Senior Manager, Occupational Health And Safety

Detailed Job DescriptionJoin a Team Where Safety, Innovation, and People Come FirstAt Victoria Cool Aid Society, we believe that a safe and healthy workplace is fundamental to delivering exceptional services to the individuals and communities we support.
Who We AreSince 1968, Victoria Cool Aid Society has been committed to providing essential housing, healthcare, emergency shelter, and support services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Today, our organization includes nearly 400 employees working across 16 supportive, affordable, and assisted living housing sites, three emergency shelters, downtown health and dental clinics, and a broad range of community support and outreach programs. Our work is complex, meaningful, and constantly evolving. We embrace innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and creative problem‑solving to support both our clients and the dedicated employees who serve them.
The OpportunityReporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Senior Manager, Occupational Health & Safety provides strategic leadership, oversight, and direction for the Society's comprehensive OHS program.
As a key organizational leader, you will work collaboratively with senior leadership, managers, supervisors, employees, and external partners to strengthen workplace safety practices, manage occupational risks, and promote a proactive and accountable safety culture. You will balance strategic program development with practical, hands‑on support across our diverse worksites, ensuring safety initiatives are responsive to the unique challenges of delivering housing, shelter, healthcare, and community services.
This role offers the opportunity to influence organizational safety strategy, advance innovative exposure‑reduction initiatives, strengthen psychological health and safety practices, and guide the Society toward achieving and maintaining its Certificate of Recognition (COR) certification.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & OHS Program Development
Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Society's occupational health and safety program, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and legislative requirements.
Lead the continued development, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of OHS policies, procedures, systems, and initiatives.
Champion a proactive and collaborative safety culture, supporting managers, supervisors, and employees in understanding and fulfilling their safety responsibilities.
Lead organizational efforts toward achieving and maintaining COR certification.
Identify emerging occupational health and safety risks, trends, and regulatory developments, and recommend proactive strategies to address them.
Provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to OHS team members while fostering professional development and continuous improvement.
Risk Management, Compliance & Workplace Safety
Ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act, WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and applicable standards and industry best practices.
Lead and support workplace hazard identification, risk assessments, exposure control planning, and the development of safe work procedures.
Oversee the development and ongoing review of violence risk assessments, ergonomic assessments, exposure control plans, and other safety documentation.
Provide leadership on occupational exposure prevention and respiratory protection initiatives, including innovative strategies to reduce workplace exposure risks.
Oversee quarterly workplace safety inspections, ensuring inspections are completed in a timely manner and identified hazards and corrective actions are appropriately documented, monitored, and addressed.
Conduct regular worksite visits to support operational leaders in implementing and maintaining effective safety practices.
Ensure site- and task‑specific risk assessments are conducted and regularly reviewed to reflect changing workplace conditions.
Incident Management, Investigations & Prevention
Provide oversight and guidance for workplace incident investigations, ensuring thorough documentation, root‑cause analysis, and effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Support supervisors and managers with incident investigations, unsafe work concerns, and other occupational health and safety matters.
Monitor incident trends, workplace injuries, and emerging hazards to identify opportunities for prevention and continuous improvement.
Establish and maintain effective systems for tracking investigations, inspections, risk assessments, and corrective actions, ensuring timely follow‑up with management.
Collaborate with Human Resources, operational leadership, and external partners to support injury prevention, return‑to‑work initiatives, and effective claims management.
Training, Education & Employee Engagement
Collaborate with the Training Manager to develop, deliver, and evaluate occupational health and safety education and training initiatives.
Ensure training programs respond to regulatory requirements, organizational priorities, and the unique risks associated with our worksites.
Support training related to WHMIS, OHS program requirements, exposure control plans, safe work procedures, respiratory protection, workplace violence prevention, toolbox talks, and other relevant safety topics.
Provide coaching and practical guidance to managers, supervisors, and employees to strengthen safety awareness and accountability.
Promote employee participation and engagement in workplace health and safety initiatives.
Partnerships, Committees & Continuous Improvement
Co‑chair the Society's Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC), supporting meaningful consultation and collaboration between employees and management.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with WorkSafeBC, external occupational health professionals, industry partners, and other subject matter experts.
Lead and support specialized safety projects, including initiatives focused on indoor air quality, occupational exposure reduction, and psychological health and safety.
Develop and present OHS performance reports, trends, and recommendations to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to strengthen organizational safety performance while supporting the responsible management of occupational injury and claims‑related costs.
Qualifications & ExperienceExperience
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in occupational health and safety, with demonstrated responsibility for leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of health and safety programs and initiatives.
Proven ability to provide practical OHS guidance, identify and assess workplace risks, and implement effective safety strategies.
Experience conducting workplace risk assessments, safety audits, incident investigations, and developing effective prevention strategies.
Experience working collaboratively with management, employees, and other stakeholders to promote a strong and proactive safety culture.
Strong leadership, communication, analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and support employees and management at all levels.
Experience in a complex, multi‑site organization, particularly within social services, healthcare, supportive housing, or a related sector, is considered an asset.
Experience with COR certification, psychological health and safety, respiratory protection, and occupational exposure prevention is considered an asset.
Education & Professional Designations
Completion of post‑secondary education in Occupational Health and Safety, with a minimum of a one‑year university certificate program or equivalent recognized qualification.
Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation, or the ability to achieve this designation, is considered an asset.
Additional recognized professional safety designations, such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) certification, or National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO), are considered assets.
Employment Requirements
Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General prior to commencing employment.
What makes this opportunity unique:
An established OHS foundation: Build on more than a decade of investment in occupational health and safety rather than developing a program from the ground up.
A supportive and experienced team: Work alongside dedicated OHS and training professionals and an engaged management team.
Meaningful leadership opportunities: Influence organizational strategy, lead innovative safety initiatives, and help shape the future of workplace health and safety.
A diverse and dynamic environment: Work across housing, shelters, healthcare, and community programs where your expertise will have a direct and lasting impact.
A purpose‑driven organization: Be part of a team committed to compassion, innovation, collaboration, and strengthening our community.
Compensation & Benefits
Four weeks of paid vacation.
Defined contribution pension plan.
Extended health and dental benefits.
Long-term disability coverage.
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
Paid sick time.
Compensatory time off.
Comprehensive in‑house training and professional development opportunities.
Salary: $101,462.40
Work Location: 749 Pandora Ave.
- Central Services Pandora
Work Days: Monday through Friday.
Shift Times: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Total Weekly Hours: 40.
Union: Exempt.
Job Type: Full-time, permanent.
Join Victoria Cool Aid Society and help us continue building a workplace where safety, well‑being, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.Victoria Cool Aid Society is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.
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