Abilities and Wellness Specialist

Overview

We are currently seeking an Abilities and Wellness Specialist to join People Services within the Human Resources team.

Job Overview: Reporting to the Manager, Health and Wellness, the Abilities and Wellness Specialist plays a key role in supporting employee well-being, rehabilitation, and early and safe return to work. This role brings subject-matter expertise in ability management, case management, attendance awareness, and wellness initiatives, contributing directly to a healthy, inclusive workplace. Working closely with employees, leaders, unions, healthcare providers, and internal HR partners, you navigate complex and sensitive situations with sound judgment, empathy, and professionalism. Confident in a unionized environment and grounded in a people-first approach, you help balance individual needs with operational realities. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on employee health and organizational effectiveness at KPU during a time of growth and change.

Responsibilities

• Provide employer-based case management for ill or injured employees, including rehabilitation planning, return-to-work programs, and duty-to-accommodate arrangement.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized return-to-work and accommodation plans, adjusting strategies as required to support employee success.
• Advise managers and employees on leave options, benefit plan provisions, policies, and procedures related to health, disability, and attendance management.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues to ensure compliance with collective agreements, benefit contracts, workplace legislation, and Human Rights obligations.
• Act as an employer representative on joint committees such as the Joint Early Intervention Program (JEIP) and Joint Faculty Rehabilitation Committee (JFRC).
• Support benefit and pension administration, including interpretation of plan provisions, pension estimates, purchase of service requests, and coordination with Payroll and external providers.
• Navigate complex and sensitive situations in a unionized environment, applying strong judgment, discretion, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Develop training materials and deliver education sessions to build understanding of return-to-work planning, accommodation, attendance awareness, and wellness initiatives.
• Analyze utilization and statistical reports from benefit and EFAP providers and recommend improvements to programs, policies, and processes.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of wellness programs and events that promote employee well-being and engagement.
• Maintain accurate documentation, reporting, and record-keeping to support effective case management and continuous improvement.

Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a health-related discipline (e.g., Kinesiology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Health Nursing), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of three years of related experience in medical or disability case management, ideally in a unionized workplace.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Solid knowledge of ability management practices, including rehabilitation, attendance management, and early/stay-at-work programs.
• Working knowledge of collective agreements, benefit and pension plans, workplace legislation, disability guidelines, and Human Rights requirements.
• Strong communication, mediation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage difficult conversations with tact and professionalism.
• Demonstrated discretion, confidentiality, and sound decision-making in handling sensitive employee matters.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence.
• Professional certifications such as CDMP, CCRC, or Accredited Rehabilitation Professional (preferred).

Competencies

• Leadership: KPU employees inspire, coach, mentor, and support students, employees and KPU as a whole in achieving objectives.
• Accountability: KPU employees demonstrate fiscal accountability and take ownership for their actions, decisions and results.
• Continuous Improvement: KPU employees take a creative approach to opportunities, exploring unique ways to create optimal value for the KPU community.
• Collaboration: KPU employees work in functional and cross-functional teams, coming together to solve complex issues and accomplish objectives that will benefit the KPU community.

Salary Information

The above compensation range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. Typically, initial salary placement is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum. This represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and approximately halfway of the salary range for a job with consideration given to internal equity.

Want to know more?

For more details, read the full job description or contact the talent acquisition team.

For inquiries or recommendations related to this position, please contact:

KPU Talent Acquisition
talentacquisition@kpu.ca