Sr. Benefits Analyst - Leaves & Time Away - Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

Nordstrom is seeking a Senior Analyst to join our Benefits team and serve as a subject matter expert for Leave of Absence and Time Away programs. This role is a highly skilled individual contributor responsible for supporting the administration, governance, and ongoing effectiveness of U.S. time away programs, including discretionary time off (vacation), sick and safe leaves, Company‑Paid Holidays, and Leave of Absence programs. The Sr. Analyst partners closely with Benefits, HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Legal, Payroll, Technology, and third‑party vendors to support leave and time away modernization efforts, improve operational consistency, and help reduce risk. In addition, this role participates as a core member of a Leave & Time Away strategy working group, contributing analysis, benchmarking, and operational insights to support future‑state program decisions. Key responsibilities include data analysis and reporting, project support and execution, policy and documentation management, operational process improvement, and consultative support for internal partners. This position plays a critical role in ensuring time away and leave programs are administered accurately, consistently, and in alignment with plan documents and applicable laws, while supporting a clear and positive employee experience.

A day in the life…

• Supports the administration, governance, and operational execution of Nordstrom’s Time Away and Leave of Absence programs, within applicable legal and regulatory frameworks

• Serves as a trusted advisor to HRBPs, leaders, and internal partners by providing guidance on program interpretation, operational processes, and complex scenarios

• Supports and manages workstreams for leave and time away modernization initiatives, including policy updates, process improvements, system enhancements, and vendor changes

• Partners cross‑functionally with Benefits, HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Legal, Payroll, Technology, and vendors to deliver aligned outcomes

• Participates as an active contributor in a cross‑functional strategy working group, supporting strategy development through́ through data analysis, benchmarking, and operational insights

• Supports policy governance by drafting, updating, and maintaining time away and leave‑related policies, job aids, and employee‑facing materials

• Interprets and applies laws such as FMLA, USERRA, ADA, and state paid leave requirements to support compliant and accurate program execution

• Conducts analysis on utilization, eligibility, duration, timely filing, and employee impact to inform leadership discussions and decision‑making

• Supports vendor coordination and oversight, including requirements definition, process alignment, reporting, and issue resolution

• Contributes to the development of training materials, education, and communications to improve leader and employee understanding of programs

• Identifies opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and improve the employee and manager experience

• Serves as a subject matter expert and point of escalation for complex questions or issues involving vendors, HRBPs, Legal, or the Employee Contact Center

• Supports the maintenance of program documentation to ensure operational practices accurately reflect plan rules and approved policies

You own this if you have…

• 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related field

• 3+ years of experience supporting Leave of Absence and/or Time Away programs

• Experience contributing to strategy development, program design, or enterprise initiatives through cross‑functional working groups

• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local leave laws (FMLA, USERRA, ADA, state paid leave programs)

• General understanding of ERISA, HIPAA, and IRS/DOL requirements impacting employee benefit plans

• Experience partnering with third‑party leave and disability administrators

• Demonstrated ability to support and drive complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and dependencies

• Strong analytical skills, including experience interpreting data and creating clear, effective presentations

• Experience working with Workday preferred

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and execute effectively in a fast‑paced environment

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience influencing and presenting to senior leaders

• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive employee information

• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred. Benefits or HR certification preferred (CEBS, PHR, SHRM-CP)

Location:

This is a hybrid role requiring the selected candidate to be located within a commutable distance of the Nordstrom corporate offices in Seattle, WA and work onsite four (4) days per week

We’ve got you covered…

Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away

• Life Insurance and Disability

• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

A few more important points...

The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.

For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com. 

Please be mindful that there may be legal notices and requirements related to this job posting that are specific to your state. Review the Career Site FAQ’s for relevant information and guidelines.

© 2022 Nordstrom, Inc  

Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.

Nordstrom keeps job postings open for at least one day after the posting date.

Pay Range Details

The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations. 
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

$93,500.00 - $155,000.00 Annual

This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://careers.nordstrom.com/pdfs/Ben_Overview_17-19.pdf