Leaves & HR Compliance Manager

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures. Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard. We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good. Role Summary   Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position. The Manager, Leaves & HR Compliance owns the enterprise leave of absence, workplace accommodation, and HR compliance programs, establishing operational standards, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives that support business objectives at National Life.  This role is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment and benefits laws, while delivering a consistent, compliant, and compassionate associate experience. The role also provides oversight of HR policy governance and regulatory readiness.  Reporting to the Head of Benefits, this position partners closely with HR, payroll, legal, and business leaders to align leave and accommodation practices with National Life’s values, operational goals, and employee experience priorities. In addition, this role provides broader HR compliance oversight to support adherence to employment laws/regulations, internal policies, and audit readiness.  Essential Duties and Responsibilities   Leave & Accommodation Programs   Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of leave of absence and accommodation programs, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, USERRA, state leave programs, parental leave, and company-sponsored leaves  Establish and maintain scalable processes that balance compliance, efficiency, and employee experience  Oversee the end-to-end administration of leave and accommodation cases, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and consistency  Guide complex and escalated cases, including ADA accommodations and intermittent leave scenarios, serving as escalation point  Monitor regulatory changes and proactively update policies, procedures, and practices  Define service level expectations and operational metrics.  Monitor operational performance and implement process improvements.   HR Compliance    Ensure compliance with all applicable employment regulations and internal policies   Monitor regulatory changes and proactively recommend updates to policies, practices, and procedures   Partner with legal and HR leadership to interpret laws and implement compliant, practical solutions  Payroll & Benefits Coordination   Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate pay, deductions, and benefit continuation during leave events  Validate payroll impacts related to benefits, leave, and accommodations  Collaborate with Benefits and vendors to ensure seamless administration and communication  Benefits Compliance & Regulatory Support   Support compliance activities related to health and welfare benefit plans in partnership with Benefits, legal, and external vendors  Coordinate and support preparation and timely filing of Form 5500 and associated schedules for applicable benefit plans  Support nondiscrimination testing (e.g., Section 125, 105(h), 410(b), 410(k)(3), 401(m)(2), 416, and other applicable testing) to ensure plan compliance and equity  Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable benefits regulations  Support delivery of required associate notices and audit documentation  Policy Governance & Handbook Management   Maintenance and governance of HR policies and procedures, including the Associate Handbook   Ensure policies are updated in response to regulatory changes and aligned with company practices   Manage communication of policy updates in partnership with Communications  Data, Reporting & Insights   Establish key performance indicators for leave administration and compliance.   Analyze trends and implement operational improvements based on data.   Develop and maintain reporting on compliance activities  Partner with HR analytics teams to align reporting with broader workforce insights   Leadership & Development   Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer-centric service  Set performance standards and ensure delivery of high-quality, timely outcomes  Support HR Business Partners and business leaders on compliance, policy, and associate-related matters  Cross-Functional Partnership   Partner with HR Business Partners, managers, and associates to provide guidance on leave, accommodations, and compliance processes   Collaborate with legal, compensation, talent, IT, and external vendors to ensure aligned solutions   Serve as a trusted advisor on complex associate leave/accommodation situations  Minimum Qualifications    Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience  8-10 years of experience in leave of absence, accommodations, HR compliance, and/or benefits administration  Experience leading compliance programs required   Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state/local leave laws   Understanding of employment law and HR compliance requirements across multiple states  Working knowledge of benefits compliance (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA)   Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills   Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment  Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills