Employment Counsellor / Facilitator

Primary Function:

Direct assistance to program participants through individual, customized and group activities. Responsible for delivering a full range, ongoing, pre-employment workshops, as well as support to eligible program participants during the employment experience to reach rightful labour market integration and job retention.

Support includes: screening and recruitment, solution focused career counselling, facilitating group sessions, career coaching, directing participants towards optimum career solutions, information and knowledge sharing, empowering with employability tools, guidance about labour market, employability enhancement, preparing participants for employment, schooling or self-employment. 

Strong preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate proven understanding and knowledge of the LD community and individuals with disabilities.

Areas of Responsibilities:

Pre-Employment preparation and follow up: 85% 

• Recruit and orient program participants, clarify expectations
• Determine service suitability, recruit participants, gather profile information from participants, determine if career and employment preparation program can make participants competitively employable 
• Prepare entries and regularly update data through the on-line portal 
• Assist participants to identify their own skills, qualifications, strengths and barriers to employment/education
• Provide supportive career exploration and solution focused career counselling
• Deliver all components of pre-employment, job searching and job readiness program including assessment, goal-setting, action planning, facilitation of targeted topic workshops and follow-up 
• Conduct assessment and re-assessment of participants to gain increased insights about career choices and pathways
• Maintain relationship with participants to establish trust
• Review and understand interview process and prepare participants for interview 
• Ensure program participants have mastered employability tools: job search, interview skills, action plan, viable individual short/long term goals, targeted resumes, cover letters, cold calling 
• Organize filed trips in support of program 
• Effectively track participants’ progress: perform regular follow up and updates

Other program support, reporting, LDATD: 15%

• Maintains all aspects of participant confidentiality 
• Support monitoring of employment/placements, including follow-ups
• Organize and update regularly employment related materials and tools 
• Responsible for distribution and compiling of satisfaction surveys, and feedback forms 
• Provide statistical information and reports on outcomes as requested
• Maintains up-to-date case notes, progress reports, participants’ paper, electronic and on-line portal files
• Conduct outreach activities and recruitment as per program requirements 
• Work closely with industries/sectors to ensure updated information on occupation prospects
• Keep updated on the labour market, specific careers and occupations, education, training and employment opportunities and career planning and job search strategies
• Informs team about emerging employment related matters
• Attends staff meetings and participates in reporting and decision-making as required 
• Facilitate constructive, culturally sensitive communication between LDATD staff and clients 
• Coordinate information, activities and linkages with other LDATD programs 

Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills (N.O.C: 4153; 4033; 4215):

• Bachelor’s Degree/College Diploma (Career Counselling, Sociology, Business Development, Marketing, Human Resources, Humanities, Social/Support Work or related studies)
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated practical experience in aspects of employment, facilitation of curriculum, recruiting, job searching, job retention/maintenance
• Competent in one-to-one career counselling, coaching, needs assessment, intake
• Current knowledge of job search strategies and techniques, computerized career and job search tools (Resume Writer, Career Cruising)
• Ability to assist participant job seekers build career ladders and realize job search objectives 
• Solid knowledge of current labour market trends, employment job prospects within industries and sectors of GTA
• Practical knowledge of challenges and systemic barriers to labour market integration for job seekers with exceptionalities, newcomers, newly graduates, individuals with low or no work experience. 
• Proven experience working with varied profile of job seekers (individuals experiencing challenges to employment / long term unemployment, individuals with exceptionalities, newly graduates, OW and ODSP recipients, newcomers, people in career transition)
• Working experience of community resources, programs and supports in a client-oriented environment, funding and required reporting milestones and procedure.
• Experience in developing presentations, organizing and facilitating workshops 
• Exceptional presentation skills 
• Understanding of Learning Disabilities (LDs) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD(H)D)
• Understanding of barriers individuals face in everyday life and social and economic integration 
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural competency with ability to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural/multiracial/ anti-oppressive environment
• Recognized ability to engage and motivate others 
• High level of communication ability – listening, clear and effective oral, and written 
• Strength in building rapport and customer service
• Reliable, dedicated team player, adaptable 
• Self-motivated, goal and results-oriented, able to set priorities and remain focused on results
• Superior time management and organizational skills
• Orientation to details
• Proficient at providing quality reports and deliverables
• Proficiency with computers, government databases and on-line portals, software applications (Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, various web browsers, Internet networks, employment tools) 

Working conditions:

 TERMS: 

• Full-time 
• Start date: ASAP
• Pay Rate: $28
• Fixed-term contract position

Location: 

• Hybrid within LDATD offices/program locations in North York