Absence Management & Leave Coordinator

Job Title

Absence Management & Leave Coordinator

Albany State Rec. Location

Regular

Full-Time

293670

Albany State University is a fully accredited senior unit of the University System of Georgia. Employees receive benefits provided by the University System of Georgia, including, but not limited to, medical and major medical insurance, group life insurance, participation in the Georgia Teachers' Retirement System, Optional Retirement Plan (Faculty and exempt employees only), Social Security and Tuition Assistance Program after six months of employment.

Our West Campus is located at 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Our East Campus is located at 504 College Drive, Albany, GA 31705. The Human Resources office for both campuses is located on the West Campus in Building K, Suite 111.

Albany State University seeks a detail-oriented Absence Management & Leave Coordinator to administer all leave types for faculty and staff in alignment with University System of Georgia (USG) policies, Board of Regents guidelines, and applicable federal and state laws. The Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for leave inquiries, ensures accurate time reporting and payroll coordination, and partners with HR, Payroll, supervisors, and campus units to drive compliant, consistent, and empathetic leave administration.

Sponsorship is not available for this position.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for all leave programs (e.g., FMLA, ADA, paid parental leave, military leave, sick and annual leave, Workers' Compensation, and related programs).
• Evaluate leave requests, determine eligibility, and issue timely written determinations; coordinate fit for duty and return to work documentation.
• Maintain accurate case files and leave tracking, safeguarding confidentiality (HIPAA and USG privacy standards).
• Audit and reconcile timesheets and leave balances; coordinate with Payroll on adjustments to ensure accurate pay.
• Partner with supervisors and department administrators to plan coverage and mitigate operational impacts during absences.
• Provide clear guidance to employees and leaders; develop FAQs, templates, and training to improve understanding of leave policies.
• Collaborate with the Workers' Compensation Specialist and external vendors on relevant cases.
• Monitor regulatory changes; recommend policy/process updates and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare reports and dashboards on leave utilization, trends, compliance metrics, and service levels.
• Perform other HR duties and special projects as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two (2) or more years of full-time HR experience with exposure to leave administration.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills; effective written and verbal communication.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information and exercise sound judgment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and HRIS/timekeeping systems.

• Direct leave of absence administration experience (2+ years).
• Experience in higher education or public sector environments.
• Familiarity with USG policies and OneUSG/People Soft.
• Working knowledge of federal and state leave laws and regulations.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a detailed CV or résumé, a cover letter addressing the qualifications and responsibilities outlined above and contact information for at least three professional references. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is successfully filled.

Knowledge

• Federal and state leave laws (FMLA, ADA, USERRA, workers' compensation).
• USG policies, Board of Regents guidelines, and institutional procedures.
• Time/attendance, leave accruals, and payroll processes.
• Employee records management and retention requirements; confidentiality standards.

Skills

• Analyze eligibility and medical documentation; manage complex cases.
• Communicate policies clearly to employees and supervisors.
• Organize multiple…