Senior Manager, Occupational Health and Safety

Introduction

The Senior Manager, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) oversees the development and implementation of environmental health, safety and risk management systems, policies, programs and training, leads workplace audits, inspections, and reporting procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practices.

This OHS leadership role provides subject matter expertise to the Heart Institute’s Boards & departments to ensure that all environmental health, safety, and psychological risks are rigorously recognized, assessed, monitored, and controlled, and drives preventative action plans, strategies, and initiatives to eliminate occupational incidents, injuries, and illnesses.

The role involves supervising the portfolio team, building partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, championing investigation services, and fostering participation in OHS, biosafety, and emergency management to support the Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and the Foundation.

Responsibilities

• Participates in OHS strategic planning, leads relevant Agreements, contracts, and expenditures aligned with budget targets.
• Oversees the worker safety and insurance claims administration, modified work duties, the return-to-work process, and workplace accessibility and accommodations.
• Leads the OHS education and training strategy considering the legal requirements, responsibilities and likelihood of exposure to hazards and risks.
• Leads the development and implementation of a risk assessment process to prioritize risks for all operations.
• Creates, implements, monitors, and maintains a system and/ or procedure for the reporting of injuries, illnesses & incidents.
• Performs site visits, conducts audits and various inspections.
• Participates in the full range of actions and requirements resulting from MLITSD inspections and investigations.
• Oversees the Heart Institute's OHS and Risk Management Systems, related policies, programs, procedures and tools.
• Establishes, implements, monitors, and maintains a contractor safety management program.
• Develops, manages and monitors the Occupational Hygiene and WHMIS programs in consultation with the OHS committee.
• Works with leaders to develop, implement and maintain a biosafety manual, and good microbiological practices for all activities.
• Creates, implements, monitors, and maintains procedure(s) to recognize and prevent emergency situations.

Basic knowledge requirements

• Postgraduate degree in science or public health focusing on occupational health and safety or equivalent.
• Specialist knowledge of Occupational Hygiene, Biosafety, Radiation Safety, and Laboratory Environmental Health & Safety.
• In-depth knowledge of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and other relevant Regulations and Acts.
• Familiarity with the National Standard of the Mental Health Commission of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace.
• Knowledge in risk recognition, assessment, prioritization, and control.
• Significant knowledge of Emergency, Pandemic and Crisis Management.
• Clear understanding of the relevant enforcement practices and the role of the OHS regulator.
• Computer knowledge of Dynamic 365, Power BI for OHS analytics, Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, databases, web interfaces, and OHS Management software.

Experience required

• A minimum of ten (10) years recent experience in the management of occupational health and safety systems and programs, preferably in the health care, education, or research sector.
• At least five (5) years of experience in biosafety and occupational hygiene, and emergency management.
• Demonstrated expertise delivering education & training programs.
• Recent experience in managing human and financial resources.
• Significant expertise in OHS strategic planning, managing and negotiating relevant agreements.
• Solid experience in incident investigations, inspections and auditing process.
• Direct experience in Construction Safety, preventative maintenance, occupational hygiene, air quality and noise testing, ergonomics, fire safety, biosafety, WHMIS and TDG.
• Successful track record in developing, implementing, and integrating environmental health, safety and risk management systems, policies, programs, procedures, training, and tools.
• Practical expertise in claims management, workers compensation and case management processes.
• Substantial experience implementing Safety Learning Systems (SLSs), Workplace Incident, Injury, and Illness Reporting Systems, and managing the processes.

Skills and abilities

• Change Leadership skills and corporate social responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to champion solutions, lead, coach, mentor, support and develop team and committee members.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and French.
• Public speaking experience delivering presentations to large audiences in person and virtually.
• Superior time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented and thorough subject matter expert, with strong regulatory compliance goals.
• High degree of judgment, professional ethics, financial, business, and technical acumen.
• Solid interpersonal, relationship-building, and team-building skills.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Effective facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and change management skills.
• Capacity to influence, to manage multiple priorities and projects, to handle sensitive, private, and confidential matters, as well as emergencies, and crises.
• Results-oriented with the ability to partner effectively with stakeholders.
• Computer proficiency, and strong capacity to develop and write business cases and reports.

To apply

Please send your cover letter and CV to jobpostings@ottawaheart.ca.

Applications from Indigenous persons, members of racialized minorities, persons with disabilities, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse and inclusive communities are strongly encouraged.

According to government policy, all qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is committed to ensuring barrier-free selection processes and work environments. Accommodations will be provided in all parts of the hiring process relating to any specialty requirements. Please notify us of any accommodations that you require – any information you provide will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The successful candidate will be required, prior to the start of employment, to complete mandatory organizational training available online, and provide the following: an official piece of photo identification and a satisfactory Criminal Record Check and proof of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.