Specialist - Leave of Absence

Category/Area of Expertise: Human Resources

Job Requisition: 460851

Address: USA-PA-Carlisle-1149 Harrisburg Pike

Store Code: Benefits (2761844)

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

The Leave of Absence Specialist is responsible for supporting the administration and management of

the company's leave of absence programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local

regulations, as well as company policies. This role provides guidance to Brand managers, and HR

business partners/leads regarding leave entitlements, processes, and return-to-work procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support, with third party, the various types of leaves, including FMLA, ADA, short-term disability
  
  

(STD), long-term disability (LTD), workers' compensation, military leave, personal leave, and

company-specific leaves.

• Ensure timely and accurate vendor communication and compliance with legal requirements
  
  

and brand policies.

• Coordinate with third-party leave administrators, insurance providers, and internal
  
  

stakeholders to ensure accurate processing.

• Administer salary STD payments, Paid Parental Leave payments
• Monitor Leave balances, eligibility, and required documentation.
• Support vendor compliance with FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, USERRA, state-specific leave laws, and
  
  

company policies.

• Maintain accurate records and documentation to meet legal and audit requirements.
• Stay updated on changes in leave laws and communicate updates to the brand HR teams and
  
  

management.

• Collaborate and partner with brand managers and HR Leads regarding associate issues with
  
  

leave processes, eligibility, and documentation and communications.

• Provide guidance on return-to-work programs, (may include accommodations under ADA).
• Work closely with HR, payroll, and benefits teams to address associate concerns related to
  
  

leave and pay.

• Maintain accurate leave records within HRIS.
• Generate reports on leave trends, compliance risks, and workforce impact from third party system.
• Assist with audits and internal reporting as needed.
• Partner with HR, payroll, and benefits teams to streamline leave administration processes.
• Identify areas for improvement and recommend policy or process changes.
• Provide training and resources for managers and associates on leave-related topics.
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our Values.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field or equivalent
  
  

work experience

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in leave of absence administration, HR, or benefits
  
  

administration.

• Experience working with large-scale organizations, preferably in retail or similar industries.
• HR or leave-related certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, CPDM, CLMS).
• Experience with third-party leave administration platforms.
• Knowledge of union contracts and collective bargaining agreements related to leaves.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and other leave-related laws.
• Proficiency in HRIS, leave management systems, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Strong customer service skills.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to tolerate and cope with non-routine situations.
• Creative, self-directed and able to work well in a team environment
• Basic understanding of regulatory requirements and workplace safety principles.
• Solid understanding of STD, LTD and other benefit plans.
  
  

Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC , Chicago, IL, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, Scarborough, ME, Hyattsville, MD and Mauldin, SC.

At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent.

Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.

Our associates are the heartbeat of our organization. We are committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. Guided by our values of courage, care, teamwork, integrity (and even a little humor), we are dedicated to being a great place to work.

We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.