Manager, Health & Safety

Location: 24 Colonnade Road, Ottawa ON
Schedule: Daytime, Monday to Friday
Starting Salary: $98,349/year

Commissionaires Ottawa is seeking an experienced and proactive Manager, Health and Safety (H&S) to lead the organization’s occupational and non-occupational health, safety, wellness, and injury/illness management programs. This role ensures compliance with health and safety legislation across Ontario and Quebec and supports a strong, prevention‑focused safety culture throughout the organization.

Reporting to the CHRO, the Manager acts as the organization’s H&S subject matter expert, responsible for compliance, workers’ compensation and non‑occupational claims management (WSIB, CNESST), return‑to‑work coordination, incident investigations, safety audits, and the continuous improvement of H&S programs, policies, and practices. The role collaborates closely with Operations and other internal stakeholders, and external regulators to guide leaders in providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.

What you will be doing…

This position provides both strategic and hands‑on leadership for Commissionaires Ottawa’s health, safety, and wellness portfolio. It is ideal for a professional who thrives in environments requiring strong judgment, effective coordination, and deep legislative expertise.

You will lead prevention, compliance, claims, and training activities while reinforcing a culture of accountability and safe work practices across diverse sites and operational settings. The role includes periodic travel within the region and province.

Some of your responsibilities include…

• Ensure compliance with Ontario and Quebec health and safety legislation by maintaining up‑to‑date policies, procedures, safe work practices, and audit‑ready documentation
• Conduct workplace inspections, hazard assessments, compliance audits, and investigations of incidents, injuries, work refusals, complaints, and near misses, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions
• Manage all WSIB, CNESST, and non‑occupational claims, including timely reporting, documentation, return‑to‑work planning, medical coordination, and representing the organization in appeals and adjudication reviews
• Support Ministry of Labour and CNESST inspections by responding to inquiries or orders, preparing required documentation, and ensuring corrective actions are implemented
• Lead return‑to‑work and accommodation processes by reviewing functional abilities, collaborating with internal stakeholders and healthcare providers, and ensuring sustainable reintegration
• Analyze incident and claims data to identify trends, emerging risks, and prevention priorities, and provide evidence‑based recommendations to senior leadership
• Provide expert guidance and training to managers, supervisors, and employees on injury reporting, hazard control, safe work practices, emergency preparedness, and organizational H&S expectations
• Support JHSCs, ergonomics assessments, and safety awareness initiatives, ensuring effective committee functioning and consistent follow‑through on recommendations
• Maintain and enhance H&S programs, tools, and workflows through continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across all operations
• Provide leadership and day‑to‑day oversight to the H&S Coordinator, and represent the organization with regulators, clients, healthcare providers, and external committees

What’s in it for you?

• Work for a reputable and nationally known company
• Work in a challenging and rewarding work environment
• Generous paid time off, holidays and sick days
• Retirement plans with company matching of employee contributions
• Free Parking
• Employee discount programs, social outings and holiday gatherings

What You Bring

Education & Credentials

• Undergraduate degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Human Resources, Health Sciences, Industrial Hygiene, Public Administration, or a related field
• Additional training in disability management, return‑to‑work, or health & wellness (e.g., CDMP, CRTW) considered an asset
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in occupational health and safety, including program management and hazard control
• Minimum 5 years of workers’ compensation and claims management experience (WSIB & CNESST), including appeals and RTW coordination
• Supporting Joint Health and Safety Committees
• Managing non‑occupational illness/injury accommodation
• Emergency response, critical incident management, and H&S systems

Knowledge

• Ontario OHSA, Quebec OHS legislation, CNESST, and relevant federal regulations
• WSIB/CNESST claims processes, documentation, and appeals
• Human rights and duty‑to‑accommodate requirements
• Hazard identification, risk assessment, investigations, and root cause analysis
• Incident/claims data analysis for trend identification
• H&S management systems, emergency preparedness, and ergonomics

Skills & Abilities

• Strong judgment and decision‑making in complex or high‑risk situations
• Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence safe work practices and build collaborative relationships with stakeholders
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills in a high‑volume environment
• Ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to operational demands
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and H&S/HR information systems

Other Requirements

• English required; French considered a strong asset
• Must be eligible for and able to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada Secret security clearance

NOTE: Only those candidates that meet the specified requirements will be considered for this position. Candidates that do not meet the requirements may be considered for similar opportunities.

Commissionaires’ values the diversity of our workforce and respects its employees as individuals, regardless of race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender and age.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Commissionaires’ Policies on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of Commissionaires’ hiring process.

Commissionaires‑Ottawa does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants. However, please be aware that some third‑party tools we utilize in our recruiting and selection process may incorporate AI technology.

We appreciate all who apply, however we will only be contacting candidates of interest.