Senior Manager, Human Resources - Leaves Administration

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

As Senior Manager, Human Resources - Leaves Administration, you will design and lead a compassionate, compliant, and scalable leave experience that supports employees across the organization. You will shape enterprise-wide leave strategy through strong cross-functional partnerships, ensuring employees feel informed, supported, and cared for during pivotal moments in their lives. In this role, you will oversee a team and design systems that balance regulatory rigor with Uncommon’s commitment to equity and employee experience. If you enjoy turning complexity into clarity and building programs that make a meaningful difference for people, this role offers the opportunity to have a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

Leave Strategy and Program Design

• Develop and execute a comprehensive leave strategy across federal, state, and internal leave programs, including family and medical leave, disability, workers’ compensation, and accommodations.
• Design and steward a standardized, organization-wide leave framework that promotes consistency, equity, and clarity.
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure leave policies align with organizational values, compliance requirements, and employee needs.
• Lead policy review cycles, stakeholder approvals, and clear communication of updates.

Systems, Data, and Process Excellence

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of leave management systems and tools, including HRIS and third-party administrator platforms.
• Build standardized workflows, templates, and decision tools to ensure accuracy and consistency across leave scenarios.
• Establish metrics, dashboards, and reporting to monitor compliance, case volume, turnaround time, cost, and employee experience.
• Ensure strong data governance and privacy practices for sensitive employee information.

Team Leadership and Organizational Partnership

• Oversee a team responsible for leave administration and case management.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex leave and accommodation cases.
• Build strong relationships with managers across the organization to support coverage planning and effective return to work practices.
• Delegate effectively while guiding new initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

Compliance, Risk, and Employee Experience

• Maintain deep knowledge of federal and state leave laws and proactively guide policy and practice updates as regulations evolve.
• Oversee external vendors to ensure service quality, accuracy, and adherence to service level agreements.
• Partner to ensure accurate and timely pay during leaves.
• Design training, resources, and communications that help employees and managers navigate leave options with confidence.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Seven to nine years of professional experience, including five to six years of directly relevant experience in leave administration, HR operations, benefits, or a related field.
• Experience overseeing teams and leading work through others.
• Strong experience administering multi-state leave programs and interpreting federal and state regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to design scalable systems, policies, and processes.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and care.

Preferred

• Experience working in complex, multi-site, or mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and third-party leave administrators.
• Experience partnering across functions to deliver compliant, people-centered programs.

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply. We are excited to learn what you bring.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent. 

Compensation 

The full compensation range for this role is $120,700 to $142,000. Typically, new hires who fully meet all qualifications listed in the job description will start at $127,800. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant professional experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Benefit Highlights: 

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.