[Hiring] Senior Associate, Absence Consultant, Complex Implementations @New York Life

Role Description

The Absence Subject Matter Expert (SME), Complex Implementations, serves as the strategic and technical authority for absence and leave solutions during highly complex new business and in-force implementations. This role partners closely with the Senior Implementation Manager to deliver a seamless onboarding experience while ensuring early, high-quality discovery, accurate translation of business requirements, and strong alignment between client expectations and New York Life’s administrative capabilities.

This role serves as an expert advisor across complex absence implementations, including:

• FMLA
• PFML
• ADA
• State-mandated programs
• Company leave policies
• Integrated disability/leave solutions

The SME plays a critical role in:

• Operational design
• Risk mitigation
• Client education
• Implementation governance

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Client Advisory & Discovery
  • Lead early-phase discovery for complex absence implementations in partnership with the Senior Implementation Manager.
  • Document clients’ current-state absence practices, workflows, vendor relationships, and pain points.
  • Conduct comprehensive requirements gathering across FMLA, state PFML, ADA, company leaves, and integrated disability programs.
  • Translate ambiguous or highly customized client needs into structured, actionable implementation requirements.
  • Educate clients on NYL’s administrative model, case management approach, compliance framework, and service expectations.
  • Guide clients through best practices and operational transformation aligned to NYL capabilities.
  • Participate in finalist presentations to represent NYL’s absence strategy and implementation strengths.
• Implementation Design & Execution
  • Serve as the absence design authority during implementation for clients typically 1,000+ lives, including large middle-market and national accounts.
  • Collaborate with Configuration, Leave Operations, Claims, Data Exchange, Premium Administration, Contracts, and Enrollment teams to ensure accurate system setup.
  • Develop and validate business requirement documents, process flows, case setup specifications, and leave policy rules.
  • Ensure accurate customization of communications, eligibility rules, file feeds, pay rules, and administrative services agreements.
  • Identify risks, gaps, red flags, and process dependencies early in onboarding and proactively implement mitigation strategies.
  • Provide expert guidance on file feed requirements, HRIS integrations, case management configurations, and downstream system impacts.
  • Partner with Electronic Interface Specialists and data teams to validate eligibility structures and integration readiness.
  • Support merger & acquisition implementations and complex in-force modifications involving absence programs.
• Governance, Risk Management & Quality Assurance
  • Anticipate implementation risks before they emerge and escalate appropriately.
  • Ensure integrity and timeliness of all absence-related data elements provided to internal setup units.
  • Validate compliance alignment with federal and state leave regulations.
  • Assist IM to ensure readiness for go-live through structured validation and operational sign-off processes in regards to absence.
• Client & Broker Engagement
  • Serve as primary absence subject matter authority for clients, brokers, TPAs, and internal stakeholders during complex absence implementations.
  • Participate with the IM to facilitate expert team meetings to align internal stakeholders on responsibilities and deliverables.
  • Support the IM for deliver client-facing absence education materials, process documentation, and system demonstrations when needed.
  • Incorporate Voice of Customer insights to enhance client experience and future implementation practices.
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement
  • Act as dedicated mentor and functional leader for absence.
  • Serve as escalation resource for complex absence implementations.
  • Lead or participate in cross-functional process improvement initiatives.
  • Develop standardized best practices, documentation templates, and workflow enhancements.
  • Educate internal teams on absence guidelines, compliance requirements, and implementation best practices.
  • Contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance NYL’s absence implementation model and market differentiation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in absence management, disability, or leave administration (FMLA, state-mandated leaves, ADA, company policies).
• Deep expertise in vendor-based and carrier-based absence administration models.
• Experience leading complex client implementations or consulting engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate risks and translate ambiguous information into structured requirements.
• Strong knowledge of HRIS platforms, case management systems, integrations, file feeds, pay rules, and compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to create detailed process flows, business requirement documentation, and client-facing education materials.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated success managing large, multi-location or national clients (1,000+ lives; 5,000+ preferred).
• Mastery of federal and state leave regulations and integrated disability programs.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple complex implementations concurrently.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Strategic consulting mindset with ability to influence operational transformation.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to gain alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• High level of organizational agility within matrixed environments.
• Growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Role Impact

This role elevates absence implementation from case setup execution to strategic advisory leadership. By consolidating and enhancing the prior Senior Leave of Absence Implementation Specialist role, the Absence SME strengthens NYL’s ability to deliver high-quality, risk-mitigated absence implementations, improve operational consistency and compliance integrity, enhance client education and expectation alignment, reduce downstream rework, and position NYL as a market leader in complex absence administration.

Pay Transparency

• Salary Range: $85,000-$115,000
• Overtime eligible: Exempt
• Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes
• Sales bonus eligible: No
• Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location.
• Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.
• In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.