Leave of Absence Manager

General Purpose

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Manager leads the strategy, governance, and execution of all leave of absence, disability, and paid time off programs across a complex, multi-state healthcare workforce. This role is accountable for delivering a compliant, consistent, and employee-centered experience while ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations.

Serving as the organization’s subject matter expert, the LOA Manager provides clear, high-level guidance on regulatory requirements and complex cases. This role operates as both a people leader and operational owner, leading a team and establishing standards for execution, accountability, and consistency in a decentralized environment.

The ideal candidate combines deep regulatory expertise with strong operational leadership, with the ability to navigate evolving legal landscapes, drive structure and discipline, and deliver scalable, high-quality outcomes across the enterprise.

Essential Duties

Leave of Absence Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead and oversee all leave of absence and accommodation programs across the enterprise.

• Own end-to-end leave processes, including intake, eligibility, documentation, tracking, and return-to-work coordination.

• Ensure consistent, compliant, and employee-centered program delivery at scale.

• Establish and maintain standardized policies, procedures, and workflows.

Regulatory Expertise & Compliance

• Serve as the subject matter expert on FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state/local leave laws.

• Maintain deep expertise in complex jurisdictions (e.g., CA, CO, OR, WA).

• Interpret and apply regulations consistently across a multi-state workforce.

• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure timely updates to policies and practices.

• Support audits and ensure compliance readiness across programs.

Vendor Management & Operational Excellence

• Manage and hold the third-party administrator (e.g., Unum) accountable for:

  • Timely and accurate employee communications

  • SLA adherence

  • Quality of case management

  • Consistent application of company policies

• Partner regularly with the vendor to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement.

• Ensure seamless integration between internal systems (e.g., Workday) and vendor platforms.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Integration

• Partner with HR, Payroll, Benefits, Legal, Risk, Facilities, and Operations to ensure alignment.

• Ensure leave processes integrate effectively with payroll, benefits, and employee data systems.

• Proactively identify and resolve data, process, or experience gaps.

• Serve as the central point of coordination for complex or high-risk cases.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of LOA Specialists and Coordinators.

• Provide guidance on complex cases and escalations.

• Establish clear performance expectations and monitor workload and quality.

• Build team capability in regulatory knowledge, case management, and employee experience.

• Foster a high-performing, accountable, and service-oriented team culture.

Training, Enablement & Communication

• Provide training and ongoing guidance to human resource leaders, managers, and cross-functional partners.

• Develop scalable resources, including SOPs, job aids, and recorded training.

• Lead live and virtual training sessions to improve understanding and consistency.

• Ensure leaders are equipped to manage leave-related responsibilities effectively.

Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze LOA data to identify trends, risks, and operational opportunities.

• Use insights to improve processes, policies, and employee experience.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across leave programs.

• Provide reporting and insights to HR and business leadership

KEY OUTCOME (12–24 MONTHS)

• Leave of absence programs operate with high consistency, compliance, and employee experience across all facilities.

• Leaders and HR partners experience clear, practical guidance on leave and accommodation matters.

• Third-party administrator (e.g., Unum) performance is reliable, measurable, and continuously improving.

• Standardized policies, workflows, and tools reduce variability and compliance risk.

• LOA data and insights provide visibility into trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

• The LOA team demonstrates strong capability, judgment, and operational discipline.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in leave of absence administration, including multi-state environments

• 2+ years of leadership or team management experience

• Strong working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state/local leave laws

• Experience in healthcare or other highly regulated, multi-site industries, with exposure to complex state leave programs (e.g., California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado)

• Experience managing complex leave and accommodation cases

• Experience working with leave management systems (e.g., Workday, Unum, or similar platforms)

• Strong problem-solving, judgment, and decision-making capabilities

Preferred

• Professional certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)

• Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) or equivalent

Work Location

• This role is based at PACS Headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City, UT. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates who reside outside the greater Salt Lake City area.

Travel

• Travel is expected across regions, and facilities to build relationships, coach leaders, and support implementation. Anticipated travel: 15%, depending on business needs.

Pay Range: $90,000 - $140,000 annually depending on job related experience

Join PACS: Elevate Healthcare with Us!

PACS is elevating healthcare by revolutionizing our approach to leadership and quality care. Guided by our core values of love, excellence, trust, accountability, mutual respect, and commitment, we strive to foster a culture of compassionate care within our teams and the communities we serve. As we grow rapidly, exciting opportunities await you to engage in impactful projects and contribute valuable insights to stakeholders nationwide.

If you're ready to make a difference and embrace our mission of creating real change, we invite you to join us at PACS. Together, let’s shape the future of healthcare!

Join Our Team and Thrive!

At PACS, we believe our employees are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer an exceptional benefits package designed to enhance your well-being and support your lifestyle.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Include

• Health Coverage: Enjoy medical, dental, and vision plans to keep you and your family healthy.

• PTO and Vacation: Benefit from generous paid time off and holidays to relax and recharge.

• Financial Wellness: Take advantage of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to manage your healthcare expenses effectively.

• Retirement Planning: Secure your future with our 401(k) plan, complete with company contributions to help you build your retirement savings.

• Support When You Need It: Our Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provides confidential support for personal and professional challenges.

Join us at PACS and take advantage of a workplace that truly values you!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and any other protected characteristic. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.