[Remote] Benefits Consultant, LOA/Disability - Remote US

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Cisco is hiring a Benefits Consultant to serve as a subject matter expert for leave, disability, and accommodations programs. The role manages program administration and compliance, supports employees, collaborates across teams, and drives program improvements, communications, and financial oversight.

Responsibilities

• Program Administration & Compliance: Manage the end-to-end administration of leave programs (including FMLA, ADA, disability, workers’ compensation) while ensuring strict adherence to current and changing regional, local, and federal laws
• Employee Support & Advocacy: Monitor and partner in employee support, delivering differentiated experiences through concierge and external vendor coordination for issues, escalations, and care needs
• Expert Guidance: Resolve complex issues and provide clear guidance to employees on benefit plan interpretation, maintaining deep subject matter expertise to respond effectively to inquiries
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate frequently with senior management, IT, payroll, and change management teams within our complex, matrixed global organization to resolve process gaps and improve service delivery. Support LOA-related workflows, including offboarding and reasonable accommodations
• Change Management & Communication: Conduct comprehensive change management initiatives for significant alterations to benefits offerings. Support benefits communication efforts by drafting and promoting related programs, including updating internal resources such as intranet pages, benefits guides, support platforms, and annual state communications
• Data-Driven Optimization & AI Integration: Analyze leave, disability, and accommodation data to identify trends and improve program effectiveness. Proactively leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, drive content engagement, and streamline process improvements
• Financial & Audit Oversight: Maintain program budgets, review and approve vendor invoices, and investigate/resolve discrepancies to ensure accurate and timely payments. Maintain rigorous oversight of business reporting and internal controls, ensuring data integrity and financial accuracy for all leave and sick leave programs. Manage auditing requirements related to disability program processes
• Program Management: Assume responsibility for other related benefit programs as required, such as life, disability, and/or survivor support

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with a specialized focus on leave, disability, and accommodations
• In-depth knowledge of FMLA, ADA, ERISA, HIPAA, and regional/state-specific leave laws
• Proven ability to manage relationships with third-party vendors and external partners
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., VLOOKUP, pivot tables) and the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Visio)
• Ability to quickly learn and efficiently use various online vendor portals and benefits administration systems
• Proficiency in HRIS systems (such as Workday) and case management tools
• Professional certification (e.g., CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP)
• Experience managing benefits programs in a large, multinational technology organization
• Demonstrated success in leading process improvement initiatives for complex HR programs
• Experience with disability plans and coordination with workers' compensation programs
• Demonstrated application of AI technologies to optimize HR workflows and improve operational efficiency

Benefits

• U.S. employees are offered medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules.
• Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
• Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
• Remote work for candidates in all US locations except for NYC metro and the San Jose Bay metro.

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