Leave Coordinator

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description:

WorldStrides is seeking a detail-oriented and empathetic Leave of Absence (LOA) Administrator to join our HR team. In this role, you will manage the end-to-end administration of all employee leaves, including FMLA, ADA, PTO, disability, and state-mandated programs. You will serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers, guiding them through the leave process while ensuring strict legal compliance and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Manage Leave Cases: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of all medical, parental, personal, and military leave requests.
• Ensure Compliance: Interpret and apply federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, ADA, Paid Family Leave) to ensure full organizational compliance.
• Lead ADA Interactive Process: Facilitate conversations between employees and managers to determine and implement reasonable workplace accommodations.
• Coordinate Payroll & Benefits: Partner with payroll and benefits teams to ensure accurate pay integration, tracking short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Communicate Clearly: Advise employees on leave options, eligibility, rights, and responsibilities, providing compassionate and timely updates.
• Maintain Confidentiality: Securely manage all medical certifications and documentation in strict accordance with HIPAA and privacy regulations.
• Support Return-to-Work: Coordinate transitional duties and return-to-work clearances with employees and supervisors.
• Drive Program Innovation: Actively identify opportunities to integrate AI tools and automation into the leave process, transforming traditional workflows to improve case processing speed and enhance the employee experience.
• PTO Tracking & Administration: Monitor, audit, and track employee Paid Time Off (PTO) balances and usage, ensuring alignment with company policies, accurate system accruals, and seamless coordination with leave schedules.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience: 2–4 years of dedicated leave administration or specialized HR experience.
• Legal Knowledge: Deep understanding of FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leave regulations and administration.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g. ADP) and a strong capability to leverage AI-powered technologies to automate tasks and actively modernize the leave administration program.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional empathy, active listening, strong problem-solving abilities, and bulletproof attention to detail.