"Leave, Accommodations, & Benefits Specialist"

Position Summary

Rice University's Human Resources team is seeking a Leave, Accommodations, and Benefits Specialist to support employees through some of their most important workplace moments. In this role, you'll administer employee leave requests and workplace accommodations that require specialized expertise, including those related to FMLA, ADA, state and local leave laws, and short-term disability. You'll partner closely with the Benefits team to assist with health and welfare benefits administration, helping ensure processes are smooth, compliant, and employee-centered.

The ideal leave, accommodations, & benefits specialist candidate is a compassionate, detail-oriented professional with a strong foundation in FMLA, ADA, employee benefits, and leave administration. They are skilled in guiding faculty and staff through sensitive and complex processes, including FMLA, STD, ADA accommodations, and return-to-work procedures.

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Annual Salary Range

This is an Exempt (salaried) position with a hiring range of up to $75,000 per year, commensurate with experience and education.

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 2 or more years of experience in leave or benefits administration
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of FMLA and ADA laws, claims processes, and regulatory compliance
• Ability to interpret changes in legislation and regulatory updates, and effectively communicate their impact to campus constituents
• Knowledge of multi-state regulations
• Proficiency in Excel
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to interpret various health and disability plans
• Attention to detail and focus on accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality
• Collaboration both in and out of the department

Preferences

• 5 years of experience in FMLA/ADA leave administration
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
• PHR or SHRM-CP preferred

Essential Functions

• Coordinates and processes FMLA and ADA leaves with other leaves
• Communicate with employees regarding their need for various types of leave and accommodations
• Instructs faculty and staff on requirements to apply and qualify for STD, WC, FMLA, and ADA
• Maintains reasonable communication with employees to facilitate return to work and coordinates with supervisors/managers
• Ensures timely leave reporting and documentation accuracy
• Manages claims in coordination with third-party administrators
• Serves as the primary contact for FMLA/ADA cases, maintaining communication with faculty, staff, departments, external partners, and other University stakeholders
• Guides employees regarding Rice's leave policies, procedures, and benefits, including Paid Time Off
• Delivers ongoing education and training to faculty, staff, supervisors, and managers on FMLA/ADA procedures and policies
• Stays up to date and knowledgeable on federal, state, and local leave laws and industry best practices
• Applies subject matter expertise in resolving benefit issues at the plan level or at the employee level in a manner that meets the university's total reward strategy
• Takes a new perspective on existing solutions
• Represents the highest level, non-managerial, escalation level in resolving employee benefit issues
• Participates in compliance reporting and communication development
• Participates in the strategy, design, and revision of benefit communications and training materials and HR / Benefits website
• Oversees HR and vendor management for assigned caseload
• Has accountability for processes for assigned areas
• Acts as a resource for faculty, and staff benefits teams
• Other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits

Rice Mission and Values

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice: Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University's Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.