Come work at a place where we take pride in creating a workplace environment that values hard work, commitment, and growth.
The Leave Manager is responsible for overseeing the administration of all team member leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, and all other leave programs and applicable leave benefits. This role ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, partners with internal stakeholders to enhance leave policies, advises team members and leaders on leave processes, manages related documentation, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to optimize the team member experience
Job Description:
Education:
- A bachelor’s degree (accredited) in Human Resources or a similar field of study, or equivalent years of related work experience in lieu of a degree is required.
Work Experiences:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in leave administration, HR operations, or a related field, with expert-level knowledge of FMLA, ADA, state disability programs, paid family/medical leave, and other leave policies.
- 5+ years of direct leadership experience managing a leave administration team or HR department.
- Proficiency in HR technology systems (e.g., Workday, or similar platforms) is required.
- Retail industry experience with multi-unit, multi-state responsibilities is highly preferred.
- Experience in fast-paced, high-volume corporate environments with demonstrated adaptability to evolving priorities.
Skills:
- Expertise in U.S. leave laws and regulations, ensuring full compliance across multiple states.
- Ability to develop, update, and implement leave policies in alignment with business needs and regulatory changes.
- Strategic problem-solving skills with the ability to assess leave trends, identify challenges, and recommend process improvements.
- Strong analytical abilities to interpret and leverage leave data for workforce planning and decision-making.
- Effective collaboration with key stakeholders, including HR, payroll, benefits, legal, and leadership teams.
- Proven ability to lead and develop a team, ensuring best-in-class leave administration and customer service.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and educate various audiences.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to manage high volumes of leave cases while maintaining confidentiality.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and HRIS reporting tools.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee and manage all aspects of leave administration, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and company policies.
- Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) on leave programs, partnering with HRBPs and leadership to ensure understanding and adherence.
- Analyze leave trends and provide regular reporting and recommendations to HR and leadership.
- Collaborate with legal, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure seamless execution of leave processes and accurate payroll integration.
- Lead and develop the leave administration team, ensuring continuous training and compliance with evolving leave laws.
- Act as the escalation point for complex leave cases, providing guidance and resolution strategies.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive leave-related training materials, resources, and process documentation.
- Identify and implement enhancements to leave processes, improving efficiency and team member experience.
- Partner with external vendors, where applicable, to ensure effective leave administration and compliance.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by HR leadership.
Physical Requirements & Attendance:
- Available during the hours of business for all divisions
- Able to work evenings, weekends, and Holidays as needed
- Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
Full timeEqual Employment Opportunity
Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.
What We Do
At Academy Sports + Outdoors, we believe in the power of fun. And we believe in helping our customers have more of it. With a wide assortment of sporting and outdoors gear, Academy offers the best brands under one roof — curated to make the most of every budget. Day in and day out, our 20,000+ Team Members bring a sense of adventure, energy, and passion to work. Understanding our people and the things that matter to them has been at the core of Academy culture for over 80 years. We take pride in creating a workplace that values hard work, commitment, growth, and of course, FUN.
Academy — headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston — is one of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor stores. We offer a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing, and camping equipment and gear, as well as sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel, and much more.
Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to a wide network of stores across many states, with $6.8 billion in annual revenue.
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