Disability Management Consultant

Finning International Inc.; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Finning Canada is seeking a Disability Management Consultant to support employees across multiple jurisdictions. This role handles complex disability cases, accommodations, and return-to-work planning in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with HR, leaders, and external providers.

The position requires a minimum of seven years in disability management, a professional designation, and strong confidentiality. Hybrid work with three days in the office, located in Edmonton or Calgary, is offered.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years of broad disability management experience.
• Professional designation and/or industry specific training.
• Experience in a unionised environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of disability management principles and best practices.
• Proficient in MS Office applications and internal systems.
• Strong file-management skills, with confidential documentation.
• Ability to interpret medical reporting and develop questionnaires for fitness for work.
• Identify and incorporate work-related functional limitations into return-to-work plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage long-duration and complex disability files from start to resolution.
• Provide consultation on disability processes and relevant legislation.
• Develop, update, and improve procedures and policies; propose solutions.
• Lead projects and coordinate with stakeholders on return-to-work plans.

Skills

Disability management

Stakeholder management

Project collaboration

Strong communication

Analytical thinking

MS Office proficiency

Documentation & records

Conflict resolution

Education

Post-secondary education in a relevant field

Professional designation / training

Tools

MS Office

Internal systems

Job description

Company: Finning Canada Number of Openings: 1 Worker Type: Permanent Position Overview:

Finning Canada is currently recruiting for a Disability Management Consultant. Disability Management Consultants are a key member of a specialized team responsible for delivering high‑quality, proactive support to employees experiencing illness or injury. This role manages a high‑volume portfolio of complex cases, including challenging accommodations, alcohol‑and-drug‑related cases, and intricate WCB matters across multiple jurisdictions. This position requires a highly independent, self‑directed professional who can assume responsibility for a complex caseload, quickly adapt to internal systems, and operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment. The consultant collaborates closely with employees, HR Business Partners, line management, and external service providers while leading specialized return‑to‑work planning and resolution discussions. Success in this role requires advanced judgment, strong analytical capability, and the ability to navigate sensitive and multifaceted disability cases with professionalism and expertise. This is a permanent, full‑time position maybe based out of Edmonton or Calgary office operating in a hybrid work model with three days per week in the office.

Job Description: Major Job Functions:

Manage longer‑duration and complex occupational and non‑occupational disability files—including STD, LTD, workplace injuries, alcohol and drug‑related cases, accommodation requests, modified work, and other medical leaves—from initiation to resolution, ensuring timely and effective communication with all stakeholders. Provide consultation and education on disability processes and relevant legislation (privacy, Duty to Accommodate, workers’ compensation, etc.). Develop, update, and recommend improvements to procedures, policies, and best practices; identify gaps and propose solutions. Participate in and lead project work as required. Collaborate with the STD/LTD administrator to ensure accurate and consistent application of plan provisions and standard operating guidelines. Build and maintain professional relationships with provincial workers’ compensation bodies to ensure legislative compliance. Provide expert consultation to HR, Environment, Health & Safety, Operations, and other partners on disability‑related matters including Duty to Accommodate, WCB, Human Rights, Performance Management, Workplace Accommodation, Alcohol and Drug, and Attendance Management. Apply privacy legislation appropriately, ensuring confidential information is managed and released correctly. Resolve disability files while balancing the needs of all stakeholders and organizational requirements. Consider financial impacts and provide fiscally responsible recommendations. Assess the need, effectiveness, and cost‑benefit of Independent Medical Evaluations, Functional Capacity Evaluations, and Worksite Assessments. Engage in and influence difficult conversations to drive solutions and resolution. Make timely decisions while balancing analysis with stakeholder needs. Quickly synthesize information from multiple sources to make logical, informed recommendations. Demonstrate a collaborative, customer‑service‑focused approach. Communicate facts, policies, and procedures diplomatically while maintaining confidentiality. Ensure efficient and effective management of leave and return‑to‑work programs. Maintain complete, accurate, and compliant case files; review and release files appropriately upon employee request. Build and maintain professional relationships with vendors, monitor contract compliance, and expedite concerns when necessary.

Mandatory (Must-Have) Skills:

• Post‑secondary education in a relevant field
• Minimum 7 years of broad disability management experience
• Professional designation and/or industry specific training
• Experience in a unionised environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of disability management principles and best practices
• Proficient in MS Office applications and internal systems
• Strong file‑management skills, ensuring accurate, confidential, and secure documentation
• Ability to interpret medical reporting related to work restrictions and develop medical questionnaires when needed to confirm fitness for work and identify restrictions/limitations
• Identify and confirm work‑related functional limitations or restrictions and incorporate them into a return‑to‑work plan while working collaboratively with the employee and leader, union and HR Coaching, training, and mentoring skills, including the ability to guide team members, HR peers, and leaders and escalation issues appropriately
• Conflict resolution - focus on interest‑based outcomes, facilitating/participate in difficult discussions, identify roles and follow up actions
• Ability to provide information to LR/Legal and prepare written responses for grievances, WCB claim appeals/cost‑relief requests, and information requests from external parties (lawyers, insurance companies, Human Rights bodies, etc.).

Preferred (Non‑Mandatory) Skills:

• Understanding of and ability to promote employee health through early intervention initiatives and modified work opportunities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Standard Operating Guidelines (Sun Life), STD plan administration, WCB legislation and procedures, and specialized services such as GreenShield.
• Knowledge of Alcohol and Drug Policy, testing requirements, and expertise in managing substance‑use‑related disability files, including assessments, treatment coordination, and collaborative return‑to‑work planning.
• Understanding of leave and disability processes and the role of external service providers, including WCB.
• Strong understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Human Resources, Environment, Health & Safety, line management, and employees, with the ability to collaborate and shift tasks appropriately.

Soft Skills:

• Ability to develop and maintain credible working relationships with internal stakeholders (employees, leaders, HR peers) and external service providers while ensuring compliance with service contracts.
• Advanced communication skills, including clear expectation‑setting, interpersonal communication, negotiation, problem‑solving, and analytical abilities; strong written and verbal communication is essential.
• Ability to review, develop, and continuously improve best practices, procedures, and policies.
• Experience contributing to or leading project work.

At Finning, we prioritize creating a diverse and inclusive environment.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we actively encourage all individuals to express themselves and achieve their full potential.

As a company, we continuously strive to enhance our outreach to individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

We do not discriminate against applicants based on gender identity, race, national and ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital and family status, and/or mental or physical disabilities.

Furthermore, Finning is committed to collaborating with and providing reasonable accommodations /adjustments to individuals with disabilities. If you require an adjustment/accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please inform your recruiter.

About Us

Finning is the world's largest Caterpillar dealer delivering unrivalled service for over 80 years. The company sells, rents and provides parts and service for equipment and engines to customers in various industries, including mining, construction, petroleum, forestry and a wide range of power systems applications. Finning employs approximately 14,500 people world‑wide and operates in three geographies, with the head office in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

OUR DIVISIONS

Finning International Inc. is the corporate head office of the publicly traded corporation, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol: FTT. Finning Canada is the authorized dealer for Caterpillar products in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and a portion of Nunavut. Finning South America is the authorized dealer for Caterpillar products in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Finning UK and Ireland is the authorized dealer for Caterpillar products in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Rental of equipment is facilitated through the dealership locations as well as The Cat Rental Store locations in Finning Canada and Finning South America. OEM Remanufacturing - OEM, a Finning enterprise, is one of North America's most advanced engine and powertrain component remanufacturing providers and is located in Edmonton, Alberta.