Disability & Absence Management Specialist
Job Number: NR73609263
Pay Rate: $30-35 / hour
Job Description
Disability & Absence Management Specialist
Role Type: Full-Time, Regular Employee of the Company (Not a temp or contract assignment)
Shift: Day Job (Standard Eastern Time business hours; Monday through Friday)
Work Arrangement: Fully Remote – Eastern Time Hours
Location: Pennsylvania
New Hire Starting Salary Range: $29.92 – $35.38 per hour (After hire, pay increases can be earned, see below).
About the Opportunity
This is a permanent, full-time career opportunity within an industry-leading healthcare benefits and absence management infrastructure. If selected, you will be hired directly as a regular employee of the organization we represent. You will be on their payroll and eligible for their full suite of benefits from your start date. This is not a temporary, contract, or "temp-to-hire" role. This position offers a premier, fully remote work structure backed by comprehensive corporate resources, offering long-term stability and deep professional development.
Purpose
The Disability & Absence Management Specialist performs advanced analysis on complex disability and leave-of-absence claims to determine medical necessity and eligibility under regulatory guidelines. Serving as a crucial corporate consultant, this professional provides dedicated guidance and counseling to employees, managers, and HR Business Partners throughout the lifecycle of an absence. This role is essential for mitigating operational risk, navigating federally and state-mandated programs (FMLA, ERISA, state-sponsored leaves), and actively mentoring junior team members to maintain superior data quality and processing efficiency.
Responsibilities
- Claims Analysis & Determination: Review and analyze comprehensive absence claims to verify whether a case is medically supported for leave or short/long-term disability benefits. Manage ongoing eligibility reviews, notifications, and benefit duration tracking.
- Stakeholder Consultation: Act as a direct advisor to employees, family members, managers, and HR professionals, handling inbound and outbound calls regarding leave policies, timelines, and return-to-work protocols.
- Peer Mentoring & Training: Provide specialized subject matter expertise and mentoring support to peers dealing with complex medical diagnoses or extended time-away recertifications. Deliver onboarding support and ongoing classroom/one-on-one training.
- Pattern Analysis & Strategy: Partner with leadership to evaluate organizational absence patterns, identify processing bottlenecks, and deliver strategic recommendations to enhance service delivery and efficiency.
- System & Software Data Input: Utilize enterprise payroll networks (Kronos) and proprietary web-based vendor systems to log real-time claim documentation, manage task workflows, and generate comprehensive productivity lists.
- Clinical Collaboration: Coordinate seamlessly with internal Clinical Nurse Case Managers, Vocational Rehabilitation Teams, and Medical Directors to establish proactive stay-at-work and return-to-work plans.
- Compliance Oversight: Apply strict legal concepts and provisions mandated by FMLA, ERISA, worker's compensation, and specific company policies to preserve total organizational compliance.
- Reporting & Auditing: Generate and analyze open-case reports, tracking daily absence data captured via web portals, faxes, telephonic channels, and electronic correspondence.
Minimum Essential Requirements
- Education Pathways: Bachelor’s degree required; a concentration in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline
- Core Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of dedicated absence/disability claim administration experience OR a minimum of one (1) year of accelerated internal corporate leave/disability specialist experience.
- Technical Compliance: Comprehensive, functional knowledge of federal and state leave regulations, ERISA frameworks, and enterprise leave platform mechanics. Advanced PC proficiency, including professional spreadsheet applications and databases.
- Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional time management, analytical processing capacity, and verbal/written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to remain customer-service oriented when handling emotionally charged employee situations.
Licensure and Certifications
- Mandatory Credential: Must obtain the Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) designation within twelve (12) months of your formal hire date. To retain this professional credential, a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education credits must be maintained every two years.
Performance-Based Earning Potential
This role offers a structured path for financial advancement. Through consistent high performance, mastery of specialized multi-state regulations, and annual performance reviews over time, employees have the opportunity to earn up to $51.79 per hour.
Premier Benefits
- Exceptional Retirement Package: Retirement plans with employer matching. Combined, the organization contributes up to 8% of your eligible pay toward your future.
- World-Class Healthcare: Access preventive care and specialty services through an exclusive provider network.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy up to 5.5 weeks of PTO per year, plus 7 paid holidays, with unique options to buy or sell PTO days to fit your lifestyle.
- Tuition Assistance: Benefit from up to $6,000 per academic year in tuition reimbursement, plus exclusive tuition discounts at over 30 partner colleges and universities.