HR Specialist, Leaves - KIPP Texas Public Schools

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 59 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 34,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Founded in Houston in 1994, and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in our classrooms, in our offices, and in the communities we serve is unwavering. We are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join our Team and Family and champion equity, chase excellence, persist with purpose, bring joy, and help us rise together.

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students and approximately three times higher than the average of students from low-income communities.

You can see all our job opportunities at https://kipptexas.org/join-our-team/.

The Opportunity

The Specialist, HR Leaves will oversee and administer all leave requests, including long-term leaves as well as those covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Key Responsibilities

Administer Leaves

• Communicate with employees regarding their needs for leave. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.
• Handles the FMLA leave administration process from the employee’s initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, and requesting medical certification as needed.
• Lead meeting with employee and payroll regarding leave time, disability (if applicable), etc., explaining all aspects of the leave and its impact on payroll.
• Maintains reasonable communication with employees as well as their manager. Notify managers of employee’s anticipated leave dates and any updates to return to work date
• Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
• Facilitate other leaves, including other long-term, unpaid leaves.
• Maintain accurate leave records in ADP.
• Responsible for entering any time off, updating employee status when on leave and after returning.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent experience
• Two years of human resource experience preferred
• School district experience preferred
• English/Spanish bilingual preferred
• Experience with data entry and use of an HRIS system, like ADP, PeopleSoft, SAP, or equivalent software preferred
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy required
• Excellent organizational skills required
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
• Ability to work well with all levels of the organization and with external contacts
• Ability to perform under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to interpret and disseminate information to individuals and groups
• Understanding and belief that Human Resources is a service role within the organization
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, and fax machines

Compensation and Benefits

As a full-time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas’ benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, life insurance, and disability plans.

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.