Senior Advisor, Disability Management and Wellness

Follow us on LinkedIn

Job Type:

Employee

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs):

N/A

Job Family:

Health and Wellness

# Of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Disability Management and Wellness

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

N/A

Date Posted (Yyyy/Mm/Dd):

2025/09/19

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):

2025/10/13

Hours Per Week:

35

Salary Grade:

Non-Union Grade NC8 - 35 hrs

Salary Range:

$94,214.00 - $117,768.00

Position Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager, Disability Management and Wellness, responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of disability claims (including Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) files, paid sick leave, long-term disability leaves and sick leave without pay), accommodations, and return to work planning for employees’, when required (academic and administrative and support staff). This role ensures that the University’s disability management policies and practices are effectively administered, and that managers and employees receive the support they need throughout the process. The Lead Advisor will lead, advise, and provide expert insights to leaders/managers, focusing on intervention and prevention.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Disability Case Management: Manage the entire disability claim process and accommodation process from initial assessment to return-to-work and/or resolution by reviewing supporting documentation, coordinating with insurers, reviewing job duties, and ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures, collective agreements, and legal requirements. The team offers guidance, support, expert advice, and recommendations in the handling of disability claims, accommodation files, return-to-work plans, preventative strategies and to promote awareness of resources for employees and management through the University. The incumbent upon request, may be required to conduct wellness checks on employees.
• Employee Support: Act as the primary point of contact for employees on sick leave, long-term disability, and accommodation process by providing information, guidance, and support to ensure they understand the process and the resources available to them.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and confidential records of all disability cases, including correspondence, supporting documentation, and decisions while ensuring that all documentation complies with relevant University policies and procedures, collective agreements, and legal requirements.
• Compliance: Ensure adherence to relevant legislation and regulations, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code, and other applicable laws as well as all University policies and procedures and collective agreements in place. Monitor legislative changes and bring input to update policies as necessary.
• Communication: Collaborate with Human Resources representatives, management, benefit providers, and external vendors by bringing their expertise to facilitate the smooth handling of disability claims, accommodations, and return work processes. Facilitates the sharing of information with management related to disability cases and accommodations on a need-to-know basis to allow for informed decisions to be made by management with respect to these processes. Communicate clearly and effectively with all stakeholders when providing advice and recommendations. Participate in required meetings, by providing input and suggestions.
• Reporting: Prepare and present reports on disability claims, trends, and outcomes to management as well as Human Resources representatives. Provide recommendations forimprovements to policies and procedures based on data and feedback as well as provides recommendations to the faculties and/or services they are assigned to.
• Training: Educate and train management and employees on university policies and procedures, collective agreements, and best practices related to disability management and accommodation. Engage in training related to emerging trends in Disability Management and Wellness including but not limited to mental health first aid and other relevant wellness topics. Promote wellness strategies by staying current with disability practices and/or by encouraging and promoting awareness that emphasizes the importance of wellness, mental health, and disability support within the University community.
• Projects: Assigned projects and contributes to the development and promotion of a more streamlined, formalized Disability Management (RTW and Attendance Management) programs through the development of standardized tools, templates, processes, and carries out these work deliverables by ensuring consultations with colleagues, Faculties/Services, partners, and/or other stakeholders.

What You Will Bring:

• University degree in health-related field, human resources management, or an equivalent level of education as well as experience.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in disability case management, attendance management, employee benefits, or any relevant experience in a related field in organizations having both unionized and non-unionized employees.
• Professional certification (e.g., Certified Disability Management Specialist) is an asset.
• Bilingualism- French and English (oral and written expression).
• In-depth knowledge and experience in disability management, including the management of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) files, sick leave and long-term disability files, adjudication, attendance management, and accommodation management. Experience working for a group insurance provider is an asset.
• In-depth knowledge and experience in applying organization-wide policies, procedures, collective agreements, and strategies.
• Familiarity with relevant terminology and experience with disability-related contract language is an asset.
• Expertise in workplace mental health and wellness, including the development and implementation of wellness and health and safety best practices.
• Mental Health certification is considered an asset.
• Sound theoretical and working knowledge and application of the Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Human Rights Code, and Workplace Safety and Insurance legislation.
• Demonstrated conflict resolution experience, being solution-oriented, and the ability to influence individuals. Ability to develop and maintain long-term relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively deal with situations that are sensitive, confidential, and high-risk in nature.
• Ability to provide professional advice and guidance to managers/leaders and stakeholders in the integration of wellness, health and safety best practices into strategic planning, operations, and their specific work environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, especially with complex claims and collective agreements
• Ability to juggle a multitude of complex files while meeting tight deadlines.
• Experience in developing and providing wellness-related training and disability management best practices to different groups, such as managers, leaders, and stakeholders, through effective communication and engagement strategies
• Experience or training in health and wellness, disability and health insurance, and injury claims.

#Li-Hybrid #Li-Mb1

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa: 

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.