Occupational Health Practice & Quality Lead

Department: Occupational Health
Position Number: 50074585
Location: Kingston Health Sciences Centre (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)
Hours of Work: Full-Time, Days
Union: Non-Union
Salary: Class 07 — $108,009.72 – $129,611.63 CAD per annum + benefits/pension
Incentives: Up to $10,000 signing bonus + relocation assistance

Make your impact where it counts

Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is seeking an experienced Occupational Health Practice & Quality Lead—a senior Occupational Health Nurse with advanced practice capabilities—to elevate practice quality, consistency, and defensibility across our Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) and Disability Case Specialist (DCS) teams. This is a pivotal role for a clinician-leader who thrives on complex case consultation, systems improvement, and enabling others through coaching and education in a dynamic healthcare environment.

The Opportunity

As the Practice & Quality Lead, you will be the go-to expert for high?risk and nuanced decision-making in Occupational Health and Disability Management. You’ll guide complex case strategies (e.g., communicable disease and exposure management, disability and STD adjudication, WSIB, return to work and accommodation planning, and exclusions from attendance management), while improving the systems, workflows, and standards that underpin a high-performing Occupational Health function. You’ll modernize practice tools and documentation, strengthen decision frameworks, and mentor team members—directly elevating clinical quality, defensibility, and efficiency.

We’re offering up to $10,000 in signing bonus plus relocation assistance to recognize the advanced practice capability this role demands.

What you’ll do

Complex Case Consultation & Advanced Practice Leadership

• Provide expert consultation for complex Occupational Health and Disability Management cases: communicable/infectious exposures, surveillance, disability and short-term disability adjudication, WSIB claims, HOODIP applications, attendance management exclusions, substance use concerns, return to work planning, functional abilities interpretation, and workplace accommodations.
• Ensure alignment with Occupational Health and Disability Management best practices, applicable legislation, and relevant collective agreements.
• Coach OHNs and DCSs to strengthen clinical reasoning, independence, and confidence in complex case management.
• Advise on documentation and correspondence, including drafting clear, defensible letters.
• Participate in grievances, mediations, and arbitrations as a subject matter expert; translate lessons learned into practice standards and system improvements.

Practice Standards, Medical Directives & Documentation Quality

• Review charting and case documentation for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and legal defensibility.
• Develop, review, and update medical directives guiding OHN practice (e.g., vaccine administration, medications, post-exposure prophylaxis).
• Lead the development and maintenance of policies and standards (e.g., surveillance, immunization, disability management, accommodation) for legislative compliance and operational clarity.
• Create standardized templates, correspondence, decision tools, documentation standards, and clinical algorithms.
• Facilitate case rounds and professional practice discussions; provide coaching, education, and mentorship.
• Conduct quality audits and drive continuous improvement.

Systems Improvement & Workflow Optimization

• Lead improvements to workflows, documentation practices, and information flow across the OH, Safety & Wellness team.
• Optimize Parklane and related systems to enhance data integrity, consistency, efficiency, and documentation quality.
• Design tools/processes that reduce admin burden and strengthen communication with internal and external partners.
• Collaborate with OHNs, DCSs, leaders, Labour Relations, unions, and the Staffing Office to address risks and improve processes.
• Communicate workflow enhancements and practice updates effectively across stakeholders.

Program Leadership & Direct Practice Support

• Provide subject matter expertise and leader education on Occupational Health programs (including leader onboarding and HR forums).
• Collaborate with external providers (e.g., EFAP, LTD insurers) for complex cases.
• Lead planning and delivery of vaccination programs (influenza, COVID-19, immunity initiatives).
• Partner with Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) on outbreak management and exposure response.
• Guide OHNs on exposure management, surveillance, and statutory reporting (e.g., WSIB, Ministry of Labour).
• Serve as the primary Occupational Health contact for Parklane, managing system access and OHSW shared files.
• Provide direct OHN services as needed during urgent exposures, vaccination delivery, staffing pressures, or complex cases.
• Contribute to OHN and DCS performance agreements, professional development plans, and provide practice feedback to the Director, OHSW.

Note: Duties are representative and not exhaustive.

Why join KHSC Occupational Health

• High-impact advanced practice: Shape standards, directives, and decision frameworks that protect staff and patients.
• System leadership: Modernize workflows and data systems (including Parklane) for lasting quality gains.
• Coaching & mentorship: Build capability across a growing team in a complex healthcare setting.
• Competitive compensation: Competitive market salary with up to $10,000 signing bonus + relocation assistance.

What you bring

Minimum Required Qualifications

• 5–7 years of significant, progressive experience in Occupational Health and Disability Management.
• Nursing diploma with additional relevant education and/or experience.
• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) in good standing.
• Completion of a post?graduate Occupational Health Nursing program.
• Disability Management education or equivalent demonstrated experience in disability management and return to work practice.
• Satisfactory criminal reference check and vulnerable sector search.

Preferred

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN).
• Demonstrated experience leading practice improvements, documentation standards, or quality audits.
• Prior involvement in grievances, mediations, or arbitration processes.
• Experience coaching/mentoring OHNs and/or DCSs.
• Advanced certifications (e.g., COHN(C), CDMP) considered an asset.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position.