WORKER REPRESENTATIVE

The Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) is searching for a skilled legal professional who can represent clients in health and safety reprisal and if needed in workers' compensation/workplace insurance cases. As a Worker Representative, your primary focus will be to deliver the OWA's new health and safety reprisals mandate by providing service and support to clients at all stages of the health and safety reprisal complaint process.

What can I expect to do in this role?

As part of this professional team, you will:

• conduct interviews with clients and provide advice and information on claims and application processes related to health and safety reprisals and, if assigned, workers' compensation and workplace insurance
• use Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) case management systems to record and manage work while complying with OWA procedures
• investigate events and circumstances of the claim and obtain and analyze relevant documents
• conduct specific case related research as required to advise and represent OWA clients
• advise and direct clients on issues and evidence required for a successful resolution

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• you have at a minimum a paralegal licence from the Law Society of Upper Canada
• you are proficient in English as well as oral and written French at the advanced level

Technical Knowledge:

• you have knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario Labour Relations Board policies, procedures and case law to advise and represent applicants in health and safety reprisal complaints
• you have knowledge of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Workers' Compensation Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal policies, procedures and case law to advise and represent claimants
• you have knowledge of alternative dispute resolution and negotiation techniques to promote early resolution
• you have knowledge of substantive and procedural law applicable to adversarial and inquisitorial quasi-judicial proceedings
• you have knowledge of other rights of action related to employment law to advise and/or appropriately refer health and safety reprisal applicants

Research, Analysis, Investigative and Problem Solving Skills:

• you can probe in interviews, gather and assess case information and evidence
• you can analyze information to assess viability of each case and guide, counsel, and represent clients in negotiations and appeals

Team Work, Leadership, Relationship Management Skills:

• you can provide input to other cases and develop improved procedures
• you can ensure quality service and bring about successful conclusions to cases
• you can quickly establish working relationships and client confidence

Oral and Written Communication Skills:

• you can marshal facts, articulate issues, interview witnesses, represent clients, explain and persuade

Case and Project Management Skills:

• you have demonstrated case and project management skills to manage a caseload and develop community outreach plans

Computer Skills:

• you are proficient in spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, and graphics software

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.