Senior Manager, Occupational Health And Safety

Senior Manager, Occupational Health and SafetyJoin a Team Where Safety, Innovation, and People Come First
At Victoria Cool Aid Society, we believe that a safe and healthyworkplace is fundamental to delivering exceptional services to the individualsand communities we support.
For more than a decade, Cool Aid has developed, implemented, andsustained a comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program, earninga reputation as a leader in workplace health and safety within the socialservices sector. We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, andforward-thinking
Senior Manager, Occupational Health & Safety
tobuild on this strong foundation and lead the continued evolution of our OHSprogram. This is an exciting opportunity for a safety professional who ispassionate about creating safer workplaces, strengthening organizational safetyculture, and driving meaningful improvements in employee health and well-being.
You won't be starting from scratch. You'll be joining anestablished team that includes a full-time OHS Advisor and Training Manager,alongside an engaged leadership team that understands, supports, and valuesoccupational health and safety.
Who We Are
Since 1968, Victoria Cool Aid Society has been committed toproviding essential housing, healthcare, emergency shelter, and supportservices to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Today, ourorganization 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 andoutreach programs. Our work is complex, meaningful, and constantly evolving. Weembrace innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and creativeproblem-solving to support both our clients and the dedicated employees whoserve them.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the
Director of Human Resources, the SeniorManager, 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 withsenior leadership, managers, supervisors, employees, and external partners tostrengthen workplace safety practices, manage occupational risks, and promote aproactive and accountable safety culture. You will balance strategic programdevelopment with practical, hands-on support across our diverse worksites,ensuring safety initiatives are responsive to the unique challenges ofdelivering housing, shelter, healthcare, and community services.
This role offers the opportunity to influence organizationalsafety strategy, advance innovative exposure-reduction initiatives, strengthenpsychological health and safety practices, and guide the Society towardachieving and maintaining its Certificate of Recognition (COR) certification.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & OHS Program Development
Provide leadership and strategic direction for theSociety's occupational health and safety program, ensuring alignment withorganizational priorities and legislative requirements.
Lead the continued development, implementation,evaluation, and improvement of OHS policies, procedures, systems, andinitiatives.
Champion a proactive and collaborative safety culture,supporting managers, supervisors, and employees in understanding andfulfilling their safety responsibilities.
Lead organizational efforts toward achieving andmaintaining COR certification.
Identify emerging occupational health and safety risks,trends, and regulatory developments, and recommend proactive strategies toaddress them.
Provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to OHSteam members while fostering professional development and continuousimprovement.
Risk Management, Compliance & Workplace Safety
Ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act,WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and applicablestandards and industry best practices.
Lead and support workplace hazard identification, riskassessments, exposure control planning, and the development of safe workprocedures.
Oversee the development and ongoing review of violencerisk assessments, ergonomic assessments, exposure control plans, and othersafety documentation.
Provide leadership on occupational exposure preventionand respiratory protection initiatives, including innovative strategies toreduce workplace exposure risks.
Oversee quarterly workplace safety inspections,ensuring inspections are completed in a timely manner and identifiedhazards and corrective actions are appropriately documented, monitored,and addressed.
Conduct regular worksite visits to support operationalleaders in implementing and maintaining effective safety practices.
Ensure site- and task-specific risk assessments areconducted and regularly reviewed to reflect changing workplace conditions.
Incident Management, Investigations & Prevention
Provide oversight and guidance for workplace incidentinvestigations, ensuring thorough documentation, root-cause analysis, andeffective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Support supervisors and managers with incidentinvestigations, unsafe work concerns, and other occupational health andsafety matters.
Monitor incident trends, workplace injuries, andemerging hazards to identify opportunities for prevention and continuousimprovement.
Establish and maintain effective systems for trackinginvestigations, inspections, risk assessments, and corrective actions,ensuring timely follow-up with management.
Collaborate with Human Resources, operationalleadership, 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 andtraining initiatives.
