Wellness and Equity Advisor

Wellness and Equity Advisor (Seniors Services)

**Job Number**:2234

**Job Type**: Permanent Full-Time
**Location**: 247 Franklin St N - Sunnyside Home
**Number of Positions**:1
**Division**: Community Services
**Hours of Work**: 35 hours per week.
- Monday-Friday
- Must be available to flex weekend work as required, and be part of the weekend rotation.

**Grade**: Management/Management Support Grade 05
**Salary Range**: $83,556.20 - $104,431.60 per year

**About Us**

The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we focus on equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core values emphasize caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

Dish with One Spoon Wampum:

- Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

- Recognizing our shared humanity and land
- Taking only what we need
- Leaving some for others
- Keeping the dish clean
- This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core values, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

**The Role**
- Leads strategic planning, research, analysis, development, evaluation, and implementation of wellness programs that support the psychological and physical health of Seniors Services staff.- Provides expertise, and develops and recommends standards, policies, and practices that will have positive impacts for Seniors Services and employee health outcomes.- Coordinates and delivers wellbeing training and education programs, provides administrative support to the peer support program, and collaborates on proactive and preventive measures and programs, ensuring alignment with legislative requirements for psychologically healthy workplaces.- Participates as a key member of the team that leads the Department’s initiative on reconciliation, decolonization, equity, anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion with the community.**Duties/Responsibilities**
- Provides expertise, advice, and support to senior management in sustaining effective wellbeing programs, policies, and practices, including resources, culture, and leadership commitments.
- Develops operational plans for mental health and wellbeing programs and initiatives, including the peer support program.
- Develops and maintains mental health, post-traumatic incident response, and wellness education programs, including training and resources. Coordinates and/or delivers training to staff and management.
- Provides advice and recommendations to management and staff on issues related to the needs and experiences of Indigenous, African, Caribbean and Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ as well as other groups that experience systemic barriers, from an anti-racism/anti-oppression framework.
- Leads research, development, implementation, continuous promotion, and evaluation of employee wellness and mental health programs, projects, and initiatives, specifically for Seniors Services. Collaborates with departmental and divisional supports for research, data analysis, communications, and related activities.
- Develops project plans, communications strategy, and materials for programs and initiatives, and leads projects to completion. Works collaboratively with stakeholders to draft and approve key messages and materials for a variety of channels/mediums to raise awareness, engagement, and impact (e.g., shift report, messages, posters, presentations). Speaks to, represents, and champions programs, initiatives, and goals.
- Conducts analysis and assessments to identify trends and determine psychological needs and areas requiring planning and support.
- Works closely with other program areas and the corporate health, safety and wellness team to exchange information, develop program changes, and collaborate on efforts for integration with other systems and programs.
- Develops and maintains mental health and wellness education programs, including training and resources. Coordinates and/or delivers training to staff and management.
- Provides administrative and other forms of support for the peer support program in alignment with program goals and mandate. Chairs meetings, facilitates discussions and agenda, and provides information, expertise, and guidance to the committee as requested.
- Collaborates with Disability Management Advisor(s) and Return to Work Coordinator(s) on capacity building for resiliency and other proactive and/or preventive measures including safe return to work procedures. Ensures procedures and practices comply with legislation.
- Acts as a resource and consults on workforce transition plans for employees returning to work from