Benefits Operations and Leave Coordinator

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

The Benefits Operations and Leave Coordinator provides operational support for employee benefit programs, leave administration, and multi-state workers’ compensation processes. This role ensures accurate benefits data, timely employee support, compliance with applicable regulations, and effective coordination with HRIS, payroll, vendors, carriers, and benefit partners. The coordinator also helps improve processes, strengthen reporting accuracy, and support a positive employee experience.

What will you be doing?

Benefits Operations

• Support the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including health, wellness, retirement, and other benefit offerings.
• Respond to employee benefit inquiries by providing clear, accurate, and timely information.
• Maintain accurate benefits data in HRIS and related systems to support reporting, compliance, and employee records.
• Support compliance with applicable benefits regulations, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other requirements.
• Identify opportunities to streamline benefits processes, improve accuracy, and enhance employee experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Leave Administration

• Administer employee leave of absence cases, including vendor-managed and in-house leaves, in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements such as FMLA, state paid family and medical leave, workplace injury leave, and leave as an accommodation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees throughout the leave lifecycle, providing clear, timely, and supportive guidance.
• Partner with payroll to ensure accurate deductions, benefit premium processing, and recovery of missed premiums.
• Support multi-state workers’ compensation compliance, including coverage requirements, injury reporting, and state-specific filing rules.
• Manage the annual workers’ compensation reconciliation audit process by reviewing payroll data, validating classification codes and wage information, and ensuring accurate reporting in alignment with carrier and regulatory requirements.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in benefits administration, leave administration, HR operations, People Operations, or a related HR support function.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits, leave of absence programs, workers’ compensation, and related federal, state, and local compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with applicable regulations, including FMLA, ADA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and state paid leave programs.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll systems, third-party administrators, carriers, vendors, or benefit brokers.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate employee data, documentation, and reporting.
• Strong customer service and communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, timely, and supportive employee guidance.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel; Workday experience preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected base salary range for this role is $75,000- $95,000; actual base salary will be determined based on factors including candidate experience and work location. This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
• Life and Disability insurance

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.