Leave of Absence (LOA) & People Operations Specialist

Leave Of Absence (LOA) & People Operations Specialist

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you're in the right place.

Our Human Resources team has an opening for an Employee Services & Leave Specialist. This role could be based in the following office locations:

• Denver
• Overland Park
• Minneapolis

Position Summary

At DLR Group, we believe people do their best work when they feel supported. As an Employee Services & Leave Specialist, you will play a key role in helping employees navigate important life and career moments, including leaves of absence, workplace accommodations, life event changes, and employee service requests.

You will partner closely with employees, managers, HR Partners, Payroll, Total Rewards, and external vendors to provide exceptional support, ensure compliance with applicable regulations and company policies, and continuously improve the employee experience. Serving as a subject matter expert for leave administration and employee service processes, you will help deliver timely, accurate, and compassionate support throughout the employee lifecycle.

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong customer service skills with a passion for helping others, a keen attention to detail, and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the employee experience. If you enjoy solving problems, building relationships, and guiding employees through complex situations with empathy and professionalism, we'd love to hear from you.

What You Will Do

• Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, parental leave, military leave, personal leave, ADA accommodations, and state and local leave programs.
• Guide employees, managers, and stakeholders through leave and accommodation processes from initiation through return to work.
• Coordinate with HR, Payroll, Benefits, and third-party administrators to ensure seamless leave administration.
• Review and manage required documentation, certifications, approvals, and employee records.
• Support employee life events including birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, death, and dependent changes.
• Respond to employee inquiries through HR service channels, providing timely and accurate support, in partnership with HR Partners and centers of excellence.
• Manage employment verification requests and employee documentation requests.
• Support employee status changes, onboarding, offboarding, and other employee transactions.
• Maintain employee records in compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with audits, reporting, and compliance-related activities.
• Develop and maintain employee-facing resources, guides, and process documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, service delivery, and the overall employee experience.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 years of progressive HR experience, inclusive of 2+ years of experience supporting leave administration, employee benefits, and employee services
• Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, state leave laws, and other applicable employment regulations
• Experience partnering with third-party leave administrators and benefits vendors
• Strong customer service mindset with a commitment to delivering a positive employee experience
• Intermediate working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Excel
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex employee situations with empathy and sound judgment
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without need for work visa or residency sponsorship

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting workplace accommodations and employee life event administration
• Professional certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, CEBS, or similar
• Experience working with Dayforce, ADP, and third-party vendor leave of absence employer portal
• Demonstrated success identifying and implementing process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and employee experience
• Experience in the A/E/C industry
• Experience in a matrixed, multi-location organization

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is:

Pay Range

$70,000 - $90,000 USD

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients' success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork we elevate the human experience through design, together. DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.