Leave & Disability Specialist

Leave & Disability Specialist

Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the Company) is seeking a full-time, experienced Leave & Disability Specialist (LDS) to join our Human Resources Department at the Corporate Office.

This position serves as the subject matter expert on leave administration, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), other federal, state and local protected programs and the Company's policy-covered leave programs, including Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Life Insurance and AD&D. The LDS works in alignment and under the general direction and guidance of the Benefits Manager and the legal department.

Provides exemplary customer service and assistance to administrators, supervisors, and HR team and plays a key role in ensuring processes are compliant, timely, and supportive of SDI employees. Acts as the primary contact to provide expert consultation, training, and ongoing support regarding leave eligibility, rights, responsibilities, and available leave options for all leave and disability programs under the purview of HR and Benefits Administrators to ensure all actions follow local, state, and federal laws and Company policies, updating processes as needed.

Responsibilities

• Interprets and applies federal, state, and local leave laws including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), any applicable paid leave laws, and Steel Dynamics policies pertaining to Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD), Life Insurance and AD&D Programs;
• Works closely with HR team, including payroll and occupational health, on all leave cases and claims;
• Works with legal counsel in evaluation of complex leave and accommodation matters, as needed;
• Serves as the primary point of contact for divisional administrators regarding leave administration, disability programs, accommodation-related issues, documentation requirements, and process guidance;
• Monitors changes in federal, state, and local leave and accommodation laws and recommends policy, process, and documentation updates to support ongoing compliance;
• Ability to translate legal language into plain guidance to develop, maintain and deliver training programs for administrators and supervisors on leave of absence policies, ADA accommodations and employee and management responsibilities under applicable laws;
• Reviews all escalated and complex leave and accommodation matters and coordinates review with the Benefits Manager, VP of HR, and Legal Counsel when appropriate;
• Responsible for reviewing compliance tracking and accuracy of records of leave balances, hours used and regulatory filing requirements;
• Prepares and maintains reports and compliance documentation for federal, state, and local regulatory agencies dealing with leave accommodations;
• Provides guidance and consultation to divisional administrators regarding leave management, the interactive process for accommodation, and compliance requirements;
• Collaborates with administrators, Human Resources, occupational health, legal, payroll, and other departments to resolve complex leave and accommodation issues;
• Conducts periodic reviews of leave administration practices to promote consistency, accuracy, and compliance across divisions;
• Establishes and maintains standardized leave administration processes, templates, forms, and best practices across divisions;
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience administering, supporting, or consulting on FMLA, ADA, PWFA, disability and leave management programs;
• Well-versed in federal and state leave laws and employment regulations, including FMLA, PWFA and ADA;
• Strong familiarity with Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) - UKG preferred, leave management systems, case management software, and Microsoft Office applications;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and sensitively at all organizational levels;
• Capable of handling sensitive information with discretion and strict confidentiality;
• Ability to use sound judgment and initiative;
• Exemplify strong analytical skills and the ability to draw conclusions from data;
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple deadlines;
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current on changing employment laws, regulations, and best practices;
• Professional Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification preferred;
• Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) or other leave-related certification preferred;
• May not be related to another employee of Steel Dynamics, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries. The definition of relative in this requirement is "any person who is related by blood or marriage, or whose relationship with the employee is similar to that of persons who are related by blood or marriage."

Steel Dynamics, Inc., and all affiliated entities are equal opportunity employers.