Specialist, Talent - Leaves Administration

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

The Leaves Administrator plays a vital role in supporting Uncommon Schools' staff by managing employee leave requests with care, accuracy, and operational efficiency. By serving as a trusted primary point of contact during medical, personal, and family leaves, this position ensures employees receive clear guidance and support throughout their leave lifecycle. The Leaves Administrator collaborates closely with HR Payroll, Legal, and Total Rewards teams to maintain compliant, consistent, and seamless leave practices across the organization. Effective leave administration directly enhances staff well-being and retention, allowing school leaders and educators to remain focused on delivering educational excellence. Through detail-oriented case management and adherence to legal guidelines, this role ensures equitable policy application across all teams.

Responsibilities

Case Management & Leave Administration

• Manage assigned leave cases through the full lifecycle, including intake, eligibility review, documentation collection, leave designation, ongoing case updates, and return-to-work processes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and key stakeholders, offering clear guidance on leave requirements, documentation, timelines, and next steps.
• Apply established organizational leave policies, standard operating protocols, and decision trees to make routine, case-level determinations.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records, including leave dates, status changes, employee communications, and medical certifications.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding Personal Health Information (PHI), Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and sensitive medical documentation.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain a working knowledge of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), applicable state and local leave laws, and workers' compensation.
• Ensure case administration aligns with legal requirements and organizational policies, escalating policy exceptions or potential legal risks to leadership or Legal counsel.
• Conduct regular case reviews, quality checks, and internal audits to confirm adherence to documentation and workflow standards.
• Provide accurate case records and documentation to support compliance requests, audits, and employee relations inquiries.

Systems & Data Management

• Enter and maintain accurate leave-related information within Workday and internal tracking systems.
• Perform routine data audits and quality checks to identify and resolve data discrepancies.
• Partner directly with the HR Payroll team to ensure accurate and timely pay processing for employees on leave.
• Support vendor coordination and internal or external audit activities as needed.

Process Improvement & Team Support

• Contribute to operational improvement projects and pilots focused on case workflows, tracking tools, and escalation handling.
• Participate in continuous training, process updates, and system enhancements to improve leave operations.
• Provide backup support to team members to manage full-cycle leave cases during peak volume periods or coverage gaps.

Required Qualifications

• 3–4 years of relevant experience in leave administration, human resources, or benefits administration.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, state and local leave laws, workers' compensation, and leave-related benefits.
• Proficiency in data entry and data analysis using tools such as Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience utilizing Workday for HR systems or leave tracking.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

The full compensation range for this role is $70,100-$82,500.

Typically, new hires who fully meet the qualifications and experience expectations for the role will start at or near $74,300.

Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Work Environment

Uncommon is an in-person organization with a commitment to at least three days each week at our Central Office in downtown Manhattan (100 Church Street). Candidates must be based in the NYC or Newark region and be required to travel monthly to regional locations (such as Rochester, Boston, or Camden) for 2 to 3 days at a time.

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE. 

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].