Ability Management Specialist

What We Offer

We value our employees and provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and future. Our offerings include:

• Competitive Salary - Your expertise is valued. We offer a strong, competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience.

• OMERS Pension Plan - Secure your future with our employer-supported pension plan.

• Comprehensive Health & Dental Benefits - Extensive coverage for you and your family.

• Generous Paid Time Off - Vacation, sick leave, and parental leave.

• Professional Development & Growth - Access opportunities for training, professional development, and specialized career pathways to help you excel.

• Dedicated Wellness Programs - Your mental and physical health are essential. Benefit from wellness resources, mental health supports, and programs designed to help you thrive.

Branch and Unit

Member Wellness, Engagement & Support / People & Culture

Employment Type

This is a full-time, regular position.

Vacancies

Vacancies: 1

Tentative start date: January 2027

Civilian Posting

Reporting to the Supervisor of Member Wellness, Engagement, and Support, the Ability Management Specialist is responsible for coordinating complex ability management, workplace accommodation, attendance support, workplace injury management, and return-to-work initiatives. The role administers and manages occupational and non-occupational disability cases, including Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, collective agreements, organizational policies, and return-to-work obligations.

The incumbent collaborates with members, leaders, healthcare providers, insurers, WSIB representatives, and union stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable accommodation and work reintegration strategies. Responsibilities include reviewing claim and entitlement decisions for accuracy and legislative compliance, conducting detailed case analyses, preparing evidence-based objections and appeals, identifying opportunities to mitigate organizational risk and claim costs, and advocating for appropriate adjudicative outcomes. Through proactive case management, expert consultation, and strategic problem-solving, the Ability Management Specialist promotes member well-being, workplace inclusion, regulatory compliance, and organizational effectiveness while supporting positive recovery and return-to-work outcomes.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate complex ability management cases involving occupational and non-occupational illnesses, injuries, psychological health concerns, workplace accommodations, and attendance-related matters from onset through resolution.

• Administer and manage workplace injury and occupational disease claims through all stages of the WSIB process, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, reporting obligations, entitlement provisions, and organizational policies.

• Facilitate, implement, and monitor return-to-work (RTW) and work reintegration plans, ensuring

accommodations are appropriate, sustainable, and aligned with medical restrictions, operational

requirements, collective agreement provisions, and legislative obligations.

• Review workplace injury and illness claim decisions to assess entitlement determinations, adjudicative reasoning, cost implications, and compliance with applicable legislation, policies, and organizational interests.

• Conduct detailed case analyses and prepare evidence-based objections, reconsideration requests, and appeal submissions where claim decisions may be inconsistent with applicable legislation, policy, medical evidence, or workplace circumstances.

• Act as the Service's subject matter expert on ability management, workplace accommodation,

attendance support, return-to-work programs, and WSIB legislation, policies, procedures, and

adjudicative practices.

• Collaborate with members, supervisors, healthcare providers, WSIB adjudicators, insurers, union

representatives, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to support recovery, accommodation, claim

resolution, and successful workplace reintegration.

• Develop, implement, and monitor workplace accommodation plans, ensuring employees can perform meaningful and productive work while respecting medical limitations, human rights obligations, and organizational needs.

• Provide guidance, consultation, and training to leaders and employees regarding ability management processes, attendance support, workplace accommodation requirements, return-to-work obligations, and workplace injury claim management.

• Maintain comprehensive case documentation, medical files, claim records, and related

correspondence, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, data integrity, and compliance with legislative and organizational requirements.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Service and WSIB, coordinating claim management

activities, resolving complex claim issues, identifying cost-relief opportunities, and advocating for

accurate adjudicative outcomes.

• Analyze trends and metrics related to workplace injuries, absences, disability claims, accommodation activities, WSIB costs, lost-time claims, and return-to-work outcomes to identify organizational risks, opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Develop and recommend strategies to improve claim outcomes, reduce claim durations, mitigate

organizational liability, enhance employee recovery and reintegration, and support overall wellness

objectives.

• Contribute to policy development, program evaluation, legislative compliance initiatives, and process improvement efforts that enhance employee well-being, workplace inclusion, regulatory compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

• Participate in special projects, committees, organizational initiatives, and perform other related duties as assigned in support of departmental and Service objectives.

• Other duties, projects, as assigned (individual or group responsibilities).

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Completion of a 3-year diploma or degree in Human Resources, Ability Management, Health

Sciences, Occupational Health, Kinesiology or a related field.

• Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) or Certified Return to Work Coordinator

(CRTWC) designation through the National Institute of Disability Management and Research

(NIDMAR) is required.

• Minimum 3 years' previous experience related to ability management, accommodation, return-to-work, and claims-related matters.

• Proven proficiency with Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate the work of others including leading teams and processes,

coaching, mentoring, and instructing other staff.

• Demonstrated ability to utilize analytical and critical thinking skills to identify and resolve problems.

• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills with multiple levels and sources for listening and comprehension.

• Well-developed time management, prioritization, multi-tasking and organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentially when dealing with all issues.

• Well-developed conflict resolution skills including the ability to interact with and respond to emotional members of the service, and de-escalate situations.

• Proven ability to maintain composure with different dynamics of callers, members, and situations.

Hours

Monday to Friday / Day Shift (may occasionally require flexibility in hours or overtime)

Salary Level

This is starting at Level 8 position $106,877 (2025-2029 Collective Agreement)

Selection

As part of the selection for this position, qualifications and skills listed in the posting will be assessed to measure the suitability of all applicants. Assessments may include, but not be limited to: resume review, skills assessment (s), interview(s), medical assessment, psychological assessment, functional abilities testing and/or background investigation.

Note: If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please advise the Human Resources contact on the posting. Appropriate assistance will be provided pursuant to the Service's Accessibility directive

How to Apply

For direct consideration, applicants must apply online by uploading a cover letter, resume, and certificate proving required education/training. Scan all required documents as one (1) pdf.file and upload when resume is requested.

Human Resources is unable to accept e-mail, FAX, or in-person applications.

Durham Regional Police is an equal opportunity employer.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected will be contacted.

Contact

Applications for the above position will be accepted until 1600 hours on the closing date of this posting. Questions may be directed to Jess McCabe at jmccabe@drps.ca