Accommodations and Ability Management Specialist

About This Position The Accommodations and Ability Management Specialist, reporting to the Manager of Employee Wellness and collaborating closely with HRBPs, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), MRSA and MRFA representatives, healthcare providers, and leaders, plays a key role in fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace by ensuring compliance with human rights, employment, and occupational health and safety legislation. This position provides expert guidance on complex accommodation and disability management matters. This role leads short-term disability and workplace injury processes, develops education and awareness programs, and creates tools that promote equity, inclusion, and employee wellness. Through sound judgment, empathy, and collaboration, the Accommodations and Ability Management Specialist helps ensure that employees are supported to perform their duties safely and effectively while balancing operational needs and legal obligations. This is a full-time role working 35 hours per week. Responsibilities Accommodation Management Manage complex accommodation requests (medical, family status, religious, and other protected grounds) from initiation to resolution. Advise leaders on their legal obligations, including the duty to accommodate and duty to inquire. Interpret medical and functional documentation to assess limitations/restrictions and inform accommodation planning. Develop, implement, and monitor individualized accommodation plans in collaboration with employees, leaders, HRBPs, and healthcare providers. Partner with HRBPs to address cases where accommodations intersect with performance management or other workplace concerns. Maintain accurate, confidential documentation and stay current with evolving legislation, case law, and best practices. Disability and Ability Management Manage short-term disability (STD) cases and oversee workplace injury processes in partnership with leaders, HRBPs, MRSA, MRFA and EH&S. Monitor and analyze Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) claims, identifying trends and cost drivers to inform strategic risk reduction. Communicate with healthcare providers to ensure medical information is specific and sufficient for return-to-work planning. Facilitate further assessments as required (e.g., IMEs, functional capacity exams). Advise leaders on attendance management issues and provide support for addressing barriers to regular attendance. Continuously improve internal processes by integrating industry best practices. Education and Program Development Support the development and implementation of an absentee management program to promote consistency, fairness, and accountability. Design and deliver training for leaders and HRBPs on accommodation, disability management, and related human rights obligations. Create tools, resources, and communications to enhance understanding of accommodation and attendance management processes. Lead initiatives that promote health, wellness, inclusion, and equity across the organization. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Disability Management, Human Resources, or Occupational Health & Safety. Professional designations such as Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) or Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC) are considered assets. Certificates or diplomas in Disability Management, Labour Relations and Employment Law, or Human Rights are considered assets. Minimum of 5–7 years of related experience, ideally in a unionized or public sector environment. Proven expertise in managing complex accommodation and disability management cases. Demonstrated experience with WCB claims and return-to-work programs. Deep understanding of human rights, duty to accommodate, case law, employment standards, and OHS/Workers’ Compensation legislation. Ability to interpret medical information, analyze data (e.g., absenteeism or WCB trends), and identify improvement strategies. Exercises discretion in managing sensitive employee issues while balancing legal and operational priorities. Builds trust and collaborates effectively with employees, leaders, HR, unions, and healthcare providers. Navigates complex cases where accommodation intersects with performance or workplace challenges. Clearly conveys complex information and delivers effective training for diverse audiences. Handles sensitive information with professionalism and discretion. Develops innovative processes and resources that enhance compliance and organizational well-being. Salary Salary: $76,361 - $96,565 per annum Closing Date Closing Date: Open until a suitable candidate is found Application Instructions A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number], [Document Title].pdf (ex. Smith, 999999, CV.pdf). EEO Statement We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and others currently legally authorized to work in Canada will be given priority. Please note only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. After the close date, you can check on the status of your application through your Career Centre. New career opportunities arise frequently and are posted as they become available. Please check back often to view our latest postings on our Career Opportunities page. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify erecruiter@mtroyal.ca and we will work together on your accommodation request. About MRU Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. A student-focused undergraduate university built on teaching excellence, Mount Royal University is known for our top-calibre programs, high-quality teaching and learning experience, robust delivery of liberal education, scholarly teaching, experiential learning and undergraduate research. MRU serves approximately 15,782 students, including 11,752 full-time and 4,030 part-time learners. MRU offers 13 bachelor’s degrees encompassing 37 majors across faculties such as Arts, Business, Communications, Health, Community & Education, and Science & Technology. With over 74% of its student body drawn from the local area, Mount Royal University primarily serves Calgary and its surrounding region. MRU is a diverse yet close community with over 1,800 employees. Mount Royal provides employees the support they need to lead and advance institutional goals. What We Offer Talented and committed employees are the driving force behind student success. We strive to be an employer of choice among Canadian post-secondary institutions. At MRU, we recognize that people are a combination of many intersecting identities; we work to cultivate an environment that welcomes the whole person, and harnesses the strength that is available in our diversity, creating a rich and inclusive workplace. Investing in the learning and development of our employees benefits the individual and the University. A variety of services, resources and programs encourage a healthy, productive workplace. MRU offers a competitive total compensation package including learning/training paid by employer, paid vacation, winter holiday closure, personal days and a free membership in our fully equipped recreation centre. Positions over six months may also be eligible for health and dental benefits, pension, health and personal spending accounts, and disability benefits. Our campus offers the convenience of a full medical clinic, dentist and pharmacy, as well as a variety of wellness services such as physiotherapists and massage therapists. Campus Recreation offers many activities, including personal training, fitness classes, climbing, aquatics, sports, tournaments and certifications for students, employees and the public. #J-18808-Ljbffr