Benefits and Leaves Lead

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Are you actively looking for a new opportunity? Or just checking the market? Well… you might just be in the right place!

We’re looking for a Benefits and Leaves Lead  to join our Total Rewards team. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Global Benefits, the Benefits and Leaves Lead plays a critical role in managing and optimizing our benefits programs, with a specific focus on leave management, accommodations, time-off programs, and leaves compliance globally. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Global Benefits, you will be responsible for administering short-term and long-term disability, parental leaves, and time-off management. In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations, you will evaluate and improve our global leave programs to ensure they align with Lightspeed's Total Rewards strategy, helping to create an environment where Lightspeeders can thrive. If you're passionate about making a direct impact on employee well-being, and working in a fast-paced, dynamic tech environment, this is the role for you!

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the administration and continuous improvement of leave of absence programs, including but not limited to short- and long-term disability, parental leave, and other leave types across Canada, and the U.S.
• Drive strategic enhancements to leave and benefits programs by leveraging data insights, employee feedback, and process reviews to improve operational efficiency, ensure compliance, and deliver an excellent employee experience.
• Design and expand global leave policies and practices, partnering with regional P&C teams and external vendors to address local requirements while promoting global consistency and equity.
• Serve as the subject-matter expert on complex leave, accommodation, and time-off cases, advising HR business partners, managers, and employees, and ensuring alignment with internal policies and applicable legislation.
• Partner closely with global brokers and benefits vendors to stay ahead of market trends, benchmark offerings, and ensure leave and wellness programs support the company’s total rewards strategy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners, including HRIS team, payroll, and legal, to ensure accurate data flow, system integration, and efficient resolution of issues related to leave administration.
• Lead and support global wellness initiatives, curating programs and resources that enhance employee well-being and foster a culture of health, and engagement.
• Support the Senior Global Benefits Manager in the annual benefits renewal process for Canada and the U.S
• Ensure compliance with global employment laws and regulations related to leave, accommodations, and benefits, proactively monitoring legal updates and implementing policy changes as needed.

What you need to bring:

We’re a Total Rewards team of 7 people located in North America.

We're looking for a candidate who has experience with the following:

• Strong experience with managing leaves programs, including disability, parental leave, and workers' compensation, in both Canada and the U.S., with experience designing and implementing global leave strategies across multiple countries and regions.
• In-depth knowledge of employee leave policies, time-off management, and benefits administration across North America.
• Experience managing annual benefits renewals, including coordination with global brokers, analyzing utilization trends, and contributing to plan design decisions.
• Experience in vendor and broker management at a global scale, including oversight of RFP processes, service level agreements, and performance metrics.
• Strong leadership in cross-functional program management, including close partnership with global payroll, HRIS, and legal teams.
• A passion for continuous improvement, with a track record of implementing global process optimizations that enhance employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Strong oral and written communications skills in English. As a global company with employees and clients outside of Quebec, fluency in English as a working language is required for this position.
• Intermediate data analysis and reporting skills (e.g., Excel), with the ability to leverage insights to drive global strategy and decision-making.

Even better if you have, but not necessary:

• Experience working in a fast-paced tech environment.
• Experience with leaves programs in the EMEA and APAC regions.
• Experience using Workday.

We know that people are more than what’s on their CV. If you’re unsure that you have the right profile for the role... hit the ‘Apply’ button and give it a try!

Be a changemaker

You’ll enjoy:

• A flexible work environment that empowers you to do your best work 
• A culture that celebrates performance
• The chance to make an impact in a team that’s big enough for career growth, but lean enough to make your voice heard
• Career-defining opportunities

Plus benefits designed to keep you happy, healthy and fulfilled.

• Flexible paid time off and remote work policies 
• Equity options, because this is your company too
• Contributions to your pension plan. Your future matters
• Training opportunities to grow your skills and career
• Health and wellness credit so you feel your best
• Time off to volunteer and give back to your community
• Interest groups, employee led networks, social committees to sponsored sports teams
• Computer purchase program to get your personal Macbook
• Enhanced parental leave to support growing families
• Etc… 

Fuel your growth. Find your people.

At Lightspeed, your growth is our priority. We invest in you with continuous learning opportunities, global mobility and benefits designed to support you—all within a driven, diverse and inclusive team that’s passionate about empowering our communities

To all recruitment agencies: Lightspeed does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. If we have not directly engaged your company in writing to supply candidates for a specific vacancy, Lightspeed will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Lightspeed is a proud equal opportunity employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive and barrier-free workplace. Lightspeed welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Where to from here?
Obviously, this has to be mutually beneficial: we want you to step into a role you love, and we want to offer you a place you’re proud to come to every day. For a glimpse into our world check out our career page here.

Lightspeed is building communities through commerce, and we need people from all backgrounds and lived experiences to do that. We were founded in 2005, in Montreal’s gay village and our original members were all part of the LGBTQ+ community. The ethos of our business has been about inclusion from the very beginning, and we strive to provide a workplace where everyone belongs.

Who we are:
Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale, and provide exceptional customer experiences. Our cloud commerce solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financial solutions, and connection to supplier networks.