Job Description

Reference Number : 978


Status : Permanent - Full-time


Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : 77 112 - 95 256


Number of positions to be filled : 1


Application Deadline : 09/09/2025



Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we're building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility.



As a Return to Work (RTW) Specialist, you play a vital role in fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive work environment by actively managing return-to-work processes and reducing lost-time injuries. You collaborate closely with operational teams, disability management, and external health partners to ensure employees are supported throughout their recovery and reintegration journey. This role is central to promoting health, safety, and attendance through proactive solutions, consistent documentation, and employee-centered support, helping maintain operational continuity and compliance with legislation

Responsibilities:

Disability Management & Return-to-Work Coordination

Analyze absenteeism trends and identify root causes to support early interventions; Lead individual return-to-work planning and gradual reintegration strategies; Coordinate modified work assignments and GRTW (Gradual Return to Work) schedules based on medical restrictions; Collaborate with Sunlife, WSIB, and internal stakeholders to monitor active claims and update status regularly.


Workplace Injury Support & Regulatory Compliance

Send injury kits and ensure completion of Form 8 and FAF documents; Complete WSIB Form 7 and manage submission deadlines to avoid penalties; Track and report workplace injuries using IMS and ensure timely incident documentation; Coordinate injury-related data entry and EHS system usage to meet audit standards.


Accommodation & Modified Duties Planning

Explore light-duty options to minimize time away from work (e.g., office-based tasks, information desks); Engage with managers to assess job suitability and schedule flexibility for accommodation; Coordinate GRTW planning meetings, confirm training needs, and ensure compliance with medical limits.


Collaboration with Stakeholders

Act as liaison between employees, management, union reps, and disability management providers; Participate in meetings with WSIB, health professionals, and insurers; Provide expert advice to managers on accommodation, incident response, and attendance strategies; Support Safety Committee activities and contribute to agenda development, recordkeeping, and follow-up.


Attendance Management & Reporting

Support the execution of the Optimal Attendance Policy through quarterly reviews; Guide CE managers in identifying attendance issues and documenting progress; Create reports for senior leaders summarizing attendance trends and case progress.

Requirements:

Post-secondary diploma or degree in a relevant field such as Occupational Health and Safety, Disability management, Hunman resources or equivalent training and experience; Familiarity with provincial and federal workers' compensation legislation, including WSIB and the Canada Labour Code (required for federally regulated employers); Bilanguism, French and English - mandatory Experience working with unionized environments and knowledge of collective agreement provisions (an asset); Proficient in IMS platforms and Microsoft Excel; Familiarity with Sunlife STD/LTD processes and associated documentation; Experience with schedule coordination, claims reporting, and compliance documentation; Empathetic and patient-centered communicator; Strong organizational and multitasking abilities; Discreet and professional in handling confidential medical information; Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a keen attention to detail; Collaborative team player who builds trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders; Resilient and adaptive in fast-paced, sensitive environments.


At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.



If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.



Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.


Join our 3,000 other employees in helping provide Canadians with a safe, accessible, environmentally sustainable way to travel!