Benefits and Leave of Absence Specialist

For more than 50 years, Children’s Council has been the heart of childcare and early education in San Francisco, advancing the belief that high-quality childcare can transform lives and communities. Our more than 150 team members help families navigate their childcare and preschool options and secure financial assistance to pay for it. We provide home-based childcare businesses with the training and resources to succeed. Through a wide range of free programs and workshops, we support parents and caregivers as they build child development skills. As the city’s second-largest nonprofit contractor, with an annual budget of over $240 million, we are a major stakeholder in the childcare system. We educate the public and advocate for increased investment in early education at the local and state level. If you are a childcare champion, we want you on our team.

Job Title: Benefits and Leave of Absence Specialist

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Human Resources Manager

FLSA Status: This is a fulltime (40/hours per week) Exempt level position

Salary Range: $75,000-$85,000

Position Summary

The Benefits and Leave of Absence Specialist is responsible for administering employee benefits programs and managing all leave of absence (LOA) processes with accuracy, compliance, and exceptional customer service. This role ensures employees receive timely support and clear guidance on benefits, disability, workers’ compensation, and all state and federal leave programs.

Position Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Administer the organization's benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), FSA/HSA, wellness, and ancillary offerings.
• Support vendor and broker relationships.
• Rollout the open enrollment strategy and direct execution, including communication planning, employee education sessions, compliance notice distribution, and platform configuration.
• Reconcile benefits billing, premium adjustments, and compliance audits; serve as escalation point for complex claims issues and employee resolutions.
  
  

Leave of Absence Management

• Administer all types of employee leaves, including FMLA, ADA, state-specific leaves, parental leave, military leave, workers' compensation, and personal leaves.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave regulations as well as internal policies.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure proper documentation and timely processing.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for benefits and LOA programs.
• Track leave usage, eligibility, and return-to-work dates, maintaining accurate records in HR systems.
• Provide empathetic, confidential, and detailed guidance to employees navigating leave options.
  
  

Disability Accommodation & Workplace Safety

• Manage all aspects of the disability accommodation process, including intake, interactive process coordination, medical documentation review, and compliance with ADA and applicable state laws.
• Partner with Operations and managers to evaluate ergonomic risks and implement measures to reduce workplace injuries.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Minimum 4-6 years of progressive experience in benefits administration and leave of absence management.
• Strong working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, ERISA, PFL, SDI, EEOC, and other California and San Francisco-specific employment regulations.
• Experience managing workers' compensation claims.
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits platforms (Rippling preferred; Workday, ADP, UKG, or similar also considered).
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Background clearance required.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in a non-profit organization or similar mission-driven work environment.
• Familiarity with third-party disability administrators and workers' compensation processes.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain stationary for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to move throughout the office, access files, meet with clients, travel freely.
• Requires the mental acuity to perform the essential functions as outlined in an accurate and timely fashion.
  
  

BACKGROUND CHECK

All offers of employment are contingent upon successfully completing this process.

Hybrid Work  

We have adopted a hybrid working model and currently require employees to be present in the office at least 3 days per week, with the option to work 2 days per week remotely. Applicants should be comfortable with both the remote and in office scenarios.   

Benefits, And Employee Perks

We offer a family-friendly workplace, plus competitive pay, and industry leading benefits package that includes:

• Generous Medical coverage for staff, including paid medical plan deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maximums.
• Dental, Vision, Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Life, LTD and AD&D coverage.
• Voluntary benefits that include Supplement Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Pet Insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account and Commuter Benefit programs.
• Generous paid time off package, including 14 paid holidays a floating holiday for your Birthday.
• Ongoing training and professional development for all staff.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
  
  

Children's Council of SF is committed to building a staff that is rich with cultural, social and experiential diversity. Candidates who want to join us on this journey and who can uniquely contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity & Equity Statement

Children’s Council is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity as central to our work serving the San Francisco community. We comply with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. Our practices are in alignment with our commitment to workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion. We foster a work environment where our current and future staff feel welcomed without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, sex, age, disability or sexual orientation.