guidance.
• Subject Matter Expertise: act as SME on leave programs and escalate to Legal/HR leadership as needed.
• Process Improvement & Reporting: identify improvements and analyze leave data to support decisions.
• Risk Management & Integrity: review suspected leave misuse and elevate concerns.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: partner with Payroll, Legal, HR, HR Ops, and AskHR on leave work.
• Vendor Management: monitor third-party administrator performance and raise concerns.
• Continuous Learning: stay current on leave laws and trends.
• AI usage: summarize case info with AI while protecting data.

Skills

Leave administration

Policy interpretation

Data analysis

Communication

Workday/ADP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business Admin or related field

Tools

Workday

ADP

Job description

Join us as we work to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all.

Position Summary

The Senior Leave Associate manages leave of absence and workplace accommodation cases from intake through return to work. This role supports employees, managers, and internal partners by explaining requirements, coordinating documentation, and keeping cases moving accurately and on time. The position helps ensure compliance with applicable laws and company policies while delivering a consistent employee experience. This role reports to the Director, Global Benefits.

About the Team

The Leave Administration team, part of the Benefits team, manages employee leaves and accommodations in a compliant, efficient, and employee-centered way. We collaborate closely with HR Business Partners, Payroll, and managers to support various leave types (medical, parental, disability, personal) and ensure a seamless experience for employees. The team leverages HR systems (such as Workday and ADP) and clear communication practices to maintain accurate records and facilitate timely and smooth return-to-work transitions. The Senior Leave Associate serves as a key individual contributor within this team, providing leadership through expertise and insight into best practices and improvements.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• End-to-End Leave Case Management: Manage the full lifecycle of leave of absence and accommodation cases from intake through return to work, ensuring timely handling, accurate tracking, and coordination with key partners.
• Decision-Making & Compliance: Partner with the third-party leave vendor to review requests and apply company policy and legal requirements to support compliant decisions.
• Employee & Manager Support: Serve as the main point of contact for employees and managers by providing clear guidance, regular updates, and return-to-work support throughout the leave process.
• Subject Matter Expertise & Escalation Handling: Act as a subject matter expert on leave and accommodation programs, handling complex cases and consulting with Legal or HR leadership when needed.
• Process Improvement & Reporting: Identify process improvements, maintain and analyze leave data, and share reports and recommendations to support better decisions and ongoing program enhancements.
• Risk Management & Integrity: Review suspected leave misuse or fraud, document findings, and elevate concerns to support the integrity of leave programs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Payroll, Legal, HR, HR Operations, and AskHR to support leave-related work, update guidance, and provide accurate answers to employee and manager questions.
• Vendor Management: Monitor third-party administrator performance, resolve case issues, track trends, and raise concerns to help ensure accurate and timely service.
• Continuous Learning: Stay current on leave laws, best practices, and industry trends through ongoing learning and professional development.
• AI usage: Use AI tools responsibly to summarize case information, organize documentation, and identify workflow patterns while protecting confidential employee data and applying human judgment to all decisions.

Expected Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in leave administration, benefits, or a related HR area, with extensive experience managing FMLA and ADA/ADAAA cases independently.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws and regulations.
• Experience interpreting documentation and applying policies to determine next steps in case handling.
• Experience using HR systems, case management systems, or workflow tools such as Workday, ADP, or similar platforms.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and prepare clear reports or summaries.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex information clearly.
• Strong organization and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across teams, and maintain confidentiality and sound judgment.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This role is primarily desk-based and may be performed in a remote or office environment. It requires prolonged periods of computer use and regular communication via phone/email. The employee should be able to maintain a dedicated, safe workspace (with reliable internet access) and engage in standard office activities. Minimal physical effort is needed beyond normal office tasks (such as moving light files or using office equipment). Reasonable accommodations can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of the job.

Expected Compensation

$79,000 - $135,000

The base salary range shown reflects the full range for this role from minimum to maximum. At athenahealth, base pay depends on multiple factors, including job-related experience, relevant knowledge and skills, how your qualifications compare to others in similar roles, and geographical market rates. Base pay is only one part of our competitive Total Rewards package—depending on role eligibility, we offer both short and long-term incentives by way of an annual discretionary bonus plan, variable compensation plan, and equity plans.