Director Occupational Health and Safety and Wellness

Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness

Humber River Health: Lighting New Ways in Healthcare

Since opening our doors in 2015 as North America’s first fully digital hospital, we remain unwavering in our belief that we can change the hospital where we work, the community where we live, and the world of healthcare beyond our borders. Serving a community of 850,000 residents in North West Toronto, equity, inclusivity and active participation in the North West Toronto Ontario Health Team are key initiatives.  At Humber River Health, we use a custom combination of technology and clinical expertise to rebuild elements of care. We make technology work for staff and physicians; giving them more time to spend with patients, to eliminate inefficiencies, and to reduce the chance of errors. Humber River Health is formally affiliated with both the University of Toronto and Queen’s University and committed to becoming a community academic hospital. Clinical Excellence, Optimizing Care through Technology and Community Connection frame our Research Strategy.    

Position Summary

• Employment Status: Permanent Full-Time
• Hours of Work: Normal hours of work will be Monday - Friday. Evenings and work on weekends may be required based upon operational needs.
• Location: In person at Humber River Health’s Wilson Site, with occasional travel to Finch and Church site (as required)
• Labour Group: Management

Humber River Health is seeking a dynamic and experienced lead for our Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness team. The Director, Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness (OHSW) is responsible for leading the development, implementation and management of comprehensive health, safety and wellness programs and to ensure compliance with all legislative requirements related to health, safety and wellness at Humber River Health.

Reporting to Corporate Director, Human Resources, you will provide executive leadership and oversight to ensure the implementation of strategies that promote a safe, healthy, and productive workplace. This includes reducing the frequency and severity of workplace accidents and minimizing employee time lost due to illness or injury. You will also oversee the development and maintenance of quality management initiatives aligned with Humber River Health standards, while also ensuring the OHSW team prevents and addresses actual and potential Occupational Health and Safety risks. Your operational management expertise will ensure processes and practices are in compliance with legislative requirements and policies related to the health, safety and wellness of our staff and volunteers.  

Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years leadership experience in an acute care hospital or healthcare setting, large unionized environment preferred
• Graduate degree in health-related administration
• Comprehensive knowledge of all relevant occupational health and safety-related legislation, regulations, plans and guidelines in Ontario (e.g. OHSA, Human Rights Code, WSIB Act, HOODIP)
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills, with a track record of quality improvement implementation and risk management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Professional certifications such as CHE, CSP, CSRP required, designation(s) as a health and safety specialist and/or risk management specialist

Key Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Corporate Director, Human Resources, set and direct the planning process for Occupational Health and Safety Services
• Ensures program elements support the principles of Disability Management including early intervention, consistent administrative practices, ongoing legislative compliance and appropriate and productive workplace accommodations
• Implements and oversees the hospital’s Disability Management and Attendance Support programs and initiatives to support early, health and safety return to work, consistent employee attendance, and compliance with organizational policies
• Directs all functions, processes, trending and activities related to disability management, attendance support management, health/infectious disease surveillance, safety services, WSIB and MOL claims management, ergonomic services, employee health services, annual OHSW campaigns, and the hospital's wellness program
• Develops and implements action plans to maintain OHSW KPIs at the level outlined in annual corporate goals and objectives, and reports accordingly to senior leadership
• Ensures quality programs are in place and aligned with corporate quality initiatives, including developing, implementing and communicating comprehensive performance indicators to demonstrate quality and efficiency of HRH and the department
• Provides oversight and direction to staff and management on the appropriate management of ill/injured employees, including direction on managing modified work processes and staff
• Attends key corporate meetings and committees to provide OHSW updates, and liaises with and develops effective working relationships with relevant associations and educational institutions to keep up to date on current and emerging health care legislation, developments and trends and assess their impact on the Hospital
• Works in compliance of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and its regulations, reporting hazards, deficiencies and contraventions of the Act, in a timely manner
• Develops and delivers educational materials and programs for clinical areas in compliance with legislative requirements
• Monitors clinical staff job descriptions and job plans for mandatory inclusion of OHSW requirements in continuing professional development and appraisals
• Performs cross-functional and/or other duties consistent with the job classification, as assigned or requested, including consultative leadership for the Joint Health & Safety Committee, among other related committees
• Report Hospital indicators in compliance with Ministry reporting requirements
• Works cooperatively with all levels of leadership, staff and unions

 Why choose Humber River Health?

At Humber River Health, our staff, physicians, and volunteers are lighting new ways in healthcare. We are proud to be recognized as a part of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. We support employees by providing evidence-based leadership and cultivating a culture that consistently wows with our unwavering commitment to Staff, Physician and Volunteer engagement. We are a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) and are deeply involved in research and academic collaboration. We are dedicated to high-quality patient care and demonstrate our values of compassion, professionalism, and respect.

Attracting and retaining a workforce that represents the diverse communities surrounding Humber River Health is a priority. We encourage applicants from all equity-deserving groups, including but not limited to, individuals who identity as Indigenous, racialized, seniors, persons living with disabilities, women, and those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, disability, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Humber River Health is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process as well as during employment at Humber River Health. Please direct any accommodation requests to our Recruitment team.