Accommodations and Return Specialist

Position: Accommodations and Return to Work Specialist
Overview  We are currently seeking an  Accommodations and Return to Work Specialist  to join our  Health and Wellness  team!
Reporting to the Manager, Health and Wellness, the ARWS plays a critical role in supporting employee well-being and fostering inclusive, sustainable workplaces across the University. This position provides expert leadership in employee accommodations and return-to-work planning, helping employees safely and meaningfully participate in work to the fullest extent possible. The ARWS works closely with employees, leaders, unions, health professionals, and insurance providers to develop thoughtful, individualized accommodation and rehabilitation plans that balance employee needs with operational requirements.

As a trusted advisor, the ARWS interprets and applies human resources policies, Collective Agreements, and Administrative Terms and Conditions, while contributing to the development and delivery of disability management programs and services. This role is well suited for a professional who is passionate about people, collaboration, and achieving positive outcomes in complex and sensitive situations.

Education and Experience   Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Occupational Health, Kinesiology or a related field;
Minimum of three years' related experience in developing and implementing employee accommodation and disability claims management in a unionized environment;
Professional Certification or registered professional status within disability management, such as Certified Disability Management Profession (CDMP), Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor (CCRC), Accredited Rehabilitation Professional would be an asset;
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated expertise in the development, implementation, and ongoing management of employee accommodation and return-to-work plans, ensuring employees are able to safely and meaningfully participate in work.
Strong ability to collaborate with Human Resources teams to ensure accommodation and return-to-work activities align with collective agreements, benefit contracts, and organizational policies, while contributing subject-matter expertise to related wellness initiatives.
Proven skill in partnering with Human Resources Business Partners and leaders to support effective people management practices, including navigating complex situations, addressing barriers, and guiding conversations related to accommodations and return-to-work planning.
Advanced case management capabilities, including the development, negotiation, implementation, and monitoring of vocational rehabilitation, return-to-work plans, and duty to accommodate agreements for ill or injured employees.
Ability to maintain accurate, confidential, and compliant records related to accommodation requests, assessments, and return-to-work plans in accordance with legislation, policies, collective agreements, and terms and conditions of employment.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate the effectiveness of accommodation and return-to-work plans and collaborate with employees and supervisors to make timely and appropriate adjustments as needed.
Strong collaborative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work across departments and with key stakeholders to support both operational needs and positive employee outcomes.
Experience working with health care providers and insurance providers to facilitate successful return-to-work outcomes, including negotiating rehabilitation plans, workplace restrictions, modified duties, and workload arrangements.
Knowledge and skill in participating in workplace assessments alongside occupational health professionals, and in providing guidance on ergonomic requests, workstation modifications, adaptive aids, and equipment.
Ability to design and deliver training programs and resources to support manager and employee understanding of accommodation and return-to-work processes, engaging external service providers where appropriate.
Strong analytical skills to develop statistical reports related to accommodation and return-to-work activity, and to identify trends and opportunities for continuous improvement.
Demonstrated commitment to staying current with emerging best practices, legislation, and regulatory changes, and applying this knowledge to recommend improvements to policies, procedures, standards, and programs.
Experience processing employee data and updating internal systems (e.g., Banner), and providing guidance to HR and Payroll teams on accommodation and return-to-work plans that impact employee pay.
Ability to collaborate effectively with the Health and Wellness team to streamline case management processes and ensure accurate and efficient record keeping.
Commitment to maintaining high standards of service and professionalism, and to contributing to a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment through participation in training, education, and other assigned initiatives.
Demonstrated…