Manager, Leave Administration

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Position Summary

Provide strategic oversight and day‑to‑day management of employee leave programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while delivering a consistent, employee‑centered experience. Lead leave administration operations, partnering closely with internal Benefits, Payroll, Employee Relations, HRBP, Workforce Relations, and Legal teams as well as external vendors. Provides guidance to leaders and employees on complex leave and accommodation matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Leave Program Management - Oversee the administration of employee leave programs, including but not limited to: Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state and local paid family medical leave programs (including CO FAMLI and MN PFML), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and interactive accommodation process, company sponsored leaves such as parental leave, short-term disability, long-term disability, and coordination of the return-to-work process from worker’s compensation. Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant leave determinations, tracking, and documentation. Implements or revises leave programs to adapt to new laws or changes in business needs or best practices.

• Compliance & Risk Management - Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local leave laws and regulations. Monitor legislative changes and assess operational impact; recommend and implement policy or process updates as needed. Partner with Legal and Employee Relations to mitigate risk and address escalated or complex cases.

• Vendor Management - Manage the relationship with third‑party leave administration vendor. Meet with vendor to review performance metrics and take corrective action when needed. Ensure accurate data exchange between vendor, leave systems, HRIS, and payroll. Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and process automation initiatives in partnership with HR Technology. Partner with Supply Chain and HR leadership on contract management, renewals, and escalations. Reviews and approves vendor invoices.

• Employee & Stakeholder Support - Serve as a subject matter expert for managers, HR partners, and employees on leave‑related matters. Provide guidance on sensitive, complex, or escalated leave and accommodation cases. Develop and deliver training and communication materials related to leave programs. Educate employees and leaders on the types of leaves and the company’s leave programs.

• Reporting & Continuous Improvement - Analyze leave data and trends to identify risks, cost drivers, and improvement opportunities. Prepare reports and metrics for HR leadership and senior management. Participate in periodic metric reviews with the vendor. Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.

• Leadership & Team Development – Lead, coach, and develop the leave administration staff.  Establish performance standards, workflows, and quality controls to ensure service excellence. Promote a culture of accountability, empathy, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• At least 5+ years of HR experience, including demonstrated leadership in leave administration, disability management, or HR operations.
• In-depth working knowledge of leave administration, FMLA, ADA, USSERA, HIPPA, and state and local leave laws.
• Experience with HRIS and leave management systems (e.g., Workday, UKG, ServiceNow, vendor leave platforms, etc.).
• Proficient in MS Office tools.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Requirements

• HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP)

• 2+ years of team-lead experience or management experience.

• Experience working with third‑party leave administrators.

• Experience supporting geographically dispersed employee populations across different states, including union and non-union populations.

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,600.00 to $138,600.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 04/20/26

EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

 

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.