The Manager, Absence Management leads the team responsible for administering employee absence programs and supporting employees through illness, injury, and other leave-related events. This role oversees the end-to-end absence management process, ensuring a compliant, efficient, and positive employee experience while facilitating successful return-to-work outcomes. In this role, you will provide leadership to a team that administers absence and pay-related services for both management and union employees, including sick leave, leaves of absence, vacation payouts, military differential pay, and wage recovery programs. The role also drives continuous improvement by identifying process and system enhancements, streamlining workflows, strengthening policy effectiveness, and improving employee understanding of absence programs. This position does not provide employment pursuant to the terms of a STEM OPT Training Plan. Core Responsibilities • Complete ongoing gap analysis, identify areas of improvement, and work with the Nurse Case Management team to implement process and procedure changes. • Document and update absence management process and procedures to ensure all Company policies and Conor (internal website) are accurate and accessible. • Troubleshoot escalated Union and Management absence issues and bring to a timely resolution. • Supervise absence management support staff, including assigning and reviewing work, setting performance expectations, providing coaching and development, and evaluating employee performance. • Ongoing partnership with the Nurse Case Management unit and other areas of the Employee Wellness Center (EWC). • Provide timely and responsive guidance and support to employees and managers on absence management policies and procedures. • Communicate with other Human Resource sections regarding service requests. • Coordinate administration of NYS Paid Family Leave with TPA. • Work with Production Support and other IT teams on system related matters and the development and production of Absence reports. • Participate in team projects and other tasks as assigned. Required Education/Experience • Master's Degree in Human Resources, Public Health, or Business or related degree and 4 years' experience or • Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Public Health, or Business or related degree and 6 years' experience or • Associate's Degree in Human Resources, Public Health, or Business or related degree and 7 years' experience or • High School Diploma/GED and 8 to 10 years' experience Relevant Work Experience • At least 4 years' experience managing a team of direct reports, required. • Demonstrate an understanding of various Human resources policies, preferred. • Experience working with union population, preferred. Skills and Abilities • Demonstrated analytical skills • Demonstrated customer service skills • Excellent organizational skills • Performs work independently with minimal supervision • Must be proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, etc. • Develops and delivers effective presentations • Ability to simultaneously handle multiple priorities Licenses and Certifications • Driver's License Required Physical Demands • Sit or stand to answer a phone for the duration of the workday • Sit or stand to use a keyboard, mouse, and computer for the duration of the workday Additional Physical Demands • The selected candidate will be assigned a System Emergency Assignment (i.e., an emergency response role) and will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.