Leave Administration and Accommodations Manager in Chicago, Illinois at Sidley Austin LLP

The Leave Administration and Accommodations Manager is responsible for the oversight and management of the Firms leave of absence and accommodation programs, including FMLA, CFRA, ADA/ADAA, PWFA, state and local leave laws, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, and other firm-sponsored policies. This role leads the administration and ongoing enhancement of firmwide leave and accommodation practices, serving as a central resource to ensure a consistent, compliant, and well-coordinated approach across all U.S. offices.

The Manager serves as a trusted advisor to Human Resources, management, and employees, providing guidance on complex leave and accommodation matters while balancing regulatory requirements with business needs. The role oversees day-to-day operations, vendor performance, and team execution, and contributes to process improvements and data-informed decision-making related to leave and accommodations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Firms center of excellence and subject matter expert for leave and accommodations, ensuring consistent application of policies, high-quality service delivery, and full regulatory compliance with all federal, state, and city-specific laws across all U.S. offices.
• Manage the full lifecycle of leave cases including intake, eligibility, notification, documentation, tracking, and return to work.
• Centralize and manage the end-to-end interactive process for disability and religious workplace accommodation requests, in coordination with HR, Compliance and Legal.
• Leverage understanding of return to work strategies and accommodation expertise related to regulatory laws and requirements.
• Provide guidance on complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters, and serving as an escalation point for issues requiring advanced judgment, legal coordination, or policy interpretation.
• Manage and develop the Leave & Accommodation Specialist, including overseeing day-to-day work, setting performance expectations, monitoring service standards, identifying leave and accommodation training, and supporting ongoing professional development.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives by establishing workflows, service levels, and best practices that enhance efficiency, ensure timely case resolution, and deliver a high-quality employee experience.
• Lead the Firms approach to leave- and accommodation-related risk management, including supporting audits, investigations, and responses to complex or sensitive matters, in coordination with Legal and Human Resources leadership.
• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, Payroll, and Benefits to ensure seamless coordination of leave, disability, and accommodation matters, and to support consistent decision-making across the Firm.
• Leverage data and reporting to monitor trends, identify risks, and develop actionable insights and recommendations to mitigate risk and improve programs, processes, and employee experience.
• Own and optimize leave and accommodation administration systems and processes, partnering with HRIS and vendors to enhance functionality, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiency.
• Manage the Firms relationship with its third-party leave administrator, including:
• Overseeing day-to-day vendor performance and service delivery.
• Ensuring the vendor administers leaves in compliance with applicable laws and in alignment with Firm policies and practices.
• Conducting regular audits and reviews of vendor determinations, communications, and processes for accuracy and consistency.
• Resolving escalations and discrepancies between vendor determinations and Firm policies.
• Partnering with the vendor on process improvements, reporting, and service enhancements.
• Ensure accurate and timely communication with employees.
• Develop, maintain, and update leave and accommodation policies, procedures, and internal guidance materials to reflect evolving legal requirements and Firm practices.
• Develop and deliver trainings, SOPs, templates, educational tools and communications for managers and employees to drive awareness, compliance, and effective application of leave and accommodation policies and practices.
• Continually monitor the effectiveness of approved workplace accommodations, recommending improvements or updates as needed.
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping and confidentiality of all leave- and accommodation-related documentation in accordance with legal and Firm standards.
• Lead or support HR projects related to leave and accommodation systems, process improvements, and policy enhancements.
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory developments impacting leave, absence management and accommodations.

Required:

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 57 years of progressive experience in leave of absence administration, benefits, or human resources, including direct experience managing complex, multi-state leave programs
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local leave and accommodation laws and regulations (including FMLA, CFRA, ADA/ADAA, PWFA, and applicable state/local leave laws)
• Demonstrated experience managing complex or sensitive leave and accommodation cases, including exercising sound judgment in ambiguous situations
• Experience working with and overseeing third-party leave administrators or vendors
• Proven ability to partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, including HR, Legal, Payroll, and management
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences

Preferred:

• Experience managing direct reports
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment
• Experience supporting multi-office or national organizations
• Experience with HRIS and leave management systems (e.g., Workday, AbsenceSoft, or similar platforms)
• Experience working with MetLife or similar thirdparty leave administrator
• Experience supporting ADA accommodations and the interactive process
• Experience in process improvement, developing or enhancing leave policies, procedures, or programs

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling highly sensitive and confidential matters
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and navigate competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated client-service orientation and commitment to delivering a high-quality employee experience

Additionally:

• High level of discretion when handling sensitive employee matters.
• Ability to navigate complex, ambiguous situations with sound judgment.
• Strong client-service orientation with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-GK1

The target salary range for this role is:

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.