County of Essex

Return to Work and Wellness Specialist (10-month contract)

Human Resources - Essex, ON, Canada - Temporary

Return to Work and Wellness Specialist
(10-month contract)

Department: Human Resources
Location: County of Essex – Administration Building (Essex)
Salary Band: Band 5 | Non-Union | 35 Hours/Week
Compensation Range: $89,777 - $110,222
Vacancy Status: This is a temporary full-time position to support an approved leave
Duration: Temporary 10-months
Posting #: COE-18-26
Opening Date: June 5, 2026
Closing Date: June 22, 2026

Role Snapshot (Our Elevator Pitch!)

Are you passionate about employee wellness, psychological safety, and helping people successfully return to work following illness or injury?
The County of Essex is seeking a Return to Work and Wellness Specialist to champion employee wellness initiatives and support employees as they transition back to the workplace.
In this collaborative and people-focused role, you will coordinate return-to-work and reintegration activities, develop wellness programming, promote psychological safety, and support healthy workplace cultures. You will work closely with employees, leaders, Human Resources, unions, and community resources to help employees thrive at work.
This position is ideal for a professional who enjoys coaching, relationship-building, wellness promotion, and creating supportive employee experiences.

Why Work With Us?

The County of Essex is an upper-tier municipality serving 193,000 residents and delivering shared services across Windsor-Essex. Located in Ontario’s southernmost region, the County offers an affordable blend of urban and rural living, unmatched recreational opportunities, and proximity to Windsor and Detroit.
With competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a culture rooted in respect and inclusivity, we are committed to building strong teams and helping our employees thrive.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will be responsible for:
  1. Return-to-Work and Reintegration Support
    • Coordinate supportive return-to-work and reintegration processes for employees returning from occupational and non-occupational absences
    • Support graduated return-to-work plans and workplace reintegration activities
    • Serve as a resource to employees navigating their return-to-work journey
    • Promote early intervention and stay-at-work strategies
  2. Employee Wellness and Health Promotion
    • Develop, coordinate, and evaluate employee wellness initiatives and programs
    • Promote awareness related to mental health, resilience, stress management, work-life balance, and healthy workplaces
    • Coordinate wellness campaigns, educational sessions, and employee engagement initiatives
    • Facilitate access to wellness resources and support services
  3. Psychological Safety and Employee Support
    • Support the organization's commitment to psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces
    • Assist leaders in fostering supportive team environments and healthy workplace cultures
    • Promote employee-centered approaches to wellness and reintegration discussions
  4. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
    • Partner with Human Resources, leaders, unions, Health and Safety, and external stakeholders to support wellness and reintegration initiatives
    • Participate in interdisciplinary wellness planning and employee support discussions
    • Collaborate with the Workplace Health and Ability Specialist while maintaining appropriate confidentiality boundaries
  5. Continuous Improvement and Education
    • Analyze participation trends and wellness program outcomes
    • Prepare reports and recommendations to improve employee wellness initiatives
    • Develop and deliver wellness, resilience, mental health, and psychological safety training
What You Bring:
Education and Commitment to Growth:
    • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Health Promotion, Psychology, Occupational Health, Kinesiology, Social Sciences, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
    • Certification related to employee wellness, return-to-work coordination, disability management, occupational health, or mental health is considered an asset
Experience and Expertise:
    • Minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting employee wellness, occupational health, return-to-work coordination, disability support, or related programs
    • Experience in a unionized environment is considered an asset
    • Experience developing wellness initiatives and employee engagement programs is preferred
Skills and Abilities:
    • Strong understanding of wellness, psychological safety, and workplace reintegration principles
    • Excellent interpersonal, coaching, facilitation, and communication skills
    • Demonstrated ability to build trust and support sensitive conversations with empathy and professionalism
    • Strong organizational and program coordination abilities
    • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and HR information systems
Other Requirements:
    • Valid Class G Ontario Driver's Licence and reliable vehicle
    • Ability to provide a Driver Abstract and Police Information Check

What We Are Offering

    • A full-time, permanent position (35 hours per week) based at the County of Essex Administration Building and Sun Parlor Home
    • A competitive salary aligned with Salary Band 5 of our non-union structure
    • Participation in the OMERS pension plan
    • Comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance benefits
    • Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
    • A collaborative and respectful work environment committed to service excellence

The Application Journey

Your journey starts here. Submit your application online at the Career Opportunities section of our website at www.countyofessex.ca by June 22, 2026. If selected, you will be contacted by our HR team to participate in our hiring process.
We believe in a thoughtful and transparent hiring process designed to identify the best candidate for the role while allowing you to learn about us. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Application Submission
Submit your application, including a tailored resume and cover letter, through our online portal by the closing date.
2. Initial Screening
Our hiring team will review applications to shortlist candidates whose skills, qualifications, and experience closely match the role’s requirements.
3. Phone Interview
Shortlisted candidates will participate in a 15-minute phone interview to discuss their background, interest in the role, relevant experience, and alignment with the County's commitment to employee well-being, service excellence, and respectful workplaces.
4. Comprehensive Interview Panel
Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a panel interview. This stage will focus on your experience supporting employee wellness, workplace reintegration, psychological safety, and healthy workplace initiatives.
Candidates may be asked to discuss their approach to employee support, wellness programming, stakeholder collaboration, and fostering positive workplace experiences. The panel will include representatives from Human Resources and organizational leadership to ensure a comprehensive and balanced evaluation.
5. Offer and Onboarding
If selected, you’ll receive a formal offer outlining the terms of temporary employment. Upon acceptance, our onboarding team will work with you to ensure a smooth transition, including introductions to your team, access to tools and systems, and a structured onboarding plan.

The County of Essex embraces diversity and inclusion in our workforce and workplace. We are committed to building inclusive teams and an equitable environment for people to be themselves. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate needs under human rights legislation throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please let us know of any accommodations through [email protected]. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. This information can be made available in alternate formats upon request.

Personal information is collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for employment opportunities only.
Apply: Return to Work and Wellness Specialist (10-month contract)
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Do you possess a post-secondary diploma or degree in Human Resources, Disability Management, Occupational Health, Kinesiology, Social Work, Nursing, Health Sciences, or a related field?*
Do you have a minimum of three (3) years of experience managing return-to-work, accommodation, disability management, or employee wellness programs?*
Do you have practical experience applying Ontario employment legislation related to accommodation and return to work (e.g., Human Rights Code, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act)?*
Do you possess a valid Class G driver's licence and have access to reliable transportation for travel to County facilities and associated areas? **
Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?*
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence for which a pardon has not been granted?*
How many years of direct experience do you have coordinating workplace accommodations and return-to-work plans?*
Approximately how many active return-to-work or accommodation cases have you managed simultaneously?*
How much experience do you have working in a unionized environment?*
Which of the following programs have you worked with? (Select all that apply)*
Which stakeholders have you regularly worked with in return-to-work or wellness programs? (Select all that apply)*
In 250 words or less, describe your approach to supporting an employee returning to work following a medical absence.*
Briefly describe a challenging accommodation or return-to-work situation you managed and how you resolved it. (250 words maximum)*
Do you currently hold any of the following designations? (Select all that apply)*
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