Senior HR Operations Specialist (Shelton, CT)

The Senior HR Specialist is responsible for delivering a high-quality employee experience through efficient HR administration, employee support, and leave management. Serving as a primary point of contact for employees, this role provides guidance on payroll, benefits, HR policies, and employee lifecycle processes while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional customer service.

In additions, this role will manage, alongside the organizations leave management vendor, the organization's employee leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Workers' Compensation, state-mandated leave programs, and other statutory or company-sponsored leave benefits. The Specialist acts as the internal leave program administrator, partnering closely with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Payroll, Benefits, and the organization's third-party leave management vendor to ensure a seamless leave experience and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Support & HR Operations

• Serve as a first point of contact for employee inquiries related to:
  • Pay and payroll processes
  • Benefits programs and enrollment
  • HR policies and procedures
  • Time-off programs
  • Employee records and employment verification
• Provide timely, accurate, and customer-focused responses to employee questions and concerns.
• Support onboarding activities, including:
  • Preparing new hire documentation
  • Coordinating pre-employment requirements
  • Facilitating onboarding and orientation processes
  • Ensuring completion of required paperwork and system setup
• Maintain employee data within HRIS, ensuring accuracy and data integrity.
• Partner with Payroll and Benefits teams to resolve employee issues and ensure smooth administration of HR programs.
• Develop and maintain HR process documentation, knowledge articles, and employee resources.
• Assist with audits, reporting, compliance activities, and special HR projects as needed.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.

• Contribute to a culture of operational excellence by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and streamline employee and manager experiences.

Immigration & Vendor Management

• Coordinate immigration-related processes with the Company's external immigration counsel and vendors to support employee visa, work authorization, and sponsorship activities.
• Prepare, collect, and submit required documentation for immigration cases while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Serve as an HR liaison for employees, managers, and immigration partners regarding case status, documentation needs, and process requirements.
• Track immigration case milestones, deadlines, and required employee actions to support a positive employee experience and maintain compliance.
• Maintain confidential immigration records and documentation in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.

Billing & Administrative Support

• Review, process, and monitor invoices from immigration and other HR-related vendors for accuracy and adherence to established budgets and approval processes.
• Submit purchase requisitions and billing requests, track payment status, and partner with Finance to resolve invoice discrepancies when needed.
• Maintain vendor expense records and provide reporting on immigration and HR operational expenditures as requested.
• Support vendor relationship management by ensuring timely communication, documentation, and issue resolution.

Leave of Absence Administration

• Serve as the internal administrator and primary HR contact for all employee leave programs.
• Manage the administration and coordination of:
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Short-Term Disability (STD)
  • Long-Term Disability (LTD)
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave programs
  • State and local leave requirements
  • Military, personal, and other company-sponsored leaves
• Partner with the organization's third-party leave administrator to ensure timely and accurate case management.
• Guide employees and managers through the leave process, explaining eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work expectations.
• Monitor leave cases and proactively follow up to ensure appropriate documentation and compliance requirements are met.
• Coordinate accommodations, return-to-work activities, and fitness-for-duty requirements as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Benefits, managers, and HR Business Partners regarding leave impacts and employee status changes.
• Maintain confidential leave records and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Analyze leave trends and provide reporting and recommendations to improve employee experience and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Approximately 5 years of experience in Human Resources, HR Operations, Employee Services, Benefits Administration, or a related HR function..
• At least 1 years experience supporting leave administration, including FMLA, disability programs, workers' compensation, and state leave laws.

Preferred

• Experience supporting employee inquiries and HR transactions in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential employee information.
• Experience working with a third-party leave administration vendor.
• Knowledge of multi-state leave laws and compliance requirements.
• Experience with Workday or other HRIS platforms.
• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP) or progress toward certification.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrates a customer-first mindset and delivers responsive, accurate, and professional HR support.
• Builds strong collaborative relationships across functions to foster a "One Team" approach to service delivery.
• Takes ownership of issues and follows through to resolution while balancing compliance, business needs, and employee experience.
• Continuously seeks process improvements and leverages technology to drive efficiency and scalability.
• Maintains the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and trust.

This role is ideal for an HR professional who enjoys balancing employee support with operational excellence and has a passion for helping employees navigate important life events through effective leave management and HR service delivery.

The annual compensation range for this full-time position is $70,000 to $85,000. The final base pay offered to the successful candidate will be determined by factors including internal equity, work location, as well as individual qualifications, such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.