Employee Health and Wellness Specialist

Department: Human Resources 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Manager, Employee Health and Wellness

Employee Group: CPAG 

Application Deadline: July 2, 2026

Requisition ID: 11524 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager, Employee Health & Wellness, the Employee Health & Wellness Specialist is responsible for administering the University’s employee non-occupational sick leave, disability management, accommodations, return to work, and wellness programs. As a first point of contact on sick leave, accommodation and wellness matters, the Specialist provides advice and guidance regarding the interpretation of all related policies, programs, collective agreements and applicable legislation. The Specialist completes the full cycle of disability management and accommodations to ensures all policies and programs are applied in a fair, effective, compassionate and consistent manner. The Specialist uses a high level of discretion and sound judgement in dealing with confidential Human Resource information and demonstrates independence and problem solving ability in dealing with internal and external stakeholders. This role employs best practice principles in disability case management, early intervention, early and safe return to work and workplace accommodations.

This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Waterloo Campus. The incumbent provides subject matter expertise to all campuses, requiring regular interpersonal interactions and collaboration with departments at the Waterloo Campus, the Brantford Campus, the Milton Campus, the Toronto office and external partners. Special attention is given to ensure equitable service delivery across all locations.

Accountabilities

Disability Management & Return to Work Co-ordination

• Maintain up to date knowledge of disability management, accommodation, and return to work best practices.
• Respond to inquiries regarding the University’s sick leave and disability management program.
• Utilize a team-based case management approach to facilitate the sick leave/disability management and return to work programs.
• Act as the liaison between the University, employee, managers, medical service providers, insurer and unions.
• Maintain accurate and current documentation for employee confidential sick leave files.
• Ensure employees receive the required medical documentation and have a good understanding of the sick leave, disability management and return to work processes.
• Proactively follow-up with employees, medical service provider or insurer to ensure receipt of all supporting medical documents is completed and submitted in a timely manner.
• Gain a clear understanding of return to work restrictions and limitations.
• Plan and implement sound case management strategies with a focus on recovery and return to work
• Use knowledge of job responsibilities, collective agreements and available accommodation options to identify and discusses early intervention and return to work options.
• Collaborate with medical service provider, insurer, employee, managers, union representatives & employee relations team to draft and implement return to work plans that meets the needs of the employee and the University.
• In consultation with employee relations team the Specialist will facilitate referrals to the medical service provider for frequent absences resulting from the Attendance Awareness Program.
• Advise managers and the employee relations team on an employee’s status to assist them in staffing their department.
• Works closely with Environmental Health and Safety Office to manage leaves transitions from occupational to non-occupational.
• This role supports case management for pandemic recovery

Accommodation Services

• Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant legislation (human rights, Accessibility for Ontarian with Disability Act, Employment Standards Act etc.), collective agreement requirements, case law and how they apply to the accommodation of permanent and temporary disabilities in the workplace.
• Work with medical service providers to substantiate and understand accommodation requirements.
• Requests further information from medical service provider to provide clarification on accommodation requirements.
• Collaborates with employee relations team, managers, staff, union representatives and medical service provider to discuss potential accommodations
• Identifies and recommends appropriate accommodations based on own expertise, understanding needs of the employee and the department and information provided by the medical services provider or insurer.
• Monitors and modifies accommodation plans as required to ensure successful implementation.
• Works with relevant external departments when coordinating/implementing accommodations.

Employee Wellness

• Leads the development, implementation and promotion of workplace wellness initiatives, programs and resources.
• Maintains up to date information on employee health trends.
• Researches wellness information, initiatives and best practices.
• Maintains up to date resources available to employees.

General Administration

• Delivers presentations and runs educational sessions on areas of expertise
• Utilize COGNOS to create sick leave reports for managers.
• Tracks and maintains accurate and up to date information and statistics for all areas of expertise.
• Provides administrative support to Manager, Employee Health & Wellness in drafting letters, accommodation plans, and reporting, initiating files in systems, completing LTD forms etc.
• Assists in the development of supporting and information documents for all internal stakeholders
• Keeps Connect website up to date with current information, policies, procedures and forms

Qualifications

• Minimum College Diploma in a Human Resources or related discipline
• Professional Designation in health and disability management preferred (e.g. Certified Disability Management Professional or Certified Return to Work Coordinator)
• 1 to 2 years of experience in analyzing and coordinating employee medical leaves, accommodations and return to work cases preferably in a unionized environment
• Demonstrated knowledge in disability management, return to work and accommodation principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise of legislation as it relates to disability management return to work and accommodations.
• Demonstrated regard for the sensitivity and confidentiality of information
• High level of communication and facilitations skills
• Excellent organizational skills, time management , documentation, and attention to detail/accuracy.
• High level of customer service and professionalism
• Strong analytical, interpersonal and decision-making skills
• Proficient in software packages including as MS Office Suite and Parklane disability management module an asset
• Adjusts comfortably to the needs of diverse audiences (Senior Administration, Management, Faculty, Staff and Union Representatives). Ability to show care and compassion while building successful relationships
• Able to remain calm and respond constructively to pressure, emotional situations and in dealing with conflicts or complaints

Hours of Work: This is a full-time, limited term role with an approximate end date of April 30, 2027. The normal hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility may be required due to periods of high volume. When possible, the manager will adjust hours to ensure that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). All arrangement must be approved by the direct manager. In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation:

Level: EX - H

Salary: $79,285 - $83,000 annually

When new employees are hired the appropriate base salary is determined using these sub-ranges as a guide while adhering to rules on hiring as defined in our compensation policy. Considerations for new hire salaries include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.