AV · 4 weeks ago
Benefit Specialist, Sr. - LOA & WC
Simi Valley, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$98K/yr - $139K/yr
8+ years expAeroVironment (AV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems. The Sr. Benefits Specialist will support the employee experience by providing expert customer service and project management in Leave of Absence and Workers’ Compensation, ensuring compliance with regulations and company policies.
AerospaceAir TransportationDronesElectric VehicleElectronicsEnergyGovernmentManufacturing
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for all leave-of-absence programs, including FMLA, state family/medical leave, paid family leave (PFL), employer-sponsored leaves, personal leaves, military leave, jury duty, and school activities leave
Oversee end-to-end LOA processes—including intake, eligibility determination, certification requests, approvals/denials, extensions, recertifications, and return-to-work clearances into AbsencePro
Monitor medical certifications and documentation for completeness and compliance; confirm AbsencePro requests clarifications from healthcare providers when necessary
Maintain strict adherence to HIPAA and confidentiality guidelines when handling medical information
Communicate leave rights, responsibilities, timelines, and pay options (disability, state programs, PTO integration) to employees
Partner closely with Payroll to ensure proper pay coding, disability payments, offsets, and adjustments during leave periods
Track intermittent leave usage, monitor exhaustion of entitlements, and ensure accurate reporting through AbsencePro
Coordinate ADA interactive process meetings in partnership with HR Business Partners, including documentation, reasonable accommodation requests, and medical updates
Serve as the liaison between employees, managers, HR, and third-party administrators to ensure smooth case progression
Provide guidance to managers on employee work restrictions, return-to-work timelines, and required documentation
Educate employees on leave types, the interaction between state/federal laws and company policies, available benefits, and their obligations during leave
Coordination of disability benefits
Create and document the leave process to ensure it’s in compliance and supports a growing organization
Administer workers’ compensation claims from initial incident through closure, ensuring compliance with state WC laws and company policies
Coordinate immediate response to workplace injuries, including triage steps, directing employees to approved medical facilities, and ensuring timely completion of incident reports
Submit first reports of injury (FROI) to carriers or TPAs within mandated timeframes
Track all WC claims—medical-only and lost-time—and monitor ongoing treatment, restrictions, and follow-up visits through AbsencePro
Communicate claim status updates to employees, managers, and HR leaders
Coordinate return-to-work or transitional/light-duty assignments, ensuring alignment with medical restrictions found on AbsencePro
Review medical bills, wage statements, and carrier correspondence for accuracy; escalate discrepancies as needed
Partner with Employee Health & Safety teams to identify injury trends and recommend corrective actions or safety training
Support OSHA reporting requirements by providing WC incident data and documentation to EHS
Assist with workers’ compensation audits, insurer inquiries, and annual insurance renewal documentation
Review trend analysis and benchmark data to evaluate program performance and ensure that the workers’ compensation program remain compliant and aligned with best-in-class practices
Provide compassionate, high-quality service to employees navigating leave or workplace injuries
Maintain timely, professional, and accurate communication using phone, email, and case management systems
Serve as the escalation point for complex or sensitive LOA or WC concerns
Maintain accurate records in Workday/leave management systems; ensure all documentation is uploaded timely
Update case details, entitlement balances, and communications in a centralized case-tracking system
Process required letters, notices, and compliance documents (eligibility notices, designation letters, ADA notices, RTW letters, etc.)
Ensure retention of leave and WC records in accordance with regulatory requirements
Assist with system testing, upgrades, and enhancements related to HRIS or TPA portals
Qualification
Required
Associate or Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is required
8+ years' experience in administering FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability, ADA, and workers' compensation programs in a fast-paced professional organization
Experience with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, or case management systems
Experienced with Workday HCM, ADP, and third-party benefits applications
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
Excellent verbal and written communications skills to collaborate and develop partnerships across multiple functional areas, with vendors, and with all team members
Effective time management and organizational skills
Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
Self-directed with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities
Consistently exhibits good judgment and discretion when dealing with sensitive information
Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
Attention to detail, follow-through, a sense of urgency, strong teamwork, collaborative skills, and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple benefits projects with competing demands in a growing organization is required
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required
Preferred
Experience in a Technology, Engineering and/or Aerospace and Defense company is preferred
Benefits
Medical
Dental vision
401K with company matching
A 9/80 work schedule
A paid holiday shutdown
Company
At AV, we build shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers, delivering systems shaped by real-world missions, not theoretical requirements.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.68B2025-07-01Post Ipo Equity· $875M
2025-07-01Post Ipo Debt· $650M
2023-09-19Post Ipo Equity· $109.01M
Leadership Team
Wahid Nawabi
Chairman, President & CEO
Johnathan Jones
Senior Vice President
Recent News
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