WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.
Job Description:
WorldStrides is seeking a detail-oriented and empathetic Leave of Absence (LOA) Administrator to join our HR team. In this role, you will manage the end-to-end administration of all employee leaves, including FMLA, ADA, PTO, disability, and state-mandated programs. You will serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers, guiding them through the leave process while ensuring strict legal compliance and operational efficiency.
Responsibilities:
- Manage Leave Cases: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of all medical, parental, personal, and military leave requests.
- Ensure Compliance: Interpret and apply federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, ADA, Paid Family Leave) to ensure full organizational compliance.
- Lead ADA Interactive Process: Facilitate conversations between employees and managers to determine and implement reasonable workplace accommodations.
- Coordinate Payroll & Benefits: Partner with payroll and benefits teams to ensure accurate pay integration, tracking short-term and long-term disability benefits.
- Communicate Clearly: Advise employees on leave options, eligibility, rights, and responsibilities, providing compassionate and timely updates.
- Maintain Confidentiality: Securely manage all medical certifications and documentation in strict accordance with HIPAA and privacy regulations.
- Support Return-to-Work: Coordinate transitional duties and return-to-work clearances with employees and supervisors.
- Drive Program Innovation: Actively identify opportunities to integrate AI tools and automation into the leave process, transforming traditional workflows to improve case processing speed and enhance the employee experience.
- PTO Tracking & Administration: Monitor, audit, and track employee Paid Time Off (PTO) balances and usage, ensuring alignment with company policies, accurate system accruals, and seamless coordination with leave schedules.
Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience: 2–4 years of dedicated leave administration or specialized HR experience.
- Legal Knowledge: Deep understanding of FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leave regulations and administration.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g. ADP) and a strong capability to leverage AI-powered technologies to automate tasks and actively modernize the leave administration program.
- Soft Skills: Exceptional empathy, active listening, strong problem-solving abilities, and bulletproof attention to detail.
Work Perks:
- Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, disability insurance, FSA/HSA options with employer HSA contributions, and a generous 401(k) match.
- Generous paid time off including 11 paid company holidays, 25 PTO days the first year (prorated), 1 paid volunteer day, 4 mental health days, and bereavement
- Professional development support, including up to $5,250 annually for tuition reimbursement and up to $1,000 for certifications annually
- Opportunities for paid and discounted travel
- Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and hybrid office opportunities
- Encouraged participation in a wide variety of Employee Resource Groups
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources, including fitness centers at select locations
- Paid parental, caregiver, and disability leave
- Team Member Discount Program
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment 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.
WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent professional experience
- 2-4 years of dedicated leave administration or specialized HR experience
- Deep understanding of FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leave regulations
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g., ADP)
- Ability to leverage AI-powered technologies to automate and modernize leave administration
- Exceptional empathy, active listening, strong problem-solving, and attention to detail
- Knowledge of HIPAA and ability to securely manage medical documentation
- Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship
What We Do
WorldStrides provides educational travel and experiences to more than 530,000 students a year. Founded in 1967 by a middle school social studies teacher from Chicago, the company has since grown to become a leader in experiential learning for students of all ages throughout their lifetime learning journey. In addition to domestic and international travel and study abroad programs, WorldStrides offerings include performing arts, sports, language immersion, career exploration, and service-learning. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways. Our global team is 1,500+ strong, united by a passion for what we do. We work with students, parents, and teachers, and behind the scenes too, to deliver experiences that transform lives. Let's get out there - together! Community Guidelines We are happy to address questions you may have, but in order to foster a vibrant and useful online community, we’ve outlined a few guidelines to be followed when posting on the WorldStrides and affiliated brands' social channels . Any comments that are in violation of the guidelines will be removed, and repeat offenders may be blocked. Comments will be removed if they contain: • Profane, inappropriate, threatening or offensive language; • Violations of copyright or intellectual property rights; • Purposefully untrue or misleading statements; • Comments that are meant to derail or hijack constructive conversations; • Personal information of community members or WorldStrides employees; • Posts that link to potentially harmful sites.
