Extended Leave Benefits Manager

4003007

Job Code: 4003007
Job Family/Function: 40 – Human Resources\Employee Benefits
FLSA: Exempt
Grade Ladder: MNPS Support Salaried
Pay Grade: MNPS.SCH014-S
Duration (days/year): 260
Locations(s): Support Hub

We Are Team MNPS
Metro Schools is one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the United States. Our teachers and staff educate more than 80,000 students in Metro Nashville-Davidson County, preparing them to excel in higher education, work, and life. Our district implements some of the most innovative reform strategies in the nation. We seek to partner with highly effective, engaging teachers, teacher leaders and support staff with a passion for urban education and a go-getter spirit as we strive to become the highest-performing urban district in the nation. Whether you are a teacher, an administrator, or a potential support staff employee, if you want to make a difference, we want to hear from you.

Job Summary

Manages the extended leave benefits function across all district employee group with responsibility for consistent policy interpretation, case escalation, and system integration. Supervises leave specialists and lead specialists and may supervise other team members. Serves as the district's working authority on complex leave scenarios — overlapping FMLA and other types of leave, intermittent leave abuse patterns, accommodation coordination, extended unpaid status, and job restoration disputes — and owns the operational relationship with technology stakeholders, and internal partners in Compensation, Time and Labor, Benefits, and Employee Relations. Develops and revises unit procedures in coordination with Human Resources leadership.

What you will do

Directs case administration across all employee groups, ensuring consistent treatment of certificated and classified employees under differing statutory, Board policy, and negotiated agreement provisions.

Serves as escalation authority for complex and contested cases, including intermittent leave pattern review, fitness-for-duty and return-to-work disputes not related to Injury on Duty (IOD), to exhaustion of entitlement, and denial of leave requests.

Develops, documents, and maintains standard operating procedures, decision trees, and case-handling standards; ensures alignment with current statute and district policy.

Supervises the extended leave benefits team and establishes performance standards and conducts formal evaluations.

Oversees leave-to-payroll integration, validating that leave status changes flow accurately to pay, benefits deductions, service credit, and retirement reporting.

Coordinates the interactive process for accommodation requests arising from or following leave. Manages the intersection of extended leave with IOD, short- and long-term disability, and the sick leave bank, ensuring entitlements run concurrently where permitted and are not duplicated.

Produces recurring and ad hoc leave reporting for HR leadership, including entitlement utilization, case volume and aging, absence trends, and compliance exception reporting.

May design and deliver training for school leaders, department heads, and HR staff on leave rights, supervisory obligations, and documentation requirements.

Prepares case documentation and factual summaries in support of grievances, appeals, and agency charges; participates in fact-finding as directed.

Develops, documents, and maintains standard operating procedures, decision trees, and case-handling standards for the unit.

Education Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Risk Management, or closely related field Required

Master's Degree Preferred

Experience Qualifications

minimum of 4 years experience administering leave across multiple employee classifications governed by differing statutory and negotiated provisions Required

minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in leave of absence administration, employee benefits, disability management, or a closely related HR function Required

minimum of 3 years of direct supervisory experience Required

Skills and Abilities

Advanced working knowledge of FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, PWFA, USERRA, HIPAA, COBRA, ERISA, and FLSA as applied to public employers.

Tennessee leave statutes applicable to school districts, including T.C.A. § 49-5-710, the Tennessee Teachers' Sick Leave Bank Act (T.C.A. §§ 49-5-801 et seq.), T.C.A. § 4-21-408, and the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act as it interacts with protected leave.

Board policy, administrative procedure, and negotiated agreement provisions governing leave, job restoration, and benefits continuation.

Licenses and Certifications

Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) Preferred

Equivalency

Starting At: $97,741.47

Salaries are determined by factors relevant to the position which may include education, experience, and other qualifications. Final compensation decisions are made at the discretion of MNPS in alignment with organizational policies and procedures. The stated salary range for certificated teaching positions is calculated based on 201 days and should be viewed as a reference. All provided salary ranges serve as a general guideline. More information on salaries and pay tables can be found here .

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities for all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment that reflects the diversity of our global community. We strive to treat all employees and applicants with respect and fairness, and we make employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) requires MNPS to provide adequate accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.