Senior Manager Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness - Full-time

Position at VON Canada

Requisition Details:

Employment Status: Regular, Full-time (1.0 FTE)
Program Name: Occupational Health & Safety  
Number of Hours Bi-Weekly: 75
Work Schedule: Days
On Call: No
Existing Vacancy: Yes - we're currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position.

Nova Scotia salary range available upon request.

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness is the subject matter expert for all matters related to the design, development, and execution of VON’s Safety Management System (SMS), Attendance Support Program, Accommodation and Ability Management processes to support the health & safety and reintegration of ill or injured employees back into the workplace.

Key Responsibilities:
Ability Management

• The Senior Manager requires a full understanding of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation related to all aspects of employee safety, illnesses/injuries, disabilities, accommodations, and absenteeism and supports employee safety, wellness, and health through the SMS to enhance employee engagement.
• Provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to the OHS Specialists ensuring effective management and prioritization of WSIB/WCB claims, return-to work appeals, attendance review cases, and complex ability management files, while maintaining consistent application of standardized processes, practices, and reporting requirements across the organization.
• Leads the development, implementation, and management of comprehensive workplace accommodation and return-to-work programs, collaborating with key internal/external stakeholders, and leadership to ensure complaint, sustainable outcomes and maintaining a band of modified work opportunities to support effective accommodation planning. 
• Partners with the Senior Director of Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness in the resolution of complex, high-risk cases, or escalated employee matters, providing subject matter expertise and risk mitigation strategies.
• Strengthens and standardizes internal ability management processes by conducting audits, ensuring legislative compliance and consistent application of policies, procedures and best practices across all case management activities.
• Acts as a champion of change and influences others, including leadership to adopt new and innovative solutions to improve employee health and wellness.
• Leads the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the organization’s Safety Management System (SMS), including oversight of governance structure, internal and external stakeholder meetings, and integration with operational service delivery.

Safety

• Collaborates with the Sr. Director OH&S to identify organizational needs and establish priorities for occupational health and safety policy development, revision, and related education to support compliance and continuous improvement within the SMS framework.
• Provides direction and support to the Occupational Health & Safety Specialists in responding to orders and directives from government agencies such as Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, ensuring timely submission of required information and implementation of corrective action to achieve compliance.
• Ensures health and safety risks are identified, escalated, and addressed through effective committee structures and reporting processes, including oversight of workplace incident and violence investigations corrective action planning, and the organizational safety audit process to ensure consistent application of standards and practices.
• Supports service delivery through the development and implementation of occupational health and safety education and training initiatives and ensures the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) and related groups operate effectively and in compliance with applicable legislation, policies, and procedures.

Wellness

• Leads and advises employees, managers, and organizational leaders on the development and implementation of injury prevention, health and wellness strategies, promoting best practices and supporting the successful execution of corporate initiatives aligned with organizational goals.

Other

• Develops the departmental budget in collaboration with the Sr. Director OH&S and manages approved expenditures. 

HR Business Partnership

• Provides leadership and guidance to employees, managers, and functional leaders on the implementation of the SMS, ability management and attendance support programs to ensure consistent and effective service delivery.
• Leads research and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure OHS programs align with leading industry practices and support innovative service delivery.
• Supports the Sr. Director OH&S in the collection and analysis of statistical information (i.e. indicators, trends, reports, and/or data) and the preparation of reports for the HR committee, identifying trends and recommends occupational safety improvement initiatives.  
• Monitors KPIs related to health, safety & wellness and cost management to assess programs effectiveness and support performance objectives.

