Senior Leave & Benefits Specialist

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Clegg (NC); Remote; USD 109,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a benefits professional to manage leave, disability, and accommodations programs across the US, ensuring compliance and a high-quality employee experience.

You will partner with vendors and internal teams to optimize processes, drive data-driven decisions, and support change management initiatives. Responsibilities include end-to-end program administration, cross-functional collaboration, and analytics-driven improvements, with a focus on automation and AI-enabled

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with a specialized focus on leave, disability, and accommodations.
• Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, ERISA, HIPAA, and regional/state-specific leave laws.
• Experience managing relationships with third-party vendors and external partners.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite; ability to learn online vendor portals and benefits administration systems.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems (such as Workday) and case management tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end administration of leave programs (FMLA, ADA, disability, workers' compensation) while ensuring compliance with laws.
• Monitor and partner in employee support, delivering differentiated experiences through concierge and external vendor coordination.
• Provide guidance on benefit plan interpretation and maintain subject matter expertise for inquiries.
• Collaborate with senior management, IT, payroll, and change management teams to resolve gaps and improve service delivery (including LOA workflows).
• Conduct change management initiatives for significant benefits changes and support communication efforts via intranet pages, guides, and state communications.
• Analyze leave, disability, and accommodation data to identify trends and improve program effectiveness; leverage AI tools for productivity and engagement.
• Maintain program budgets, review vendor invoices, and ensure data integrity and financial accuracy; oversee disability program auditing.
• Take responsibility for other related benefit programs as required (life, disability, survivor support).

Skills

Benefits administration

FMLA/ADA/ERISA knowledge

Vendor management

Excel (VLOOKUP, pivots)

HRIS systems (Workday)

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Workday HRIS

Job description

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a benefits professional to manage leave, disability, and accommodations programs across the US, ensuring compliance and a high-quality employee experience.

You will partner with vendors and internal teams to optimize processes, drive data-driven decisions, and support change management initiatives. Responsibilities include end-to-end program administration, cross-functional collaboration, and analytics-driven improvements, with a focus on automation and AI-enabled