Ensure training programs respond to regulatoryrequirements, organizational priorities, and the unique risks associatedwith our worksites.
Support training related to WHMIS, OHS programrequirements, exposure control plans, safe work procedures, respiratoryprotection, workplace violence prevention, toolbox talks, and otherrelevant safety topics.
Provide coaching and practical guidance to managers,supervisors, and employees to strengthen safety awareness andaccountability.
Promote employee participation and engagement inworkplace health and safety initiatives.
Co-chair the Society's Joint Occupational Health andSafety Committee (JOHSC), supporting meaningful consultation andcollaboration between employees and management.
Build and maintain strong working relationships withWorkSafeBC, external occupational health professionals, industry partners,and other subject matter experts.
Lead and support specialized safety projects, includinginitiatives focused on indoor air quality, occupational exposurereduction, and psychological health and safety.
Develop and present OHS performance reports, trends,and recommendations to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to strengthen organizationalsafety performance while supporting the responsible management ofoccupational injury and claims-related costs.
Qualifications & Experience
We are seeking an experienced occupational health and safetyprofessional who brings strong technical knowledge, practical experience, and acollaborative approach to leadership.
Experience
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience inoccupational health and safety, with demonstrated responsibility forleading the development, implementation, and evaluation of health andsafety programs and initiatives.
Proven ability to provide practical OHS guidance,identify and assess workplace risks, and implement effective safetystrategies.
Experience conducting workplace risk assessments,safety audits, incident investigations, and developing effectiveprevention strategies.
Experience working collaboratively with management,employees, and other stakeholders to promote a strong and proactive safetyculture.
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 arelated sector, is considered an asset.
Experience with COR certification, psychological healthand safety, respiratory protection, and occupational exposure preventionis considered an asset.
Education & Professional Designations
Completion of post-secondary education in OccupationalHealth and Safety, with a minimum of a one-year university certificateprogram or equivalent recognized qualification.
Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)designation, or the ability to achieve this designation, is considered anasset.
Additional recognized professional safety designations,such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Health andSafety (OHS) certification, or National Construction Safety Officer(NCSO), are considered assets.
Employment Requirements
Successful completion of a Criminal Record Checkthrough the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General prior tocommencing employment.
What makes this opportunity unique:
An established OHSfoundation: Build on more than a decade of investment in occupational health andsafety rather than developing a program from the ground up.
A supportive andexperienced team: Work alongside dedicated OHS and training professionals and an engagedmanagement team.
Meaningful leadershipopportunities: Influence organizational strategy, lead innovative safety initiatives, andhelp shape the future of workplace health and safety.
A diverse and dynamicenvironment: Work across housing, shelters, healthcare, and community programs whereyour expertise will have a direct and lasting impact.
A purpose-drivenorganization: Be part of a team committed to compassion, innovation, collaboration, andstrengthening our community.
We recognize the importance of supporting our employees and offera comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Four weeks of paid vacation.
Extended health and dental benefits.
Long-term disability coverage.
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
Compensatory time off.
Comprehensive in-house training and professionaldevelopment opportunities.
We are committed to fostering a workplace where employees feelsupported, valued, and empowered to continue learning and growing throughouttheir careers.
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.
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you are an experienced occupational health and safetyprofessional who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys solving complexchallenges, and wants to contribute to an organization making a meaningfuldifference in the community, we would love to hear from you.
Join Victoria Cool Aid Society and help us continue building aworkplace where safety, well-being, and compassion are at the heart ofeverything we do.
Victoria Cool Aid Society is committed to creating a diverse,equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from qualifiedcandidates of all backgrounds and experiences.
About UsCool Aid employees personify compassion, professionalism and dependability. Whether we’re providing shelter services, supporting tenants, or delivering health services to inner-city clients we are dedicated to improving the well-being and health of the people we serve.
Employees come from diverse backgrounds, and all walks of life. We’re committed to equality and inclusion.
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