Manager – Leave Administration

Are you ready for what’s next?  

Come explore opportunities within Brunswick, a global marine leader committed to challenging conventions and innovating next-generation technologies that transform experiences on the water and beyond.  Brunswick believes “Next Never Rests™,” and we offer a variety of exciting careers and growth opportunities within united teams defining the future of marine recreation. 

Location: Mettawa, IL

Workplace Category: Hybrid

Department: Human Resources Shared Services (HRSS)
Reports To: Vice President, HR Systems and Processes

Pay Range:  $87,800 - 117,000

Innovation is the heart of Brunswick.  See how your contributions will help transform vision into reality: 

Position Summary

The Leave Administration Manager is responsible for leading the organization's leave of absence program and team, ensuring compliant, efficient, and employee-focused administration of all leave processes. This role oversees the end-to-end management of leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state and provincial leave programs, short-term and long-term disability leaves, military leave, personal leaves of absence, and other statutory and non-statutory leave programs.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, maintain regulatory compliance, ensure accurate Workday transactions, and partner closely with HR Business Partners, Payroll, Benefits, Legal, and external leave vendors to deliver a consistent and positive employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Leave Administration specialists.
• Establish service levels, performance metrics, and quality standards.
• Foster a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage team workload, escalations, and case prioritization.

Leave Program Administration

• Oversee administration of all employee leave programs, including: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Military Leave Paid Family Leave programs Personal Leaves of Absence Company-sponsored leave programs
• Ensure timely review, approval, tracking, and return-to-work processing.
• Manage complex and escalated leave cases.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local leave regulations.
• Maintain accurate documentation and audit-ready records.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement required process updates.
• Partner with Legal and Employee Relations on sensitive or high-risk cases.

Systems & Process Management

• Serve as the subject matter expert for leave administration within Workday and related systems.
• Ensure accurate leave entry, tracking, reporting, and data integrity.
• Develop and maintain standardized operating procedures.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Payroll to ensure accurate pay impacts and benefit deductions.
• Partner with Benefits on disability and leave vendor coordination.
• Work closely with HR Business Partners and managers on employee leave situations.
• Support workforce planning through leave reporting and trend analysis.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop dashboards and reporting to monitor leave volume, trends, compliance, and service levels.
• Identify opportunities to improve employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Present insights and recommendations to HR leadership.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive HR leadership experience.
• 2+ years of people leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, disability management, and leave regulations.
• Experience managing leave processes within Workday or a comparable HRIS.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Preferred:

• Experience in a shared services environment.
• Professional certifications such as: SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP PHR / SPHR Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS)
• Experience working with third-party leave administrators.
• Advanced reporting and HR analytics experience.

The hiring range for this position is $87,800 - $117,000 annually. The actual base pay offered will vary based on multiple factors including job-related knowledge/skills, relevant experience, business needs, and geographic location. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the specifics of the candidate’s qualifications and the business context. 

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.  This position is eligible to participate in Brunswick's comprehensive and high-quality benefits offerings, including medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401k (up to 4% match), Health Savings Account (with company contribution), well-being program, product purchase discounts and much more. Details about our benefits can be found here. 

Why Brunswick:  

Whatever tomorrow brings, we’ll be at the leading edge.  As the clear leader in the marine industry, we’re committed to our values and supporting our exceptional people. We offer and encourage growth opportunities within and across our many brands. In addition, we’re proud of being recognized for making a splash with numerous awards!  

About Division/Brand 

Brunswick Corporation is a leader in the marine industry, and we’re looking for people just like you to take part in the movement towards better boating for all. We rely on the thoughtful input of people from all backgrounds to create compelling, innovative products for our customers around the globe. As such, diversity, equity, and inclusion are priorities in the enduring culture of our company. As a world leader in emerging recreational products and technologies, when you join our team, you become part of some of the most innovative, forward-looking brands in the marine industry today.

Next is Now!  

We value growth and development, recognizing that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying.

Brunswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to innovation and inspiration and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.  If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected] for support. 

Brunswick and Workday Privacy Policies

Brunswick does not accept applications, inquiries or solicitations from unapproved staffing agencies or vendors. For help, please contact our support team at: [email protected] or 866-278-6942.

All job offers will come to you via the candidate portal you create when applying through a posted position through https:///www.brunswick.com/careers.  If you are ever unsure about what is being required of you during the application process or its source, please contact HR Shared Services at 866-278-6942 or [email protected].

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