Health & Safety and Claims Management Specialist

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive.

We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!

The Human Resources department is part of the administration team providing support to the programs of House of Friendship. The Health & Safety and Claims Management Specialist supports the organization’s success by providing support, coaching and subject‑matter expertise to leaders and employees on topics related to health and safety, healthy work environment, and through the management of both legislated and non‑legislated leaves of absence and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims.

** This is a permanent, salaried, full‑time (37.5 hours per week) position with paid sick time, personal days, vacation time; group health benefits and defined contribution pension plan.

Schedule is generally Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with flexibility to meet program needs. Hybrid work available: some work may be performed from a home office, some office hours and work at program locations required. Valid G class driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle required for travel throughout Waterloo Region. **

• Subject matter expert providing guidance and support for all aspects of the Health and Safety program at House of Friendship
• Provide leadership and support to various organizational teams including the Health and Safety Work Group (HSWG), Psychological Health and Safety team, and Infection Prevention and Control Committee
• Organize and chair quarterly and ad hoc HSWG meetings and support the functioning of the Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC)
• Administrative support for HSWG including minutes, audits, follow‑ups, communications, and compliance
• Provide leadership to managers and health and safety representatives, supporting proactive and preventative health and safety initiatives to minimize/eliminate risk and safety issues
• Work with health and safety representatives and managers to review and investigate accidents and injuries including incident debriefing and report on ways to minimize and mitigate future incidents
• Support Management team members and liaise with the Ministry of Labour on any investigations or work orders
• Promote and support a strong, healthy and safe workplace culture for all employees and leaders in all interactions
• Support programs and team with the Critical Incident Debriefing procedure, including involvement in debriefs follow‑up and resource sourcing
• Consultation and support to programs with completion and continuous improvement of workplace violence risk assessments
• Track and manage all leaves of absence, return to work and workplace accommodation processes
• Provide guidance and support to employees and managers throughout these processes
• Develop, administer, interpret, and continuously improve and maintain Human Resources policies, procedures, forms and programs
• Serve as the primary contact for leave management and support, providing information on eligibility, documentation requirements and timelines
• Manage the full lifecycle of leaves, including LTD, parental, personal and critical illness leaves
• Ensure all leaves comply with the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code, particularly regarding disability‑related accommodations
• Coordinate with managers, employees and healthcare providers and WSIB to facilitate early, safe and timely return‑to‑work or accommodation plans
• Maintain confidential, accurate records of leaves, medical documentation and communications
• Process necessary documentation for pay interruptions, and options regarding group health and group savings benefits during leaves
• Assist in developing or updating company policies regarding leave of absence, attendance management and other absences
• Collect and analyze data related to health and…