Location: TBD, ON Canada
Type: Permanent Full-time
Group/Grade: Bargaining Unit/Coordinator Grade
Grade Rate: $119,325.32 (start)
Date: December 13, 2024
The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is Canada’s largest nurses’ union. We are powered by our members — 68,000 nurses and health-care professionals, and 18,000 nursing student affiliates — who provide care in hospitals, long-term care, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
Our mission is to defend the rights of and advocate for nurses and health-care professionals who care for the health of Ontarians. We empower members and fight against unfair and unsafe treatment, negotiate and enforce our contracts, offer benefits and insurance, provide tailored education and development opportunities and much more. We confront governments, administrations and other policymakers head on to fight for high-quality public health care.
ONA is seeking to hire a WSIB Coordinator for our WSIB Appeals Team. This position provides WSIB Appeals services, mentorship, advice, and support to meet the service delivery needs of ONA and its membership. The incumbent will be a leader on the WSIB Appeals Team and is accountable for providing mentorship and advice to the LROS on the team and maintaining an active file assignment under the direction and supervision of the Manager of the WSIB Appeals Team.
This is what else you can expect from this dynamic role:
- Provide advice on all aspects of the work performed by ONA’s WSIB Appeals Team including issues of provincial significance.
- Act as a leader on the team, providing guidance and mentorship to members of the Team in coordination with the WSIB Manager regarding proceedings before the WSIB up to and including the Tribunal.
- Orient, onboard and train new LROs to the Team, in consultation with the WSIB Manager.
- Act as a key strategic resource to the Legal Department, WSIB Manager, WSIB Appeals Team, and other ONA teams.
- During the WSIB Manager’s absence, provides non-managerial coverage and strategic advice to ONA’s Chief Legal Officer.
- Provide strategic and competent representation to ONA members at WSIB tribunals, including WSIAT.
- Conduct research, prepares, and litigates cases.
- Coordinate, organize, and provide education to other ONA staff and managers.
- Review WSIB intake files and cases and makes recommendations regarding assignments across the WSIB Team to the WSIB Manager.
- Supports the WSIB Specialists on complex files (ex. WSIAT hearings)
- Accountable for reviewing and editing written and oral submissions, appeals documents, decision summaries, minutes of settlement, and hearing preparation.
- Identifies and reviews case load of WSIB Specialists, methods to address processing of cases, merit reviews, and changes to workload processes, as required.
- Identifies skill, knowledge and resource gaps on WSIB Team.
- Identifies and reviews trends with nature of members and cases, emerging issues, trends with the WSIB such as changes to appeal processes and legislation and recommends effective strategies to respond to changes.
- Provides written reports to Management on areas of activity, as required as well as assist with preparation of reports to the Board of Directors, PCM etc.
- Coordinates and oversees provision of education across the organization.
- Reports any concerns to WSIB Manager.
- Identifies risks and opportunities related to ONA achieving its goals/mandate, including identifying issues of common concern to ONA members with WSIB files.
- Provides oversight and assistance when there are issues of capacity/workload and provides guidance where members have complex WSIB issues.
- Supports ONA’s strategic plan and outcomes, the WSIB Appeal Team’s objectives, policies, and work process as directed by the WSIB Manager.
- Schedules file reviews and updates with WSIB Specialists.
- Supports the WSIB Manager with respect to relationships with external stakeholders including external counsel and the WSIB.
- Leads team meetings, sets agenda, and identifies issues for discussion.
- Responsible for a reduced caseload. Conducts WSIB appeals from the intent to appeal, through the investigation of the issues, writing submissions, and performing oral hearings, up to and including Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT).
- Provides strategic advice to members regarding their appeal.
- Identifies trends in workplace injuries and trends regarding health and safety, return to work and labour relations. Communicates these trends to the appropriate teams to ensure members’ rights are protected.
- Keeps abreast of WSIB/WSIAT and Ontario Human Rights Code legislative and policy changes that impact ONA members’ appeals.
- Maintains the collective and individual rights of members throughout the course of the appeals work.
- Provides education to ONA members and staff regarding WSIB services.
- Demonstrates excellent client relations and communication skills, and sound professional judgment.
- Develops WSIB materials and resources.
What we are looking for:
- Must have either a Paralegal license or LL.B/Juris Doctor (J.D.).
- A minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience representing clients at WSIB tribunals.
- Demonstrated advocacy, litigation, and presentation skills.
- Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
- Education or training in alternative dispute resolution/mediation and/or oral advocacy is an asset.
- Experience with onboarding, teaching, advising, and mentoring junior staff is an asset
- Ability to take initiative and work independently. Position requires incumbent to work independently, consulting as needed with ONA’s leadership team. Position also requires the incumbent to be generally available and to respond to urgent requests for advice or instruction, which may be in the evening or on weekends.
- Ability to mentor, provide advice and instructions, coordinate, and provide support to other team members.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and develop innovative arguments and solutions to complex problems.
- Must be flexible, adaptable, and able to work well with others in a team environment.
- Able to communicate effectively with ONA staff, management, internal and external stakeholders, including outside counsel and nurse consultants and build strong working relationships with them.
- Excellent research and analytical skills.
- Adept at identifying practical advice and solutions.
- Advanced litigation and mediation/negotiation skills.
- Demonstrated sound professional judgment, decision-making and reasoning skills.
- Excellent leadership skills.
The candidate must be able to travel, possess a valid driver’s license and have access to an automobile for business use.
All interested candidates may apply via ONA Jobs by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2025.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association is committed to employment and pay equity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from equity groups including individuals of Indigenous descent, racialized individuals, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ persons. We also provide accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify Human Resources.
Thank you for your interest in joining us. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
