People Partner

People (HR) Partner (specialization in Disability Management)

Location:
 Chaplin YMCA with Hybrid Work arrangement and regular in-person presence required (Guelph Wellington, Waterloo Region, and Stratford-Perth)

Work Hours:
  Full-time 37.5 hours weekly,

Monday to Friday.

Employment Type:
 Full Time, Permanent

Number of Vacancies:
 1

Anticipated Start Date:
     Immediate

Deadline to Apply:
  February 27, 2026 – will remain posted until filled

Salary Range:
$80,000 - $90,000

Total Rewards Package:

We believe that everyone has the potential to shine Our culture is built around connection, celebration, appreciation, and recognition, and it starts with a total rewards package focused on Well-Being.

Time Away from Work

At the YMCA of Three Rivers, we value work-life harmony. Full-time team members start with:

•     3 weeks of vacation, with the opportunity to earn more as their length of service increases

• well-being days for sick time or proactive self-care, which can be used as they are earned. Bereavement days are also available.

Pension Plan

Full-time employees can join our group pension plan after two consecutive years of employment. Employees contribute 5% of their gross earnings per pay, which the Y, matches. After three consecutive years of service, participation in the YMCA pension plan becomes mandatory for full-time employees.

Health, Dental, and Well-Being Benefits

The YMCA of Three Rivers offers a comprehensive group benefits package to full-time employees (starting 3 months after the start date), including:

•     Prescription drugs, Basic dental coverage, Paramedical services, Vision care

•     Access to an Employee (and Family) Assistance Program offering free and confidential counseling, resources, and services

•     A free YMCA membership for you and your family, providing access to our fitness centers

•     Discounts on YMCA programs and services, including childcare

Role Overview:

Who are we…

The YMCA of Three Rivers is a charitable organization proudly serving the communities of Guelph-Wellington, Stratford-Perth, and Waterloo Region. We aspire to build connected and resilient communities. Our mission is to make our diverse communities healthier and more vibrant. With dignity and respect, our programs and services inspire individuals to reach their full potential. Learn more about our history, mission, vision, and values here.

We strive to be a great place to work so that all employees can live with purpose, passion, and potential to Shine On This is where you come in.

What will you do…

As a People Partner (HRBP) with a specialization in Disability Management, you'll be an integral member of our People Team—helping shape the employee experience and championing a culture of well-being and JAIDE (Justice, Access, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) across our organization.

Reporting to the People Partner Manager, you will provide strategic partnership to dedicated client groups, while providing specialized expertise in disability management to strengthen processes and support employees with care and clarity across the organization.

Approximately 60% of your time will focus on building strong relationships within your client groups – coaching leaders, guiding employees, and aligning people strategies with organizational goals to drive engagement and operational success.

The remaining 40% will leverage your disability management expertise to refine and enhance processes, lead complex accommodation and return-to-work planning, and oversee long-term disability cases. In this space, you'll play a key role in ensuring a smooth, supportive experience for employees while partnering with leaders to balance individual needs with organizational priorities.

In this role, you will:

People Partner (HR) Business Partnership – 60%

• Build strong, trusted relationships with leaders and employees in your client groups, providing coaching and guidance that drives engagement and operational success.

• Partner with leaders to navigate complex employee relations matters, offering practical advice on legislation, human rights, and organizational practices to prevent and resolve challenges before they escalate.

• Lead complex workplace investigations across the organization, ensuring fairness, compliance, and resolution with integrity.

• Provide strategic influence within your client groups to support workforce optimization and organizational development, aligning people strategies with business priorities.

• Analyze workforce trends and share insights that inform proactive solutions and continuous improvement.

• Bring your problem-solving skills and care for people to every interaction –at the YMCA, we believe in being people-first and want our teams to shine on

• Provide additional support to the People Team as needed.

Disability Management – 40%

• Drive the refinement and continuous improvement of disability management processes, ensuring they are efficient, compassionate, and employee-centered.

• Provide oversight of the full leave management cycle—taking on key administrative components directly while collaborating with stakeholders on others. This includes documentation and tracking, proactive communication, requesting and following up on medical updates, and handling medical information with care and sensitivity to ensure every employee feels supported throughout their journey.

• Provide strategic guidance for complex accommodations and return‑to‑work planning—facilitating a collaborative process between employees and leaders, helping identify practical solutions that balance individual needs with operational requirements, while navigating legal risk exposure and complexities.

• Champion employee well-being by guiding leaders and employees through the complexities of leaves and accommodations, and return-to-work planning with empathy and expertise.

• Serve as the primary contact for long-term disability (LTD) cases—supporting employees through the process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions, and partnering with third-party providers to advocate for positive outcomes.

• Analyze leaves, accommodations, and disability-related trends, sharing insights that inform proactive strategies that enhance well-being and JAIDE across our organization.

• Manage insurance and incident reporting for Health & Safety and Well-being related workplace injuries requiring follow-up, ensuring compliance while prioritizing people.

In all aspects of your role, you will model and promote Justice, Access, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (JAIDE). This means creating solutions that respect individual needs, fostering inclusive practices, and ensuring equitable access to support for all employees. Learn more about our JAIDE Road map [].

What will you bring…

• Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Disability Management, Social Work, or a related field.

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience in a generalist capacity, including at least 7+ years focused on complex employee relations and coaching leaders through challenging people matters.

• 5+ years of experience in disability management, accommodations, return-to-work planning, and/or attendance management programs.

• Disability management education or certification (e.g., CDMP, CDMS) is considered an asset.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex workplace investigations with fairness and integrity; experience supporting labour relations practices and/or contributing to positive employee relations strategies is considered a strong asset.

• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, human rights, legal risks and HR best practices, with the ability to apply them in complex or sensitive situations.

• Experience with HRIS systems (ADP preferred) and proficiency in Microsoft Office, with the ability to learn new technology quickly and adapt to evolving systems.

• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills, with a commitment to fostering accountability, trust, and equity in every interaction.

• Ability to manage complex and sensitive situations with confidentiality, discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to lead projects independently, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and determine when to escalate or seek guidance appropriately.

This role involves travel to support employees and leaders across multiple regions. Some locations may not be easily accessible by public transit; you must be able to arrange your own transportation. A valid G driver's license and consistent access to a vehicle are strongly recommended.

Additional Information:

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Youth

In keeping with our commitment to child and youth safeguarding, job offers are contingent on completing a current Vulnerable Sector Check and employment reference checks. Vulnerable Sector Checks are reviewed individually, and the offense(s) - if any - are considered in the decision-making process, in relation to the requirement of working with children, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered a position. Vulnerable Sector Checks must be renewed every three years.

Our Commitment to JAIDE (Justice, Access, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity)

We embrace the values of justice, access, inclusion, diversity, and equity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes applications from all qualified persons. We encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected group. We are committed to creating an environment where we eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups.

Studies have shown that women and people of equity-deserving backgrounds are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification in the posting.  We understand that knowledge and experience can be gained in many ways, so we strongly encourage applications even if you don't believe you meet all the requirements outlined.

Per the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, accommodation will be provided at any point throughout the hiring process, provided the candidate makes their accommodation need known to the YMCA of Three Rivers.

Our Commitment to Privacy

The YMCA of Three Rivers complies with the Employment Standards Act, Pay Equity Legislation, and privacy laws.  We are committed to protecting personal information by following responsible information-handling practices in keeping with privacy laws.  Please visit our website for more information on the YMCA of Three Rivers' commitment to privacy.

Please note that due to the large volume of applications received, only candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.

To explore additional career opportunities with the YMCA of Three Rivers, please visit our
Career Page
.