Accommodation Consultant

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day.

Primary Purpose

The Accommodation Consultant is accountable for independently assessing, developing, implementing, and monitoring individualized accommodation plans for students and employees requiring accommodation on Code-protected grounds other than disability, including but not limited to creed, family status, and sex, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. The incumbent serves as the institutional subject matter expert on non-disability accommodations, applying specialized knowledge of human rights obligations, policy interpretation, case analysis, and risk assessment to support equitable access, procedural fairness, and legally defensible decision-making across both academic and workplace environments.

Key Accountabilities

• Review and Assessment of Accommodation Applications (for non-disability grounds)
  • Independently reviews and assesses applications for accommodation on non-disability grounds, including completed application forms and any supporting documentation or subjective information, to determine eligibility, identify institutional obligations, and assess potential operational, academic, or legal implications.
  • Assessing accommodation requests from students and employees based on Code-protected needs such as religious observance, caregiving responsibilities, and pregnancy-related requirements.
  • Conducting structured, non-clinical intake conversations to understand barriers to participation or access in academic and workplace contexts.
  • Evaluating requests using Ontario Human Rights Commission principles, institutional policies, and relevant case law.
  • Documents decisions, rationales, actions, and follow-up requirements in the case management system to support continuity, accountability, and institutional defensibility.
• Development of Individualized Accommodation Plans
  • Develops, implements, and monitors reasonable, individualized accommodation plans.
  • Provides expert guidance on temporary and ongoing accommodations, including situations requiring immediate interim measures, escalation, or coordinated implementation across multiple units.
  • Leads the finalization and implementation of accommodation plans, exercising judgment to ensure that plans are reasonable, operationally feasible, respectful of privacy, and aligned with the University’s legal obligations.
  • Documents accommodation solutions, implementation decisions, stakeholder communications, and follow-up actions in the case management system.
• Case Management and Consultation
  • Acts as an institutional point of contact for non-disability accommodation requests across both student and employee populations.
  • Provides authoritative advisory support to faculty, supervisors, managers, and administrative units on the interpretation and implementation of accommodations.
  • Facilitates collaborative resolution of complex, sensitive, or escalated cases.
  • Maintains clear, accurate, and defensible documentation of decisions, rationales, communications, and implementation steps.
• Policy Interpretation and Compliance
  • Interprets and applies institutional policies, collective agreements where applicable, Ontario Human Rights Commission guidance, and relevant legal principles.
  • Ensures accommodation practices are consistent, equitable, procedurally fair, and legally defensible across the institution.
  • Contributes subject matter expertise to the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, procedures, guidelines, tools, and training related to non-disability accommodations.
• Handling and Managing Confidential Materials
  • Controls access to highly sensitive and confidential records.
  • Ensures data accuracy, document integrity, and appropriate recordkeeping practices.
  • Uses systems and technology effectively to manage employee and student records accurately and efficiently.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Law, Public Policy, Human Rights, Labour Relations, Human Resources, Conflict Resolution, or a related discipline (graduate degree preferred).
• Experience: 2-4 years experience interpreting and applying legislation, policies, collective agreements, and procedural fairness principles.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Deep knowledge of the Ontario Human Rights Code, strong understanding of accommodation across multiple Code-protected grounds, excellent communication skills, sound independent judgment, and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees.