Manager, Employee Disability (Accommodation, Disability & Workplace Health)

The opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Benefits & Wellness, the Manager, Employee Disability will provide leadership and operational oversight for Teachers’ disability management program, workplace accommodation, ergonomics and health and safety initiatives across the organization. This role plays a critical part in supporting employee well-being, ensuring legislative compliance, and promoting a culture of safety, early intervention, and sustainable return to work.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in disability case management, occupational health and safety legislation, and a demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with employees, managers, and external service providers.

Who you'll work with

As a member of our People & Culture team, reporting to the Director, Benefits & Wellbeing, you will play a meaningful role in supporting employee well-being through inclusive, responsive, and effective disability management, workplace accommodation, ergonomics, and health and safety programs. In this role, you will partner with P&C colleagues and leaders across the organization, as well as employee representatives and external health, disability, and regulatory partners, to help create safe, supportive workplaces and sustainable return-to-work outcomes. This is a highly collaborative role for someone who enjoys building trusted relationships, influencing positive outcomes, and making a tangible impact on the employee experience.

What you'll do

Disability Management & Accommodation

• Lead and manage all aspects of the employee disability management program, including Short-Term Illness Leave (STIL), Long-Term Disability (LTD), WSIB, and non-occupational illness and injury claims

• Provide guidance to employees, managers, and P&C Business Partners on complex accommodation requests consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the duty to accommodate

• Facilitate timely and sustainable return-to-work (RTW) and stay-at-work (SAW) plans in collaboration with employees, medical professionals, union representatives, and managers

• Monitor, track, and analyze disability-related data and trends to identify opportunities for early intervention and program improvement

• Liaise with insurance carriers, WSIB, third-party administrators, and medical professionals to coordinate effective claims management

• Ensure all accommodation processes are documented, equitable, and aligned with policy and legislative requirements

• Support employees through the accommodation lifecycle with compassion, confidentiality, and professionalism

Health & Safety

• Provide direction and operational leadership for the board's Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) program in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and applicable regulations

• Oversee the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) structure, ensuring effectiveness, legislative compliance, and meaningful worker participation

• Lead the development, implementation, and review of health and safety policies, procedures, programs, and safe work practices

• Coordinate workplace inspections, hazard identification, risk assessments, and incident investigations to drive a proactive safety culture

• Manage WSIB claims and reporting obligations, including employer submissions, modified work programs, and appeals as required

• Develop and deliver health and safety training programs for staff, managers, and administrators across the organization in each of our locations

• Analyze workplace injury and illness data to identify trends, develop preventive strategies, and report to senior leadership

• Act as the board's primary liaison with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) during inspections or investigations

• Stay current with regulatory and legislative changes across our global operations, best practices, and any sector-specific health and safety requirements

Workplace Ergonomics

• Prevent work‑related injury at scale by embedding ergonomic risk reduction into role design, workplace standards, technology, and hybrid‑work practices.

• Improve stay‑at‑work outcomes through early ergonomic intervention and population‑level risk identification.

• Enable effective return‑to‑work by incorporating ergonomics into Disability Management to translate functional restrictions into sustainable work design and accommodations.

• Establish enterprise ergonomics governance through clear standards, education, and data to drive consistent, cost‑effective decisions.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Planning and delivery of related events, training and initiatives

• Build and maintain effective working relationships including unions, employee groups, administrators, and external partners

• Collaborate with People & Culture colleagues to align disability and health and safety programs with broader HR strategies and organizational priorities

• Contribute to the development of board-wide policies and procedures related to employee health, safety, and well-being

Management accountability

• Accountable for operational leadership and continuous improvement of Teachers’ disability management, workplace accommodation, ergonomics, and health and safety programs, related processes, and external service providers.

• Provides subject matter expertise and guidance on complex disability, accommodation, return-to-work, stay-at-work, WSIB, and health and safety matters; oversees legislative compliance, program effectiveness, and consistent documentation; and manages relationships with external service providers.

• Contributes to policy development, training, reporting, data analysis, and prevention strategies, while influencing and supporting leaders and stakeholders across the organization to promote employee well-being, safety, and sustainable work outcomes.

• Provides coaching and guidance to employees, managers, internal P&C stakeholders, and influences a broad network of partners.

Decision making

• The role exercises judgement and autonomy in the day-to-day management of disability and accommodation matters, including operational decisions, case coordination, process interpretation, and vendor-related decisions within approved limits.

• The Manager develops recommendations and resolves routine and moderately complex issues using established policies, precedent, stakeholder consultation, and external expertise as needed.

• Matters involving significant risk, policy exceptions, contractual changes, legal sensitivity, financial or broader organizational impact are escalated to the Director for review and approval.

What you'll need

• Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience in disability management, occupational health and safety, or a related HR function

• Demonstrated experience managing WSIB claims, STD and LTD files, and complex workplace accommodations in a unionized environment

• University degree in a relevant field such as Human Resources, Occupational Health & Safety, Kinesiology, Nursing, or a related discipline

• Post-graduate certificate or diploma in Disability Management, Occupational Health & Safety, or Human Resources is considered an asset

• Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC), Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP), and/or Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation is strongly preferred

• Thorough knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, and related legislation

• Strong understanding of duty to accommodate principles and disability management best practices

• Proven ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, empathy, and discretion

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders

• Experience working collaboratively with unions and navigating collective agreement language

• Proficiency with HRIS systems, case management tools, and Microsoft Office Suite

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being

What we’re offering

Pay-for-performance with base salary and annual incentive based on individual and enterprise performance. The Base Salary range for this level is as follows: $105,000 - $155,000. Individual compensation and placement of this role in the range is based on different factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, demonstrated competencies, and internal equity as they relate to the role.

• Numerous opportunities for professional growth and development

• Comprehensive employer paid benefits coverage

• Retirement income through a defined benefit pension plan

• The opportunity to invest back into the fund through our Deferred Incentive Program

• A flexible work environment combining in office collaboration and remote working

• Competitive time off

• Our Flexible Travel Program gives you the option to work abroad in another region/country for up to a month each year

• Employee discount programs including Edvantage and Perkopolis

At Ontario Teachers', diversity is one of our core strengths. We take pride in ensuring that the people we hire and the culture we create, reflect and embrace diversity of thought, background and experience. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we celebrate diversity and foster inclusion through events for colleagues to connect for professional development, networking & mentoring. We are building an inclusive and equitable workplace where our talent is respected, accepted and empowered to be themselves. To learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, check out Life at Teachers'.

How to apply

Are you ready to pursue new challenges and take your career to the next level? Apply today! You may be invited to complete a pre-recorded digital interview as part of your application.

Accommodations are available upon request (peopleandculture@otpp.com) for candidates with a disability taking part in the recruitment process and once hired.

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in the country where this role is located.

Ontario Teachers’ may use AI-based tools to assist in screening and assessing applicants for this position. These tools may help us identify candidates whose skills and experience align with Ontario Teachers’ objectives by analyzing information provided in resumes and applications. Our use of AI does not replace human decision-making.

To learn more about how Teachers’ uses AI with your personal information, please visit our Privacy Centre.

Functional Areas:

People & Culture

Vacancy:

Current

Requisition ID:

7001#LI-RM1