Lead HR Analyst- Leave Administrator

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us - help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

Please note: Location for this position is Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, NC. However, current locations for internal applicants (outside Charlotte) may be considered as long as they are within our jurisdictions. The exact location will be determined at the time of offer based on business needs.

Job Summary

The Lead HR Analyst- Leave Administrator will support the Human Resources (HR) department and Leaves vendor to manage and administer the process for all leaves of absence (LOA) across the company. This role ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as company policies, while maintaining appropriate communication with employees, supervisors, and other stakeholders. This position will work closely with the HR team on other team projects and initiatives which includes our Employee Assistance Program and Critical Incident Process. The ideal candidate will possess a deep knowledge of federal and state leave of absence regulations, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a customer-service mindset to support the leave management process for a sophisticated and high-performing workforce.

Responsibilities

• Manage all leaves of absence (LOA), including but not limited to USERRA regulations, FMLA, state-protected leaves, parental leave, medical leaves, military leave, and other company-provided leave programs
• Monitor the statutory leave landscape at the state levels to determine whether any new or updated state laws would impact the Company
• Partner with employees and supervisors throughout the leave process, providing guidance and updates on leave requirements and timelines
• Partner with SMEs (Employee Relations, HR Legal, Benefits Legal, Workers' Compensation, Medical Services) effectively
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws, such as FMLA, ADA, and applicable state-specific leave regulations
• Ability to interpret and understand plan information, including policies, summary plan booklets, plan documents, and contracts
• Effectively manage vendor relationships and ensure issues are recognized and addressed in a timely manner.
• Work closely with internal and external legal counsel or leave experts as needed
• Maintain documentation and records for all leaves and related communications in accordance with compliance requirements and company policies
• Act as the primary point of contact between employees, human resources, leadership, time reporting/payroll, and external vendors for leave-related inquiries and administration
• Facilitate clear communication to all stakeholders regarding leave outcomes, responsibilities, and next steps
• Maintain accurate records related to leaves, including required notices, supporting documentation, and correspondence
• Assistance with maintenance of Time away portal webpage
• Provide support on HR-related projects, initiatives, and communications, and provide additional assistance to HR management as assigned
• In-depth understanding of FMLA, ADA, and other key leave legislation, along with the ability to interpret and apply them in a business context
  Familiarity with state-specific regulations regarding leaves (e.g., California CFRA, WA PFML)
• Understanding of basic payroll processes and their interaction with leave management
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing tasks and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to navigate and lead sensitive, high-impact conversations with empathy, clarity, and professionalism
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and leave management software
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism when working with sensitive employee information
• Comfortable navigating complex leaves scenarios and effectively communicating recommendations to employees and management
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining precision and accuracy in work
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and instincts for identifying when to escalate issues to senior HR leadership or legal counsel

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• In addition to bachelor's degree, five (5) years minimum of related work experience

Desired Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leaves of absence (LOA), including knowledge of USERRA regulations, FMLA, state-protected leaves, parental leave, medical leaves, and military leave
• Prior experience working with Lincoln vendor
• Prior experience working with Spring Health
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Ability to deal effectively with all levels of employees and management.
• Proficient in Business Objectives and Microsoft Office applications, e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Strong project management skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills to analyze and recommend solutions/improvements to new and existing HR systems, processes and programs.
• Strong negotiating skills when dealing with diverse customer expectations and challenging timeframes.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence and advise executive management.
• Effective interpersonal skills, e.g. influencing and listening skills to deal effectively with all levels of employees and management.

Working Conditions

• Performs work in normal office environment.
• Hybrid mobility classification - work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations after the onboarding period. However, hybrid employees should live within a reasonable commute to the designated reporting location.

Travel Requirements

Posting Expiration Date

All job postings expire at 12:01 AM on the posting expiration date.

Privacy

Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA)

Terms of Use

Accessibility