Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Absence and Disability Department within the Talent Office is responsible for processing all medical and non-medical leaves of absence, administering the AWOL (absent without leave) process, Short-Term Disability, Benefit Billing, Donation of Sick Days, Fitness for Duty and Reasonable Suspicion exams.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Absence and Disability Manager, the Leaves Analyst will coordinate and administer all aspects of employee leaves of absence and benefits, including day to day operations, compliance, and reporting. Leaves of absence include: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Short-Term Disability benefits, CPS supplemental leaves, paid parental leave, city, county and state leaves, non-medical leaves, involuntary leave (fitness for duty), and reasonable suspicion based on FMLA law, CPS Policy and Board Rules, CPS Short-Term Disability Plan, and Collective Bargaining Agreements. This role ensures that policies and procedures are amended as needed based on internal or external changes or trends. In addition, the role will support the broader Healthcare and Benefits Department as needed and work on special projects as assigned and support the Absence and Disability Manager.

The Absence and Disability Leaves Analyst will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Make leave and disability decisions for district leaves of absence.
• Act as the primary liaison between the leave of absence program and other CPS departments, schools, and the HR Business Partners.
• Analyze leave and disability data to provide cost-projections and coverage concerns for school absenteeism.
• Provide guidance on and administer all aspects of the leave of absence and the Short-Term Disability programs.
• Provide tier 2 customer service for leave of absence and STD benefit questions from the contact center, including research into employee leaves of absence and discrepancies with pay out of the STD benefit.
• Ensure HIPPA compliance and confidentiality of employee matters is maintained.
• Interact with Payroll, the ADA Office, Law Department, and other departments as needed on issues affecting compliance with all leave benefit plans, including projects related to collective bargaining agreements.
• Review audit reports for internal leave review and departmental metrics.
• Audit processed applications for accuracy and review of denied claims.
• Provide training to departments and schools on medical and non-medical leaves, as well as Short-Term Disability.
• Act as first-level escalation for administration of donated sick day payout process.
• Review and update leave accrual balances when an employee returns to work.
• Administer return to work process.
• Work with the ADA Office to ensure a timely process for review of employees returning from leave with restrictions.
• Maintain a file of job descriptions for departmental use.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Absence and Disability Leaves Analyst must possess the following qualifications:

Education and Experience Required:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent is required and a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience, including five (5) years of benefits and/or absence management experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3) years of related experience
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience administering absence and/or disability leaves and data in an HRIS system (E.g., Peoplesoft) or other applicable leave management system

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to quickly gain and a full understanding and working knowledge of all leave plans, policies, and processes.
• Ability to adapt and change based on the needs of the work environment.
• Ability to perform well in a team environment with a high volume of work.
• Strong Excel and/or Google Sheet data analysis skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, array formulas, macros, etc.).
• Efficient PowerPoint and/or Google Slides skills with the ability to develop clear, accurate, data-driven presentations.
• Strong data entry and data validation skills.
• Attention to detail with the ability to identify and resolve issues in leave submissions and data.
• Ability to adhere to strict confidentiality and data privacy and protection requirements on a daily basis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate high levels of instructional expertise, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions
• Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management and organizational development
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.