Cowichan Tribes
Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
Reference No. HR-OHS-OHSA-0426
PURPOSE: Reporting to the Human Resources Director and working collaboratively with the Human Resources Team, the OHS Advisor is responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe, healthy and compliant workplace across all Cowichan Tribes’ departments. The position provides guidance on occupational health and safety requirements, develops and delivers a range of employee wellness and safety initiatives and training, supports the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and ensures compliance with WorkSafeBC and legislative requirements for Cowichan Tribes.
The OHS Advisor will provide day-to-day supervision, professional guidance, feedback and support to the OHS Coordinator.
This is a full-time permanent position working in the office with some local travel required.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Cowichan Tribes offers an excellent benefit and pension plan available after successful completion of the probationary period. The position includes paid training, paid vacation and paid sick leave. Depending on experience, the position starts at $44.84-$47.53 per hour ($81,605.79 - $86,498.36 annually).
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Health and Safety Program Administration
- Support the development, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of Cowichan Tribes OHS policies, initiatives, training, and systems.
- Promote a strong safety culture through engagement, communication, and leadership coaching.
- Provice technical advice and interpretation of the Workers Compensation Act and OHS Regulations.
- Support compliance with WorkSafeBC requirements, including inspections, investigations, reporting and documentation.
- Provide day-to-day supervision, professional guidance, feedback and support to the OHS Coordinator.
- Prepare, oversee and monitor the OHS program budget, providing updates and requesting approvals as required by the HR Director.
- Conduct regular workplace inspections, ergonomic assessments, risk assessments and safety audits.
- Develop and maintain safe work procedures, job hazard analyses and risk assessments and provide recommendations to departments.
- Oversee the creation and production of employee safety material, orientation material, checklists, and distribution of material.
- Identify and recommend safety improvement projects and initiatives to the HR Director.
- Other related duties as required.
Employee Training, Education and Wellness
- Develop, plan and deliver employee safety and wellness training programs, events, and materials in order to meet regulatory obligations and promote a safe work environment.
- Administer OHS-related orientation to new employees or employees returning from extended leaves of absence.
- Ensure OHS-related programs and trainings are tracked, documented and filed accordingly.
- Coach leaders and employees on safe work practice and regulatory requirements.
- Support effective mental health in the workplace for all employees by making recommendations for improvement, including but not limited to conducting regular surveys with employees on benefit plans and proposing changes to the HR Director.
- Support the planning and yearly administration of staff recognition awards presented by the Joint OHS Committee.
- Other related duties as required.
Incident Management & Prevention
- When an Incident Report is received, follow the standard operating procedures and ensure communication with the designated HR Advisor in order to complete and submit the Employer’s Report of Injury or Occupation Disease (Form 7) within legislated timelines.
- Lead incident, accident, exposure and near-miss investigations.
- Identify root causes and recommend corrective and preventative actions.
- Performs job site safety compliance inspections including hazard analysis, risk assessments, safe work procedures, written reports and recommendations.
- Track incidents, trends, and corrective actions and prepare reports for the HR Director.
- Assist HR Advisors as needed in return-to-work programs and accommodations.
- Reviews the analysis of accident and injury data, identifying the needs for new or modified occupational safety information to ensure the best available methods and equipment are adopted to minimize the hazards in the workplace.
- Reviews WorkSafeBC injury reports data and assists departments to implement new or updates safety practices and procedures.
- Other related duties as required.
Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee Support
- OHS Advisor represents HR on the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee
- Support and advise the Committee, including meeting preparation, reporting and follow-up.
- Support the planning and yearly administration of staff recognition awards presented by the Committee.
- Ensure committee compliance with legislative requirements.
- Collaborate with managers and employees to address safety concerns.
- Other related duties as required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: (please attach all required documents)
- Certificate or Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or a related field is required.
- 5 years’ related experience, preferably in the field of occupational health and safety.
- A combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Experience in interpreting and applying BC’s Workers Comp Act, OHS Regulations, Policies, Guidelines, and Standards.
- Experience working with an Indigenous community an asset.
- St John Ambulance CPR-C & AED Training or willingness to obtain.
- Level 2 First Aid or willingness to obtain.
- WHMIS certificate or willingness to obtain.
- Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s license, clean driver’s abstract and reliable vehicle.
- Criminal Record Check required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Strong working knowledge of occupational health and safety legislation and best practices.
- Strong working knowledge of HR safety practices, administration, and policies, as well as applicable legislations such as the Canada Labour Code, WorkSafeBC, human rights and privacy legislation.
- Knowledge of Cowichan Tribes departments, programs and services.
- Technical Proficiency with database applications and administration systems, including Microsoft Office.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.
- Budget preparation and management skills.
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to influence and coach at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where priorities can shift quickly.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team and demonstrate ongoing commitment to team goals.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
- Flexible and willing to carry out additional duties during periods of high workload.
- Ability to travel as necessary to various Cowichan Tribes worksites.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants are invited to submit a current resume, a detailed cover letter and three references to Human Resources by email or in person before the deadline with the Reference No. included. If you are emailing your application, indicate the Reference No. in the subject line of your email.
Reference No. HR-OHS-OHSA-0426
Cowichan Tribes Human Resources Department
435 Trunk Road – Unit 302 (third floor)
Duncan, BC, V9L, 2P5
Email: resume@cowichantribes.com
Website: http://www.cowichantribes.com/employment
Deadline: Friday, May 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