Common Leadership Responsibilities:

• Promotes the strategy of VON and their role as an integrated community care provider to all stakeholders and staff.
• Prioritizes and ensures alignment of emerging opportunities in the community with VON strategic plan.
• Provides leadership in navigating the requirements and complexities of unionized and non-unionized environments.
• Coaches, advises, motivates, and provides leadership to staff; creates a positive workplace for staff.
• Promotes the Lean team management approach to ensure a common paradigm of management and discipline of management practices.
• Ensures there are mechanisms for all staff to come together to hear of organizational news and to provide feedback on what is working and what is not working.
• Ensures all Districts have a plan to complete performance development and learning plans with all staff.
• Promotes common approaches to orientation, learning, motivating, recognizing and supporting staff when achieving organizational goals, such as meeting or exceeding KPIs, meeting or exceeding milestones.
• Provides leadership and commitment to building client and family engagement and following accreditation Canada Standards.
• Provides leadership in the promotion of a safe and healthy workplace ensuring workplace conduct and activities are in accordance with the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, that KPIs related to safety are regularly reviewed by management, that appropriate investigations occur when needed, and plans to address issues are created and acted upon.
• Compliant with the VON Safety Management System, including all Safe Work Practices and Procedures. 
• Promotes work/life balance fostering professional excellence and personal fulfilment and health.  
• Promotes the use of technology-based systems for the capture, transformation and distribution of knowledge.
• Abides by all confidentiality and protection of personal information policies, regulations and practices and ensures appropriate safeguards are in place in the Region. 

External and Internal Relationships: 

• Liaisons with internal and external stakeholders such as Workers Compensation Board/Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development on all matters related to the SMS. 
• Works in collaboration with Operations, Labour Relations, Practice, Quality and Risk to create safe work plans for employees and clients. 
• Coordinates with the Senior Director, Total Rewards on Long Term Disability application and case management processes. 
• Promotes strong collaboration with VON leadership teams and Human Resources department.
• Builds strong interactions and relationships with union representatives.
• Identifies and ensures any needed contractual changes or budget needs are brought forward to the Senior Director, Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness.
• Collaborates with Operations and Corporate Services to ensure required training and education are planned to have minimal disruption to client services as possible.
• Engages and builds relationships with third-party wellness service providers such as Family Physicians, Specialists, Physiotherapists, Worker’s Compensation, and funders to ensure effective services to internal stakeholders. 

Education, Designations, and Experience: 

• University Degree in Human Resources Management, Occupational Health & Safety, diploma or certificate in occupational health and safety, ability management or related field, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Occupational Health and Safety, or Human Resources management (with a focus on Health and Occupational Safety, Ability Management), or related experience. Registered as an Occupational Health Nurse, Registered Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist etc., considered an asset.
• Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) or Canadian Health & Safety Consultant (CHSC) considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing others.
• Knowledge of occupational safety legislation, health and safety best practices, workplace hazards, and control measures.
• Experience in partnering and influencing senior management, internal clients, and functional managers under aggressive timelines.

Skill Requirements:

• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, time management, and decision-making skills.
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail.
• Ability to form strong relationships with people from varying disciplines and levels both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to interact effectively with clients, coworkers, health care practitioners, volunteers, and other stakeholder organizations.
• High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Ability to work creatively and productively with minimal supervision.
• Ability to adjust to rapidly changing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Teams, SharePoint and MS Office Suite programs as well as teleconferencing and learning modalities.

Other:

• A current and original copy of a satisfactory Criminal Records Check.  
• A Vulnerable Sector Search and/or Child Abuse Registry Check may be required.
• Ability to speak French is an asset in French Designated areas. 
• Available to work flexible hours with some travel required.
• The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be required. 

Working conditions and physical demands: This role requires a detail-oriented approach in a dynamic environment, with physical activity including lifting, carrying (using proper techniques), bending, reaching, kneeling, and other movements that emphasize good body mechanics. Individuals in the role are required to walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs throughout the day, with some tasks requiring fine hand movements.

VON Canada is committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and to providing accessibility accommodations for candidates who require them. If you are in need of accessibility support, please visit our website at for further details.

VON Canada is committed to embracing and celebrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as fundamental to living out our values of Respect, Compassion, and Excellence in all that we do.