Manager, Health & Total Rewards in Richmond Hill

The Manager, Health & Total Rewards provides strategic leadership for the City of Richmond Hill's Total Rewards, Disability Management, and Health & Safety compliance programs. Reporting to the Director, People & Culture, this role leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of compensation, benefits, pension, disability management, retirement, recognition, and health and safety programs that support organizational performance, employee well-being, and legislative compliance. As a key member of the People & Culture leadership team, the Manager develops organizational strategies, advises senior leaders, leads a multidisciplinary team, and ensures programs remain competitive, sustainable, equitable, and aligned with corporate objectives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic and Organizational Leadership
  • Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of Total Rewards and Disability Management strategies aligned with corporate priorities, collective agreements, and legislative requirements.
  • Provide expert advice to senior leaders on compensation, benefits, pension, disability management, health and safety compliance, and organizational risk.
  • Develop and maintain policies, governance frameworks, and program standards that promote compliance, consistency, and operational excellence.
  • Prepare strategic reports, business cases, and recommendations for Executive Leadership Team and Council.
• People Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish clear priorities, performance objectives, and succession planning initiatives to strengthen organizational capability.
  • Build strong relationships across departments and serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and stakeholders.
• Total Rewards Leadership
  • Oversee compensation, benefits, pension, retirement, and recognition programs.
  • Lead compensation strategy, including market benchmarking, job evaluation, pay administration, and cost modeling.
  • Ensure pension and benefits programs comply with legislative and organizational requirements while supporting attraction, retention, and employee engagement objectives.
  • Provide strategic recommendations to optimize program effectiveness, sustainability, and cost efficiency.
• Disability Management and Health & Safety
  • Lead the City's disability management framework, including WSIB, sick leave, LTD, return-to-work, and accommodation programs.
  • Provide leadership on complex disability, accommodation, human rights, grievance, and arbitration matters.
  • Ensure consistent, proactive case management practices that balance employee support, operational requirements, and risk mitigation.
  • Partner with Corporate Health and Safety to support compliance, prevention, and workplace well-being initiatives.
• Stakeholder and Vendor Management
  • Lead relationships with benefit providers, consultants, disability carriers, pension administrators, and external stakeholders.
  • Monitor contracts, service levels, and vendor performance to ensure value, compliance, and service excellence.
  • Collaborate with HR, Labour Relations, Finance, and business leaders to support organizational and bargaining objectives.
• Analytics and Continuous Improvement
  • Leverage workforce and program data to inform strategic decision-making and identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Lead process improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, employee experience, and operational effectiveness.
  • Ensure compliance with legislation, collective agreements, corporate governance requirements, and best practices.

Education and Experience

• University degree in Human Resources Management or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) Certificate in Return to Work/Disability Management.
• CHRL or CHRP designation.
• 7+ years progressive experience in Total Rewards, disability management, or related HR disciplines.
• Minimum of 3-5 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in a unionized public sector environment is preferred.

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Leadership Capabilities
  • Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams.
  • Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills with the ability to influence senior leaders.
  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, drive change, and lead through complexity.
  • Sound judgment and professionalism when managing sensitive and high-risk employee matters.
• Technical Expertise
  • Advanced knowledge of compensation, benefits, pension administration, disability management, WSIB, LTD, and accommodation programs.
  • Strong understanding of employment legislation, human rights obligations, occupational health and safety requirements, and collective agreement interpretation.
  • Excellent analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Proficiency with HRIS systems and advanced Excel reporting and analysis tools.
  • Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those under consideration will be contacted. The City of Richmond Hill is committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. If contacted to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please advise Human Resources if you require an accommodation.