Job Developer (Part-Time)

The Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD) is a chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) serving the amalgamated City of Toronto. LDATD is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a society in which people with learning disabilities (LDs) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are able to achieve the full expression of their intellect and abilities.

Program: Employment Services (LDEEP Program) Position: Job Developer (Part-Time)

Specifics: Self-directed off-site role, interacting with employers in the community. Self-guided daily activities, distributed between time in the office, time in the community, and time on the employment site, which are aligned with the specifics of the participant's needs.

Regular open communication, feedback, and updates to the program team.

Required to develop tentative calendars of outreach, networking, liaison and targeted meetings for the week, guided by participants/businesses’ needs, coordinated with program teams and approved by direct supervisor.

Primary Function: The Job Developer liaises and networks with local businesses (employers) and job seekers (program participants) to secure employment experience, subsidized and non-subsidized. Provides direct support to participants to enter and secure employment/placement, and to businesses to fill in positions, train on-the-job new hires leading to job retention and growth.

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:

Preparation for Employment Experience: 25%

Work with participants to prepare them for targeted employment, determine employment goals prior to employment, identify skill sets to match with job requirements:

- Facilitate workshops on certain employment related topics approved by direct supervisor to support program and to better understand participant needs
- Take part in recruiting and orienting participants
- Support assessment and re-assessment of registered program participants
- Assist participants develop employability tools (resume, cover letter, cold calling, interviewing)
- Screen resumes and liaise with program team to identify participant interest
- Match candidates according to their skills and interests with employment/placement opportunities and job requirements
- Maintain relationship with program participants to establish trust
- Research companies to develop potential employment/placement leads for participants
- Develop and implement a marketing plan with program team to identify opportunities in the “hidden job market”
- Make presentations to individual employers and business groups to promote program and participants
- Educate and build relations with industries (local corporate/business communities)
- Establish, maintain and grow a network of contacts and maintain an employer database

- Review and understand interview process and mentor participants to prepare them to match the jobs requirements
- Schedule, prepare and accompany participant to job interview(s).

Targeting local businesses and matching with participants: 70%

Develop and fill designated placement opportunities per intake and work collaboratively to maintain high success rate of employed/placed participants:

- Identify good sources and prospect for job leads; promote job matching
- Accompany participants on a first day at work, as per identified need
- Update calendar of targeted meetings, docket time and adequately adjust
- Influence positively employer decisions in hiring program participants
- Negotiate employment/placement with businesses, wage subsidy level: pay rate, hours, shifts
- Ensure that local businesses meet all eligibility criteria for workplace capacity to provide a positive work experience and determine their needs
- Evaluate work sites
- Follow-up on referrals made to businesses and close on their choice of participants
- Maintain accurate documentation, prepare contracts, training plans and arrange for signatures
- Facilitate an orientation to the workplace - rules and expectations of businesses
- Handle employment records of work performed by participants between the program and businesses (contracts, payrolls, timesheets, payment records from employers, attendance)
- Verify hours, outstanding payments, pay rate and docket in a proper tool according to the program’s compliance protocols
- Working in tandem with job coach, support the process of employment experience/placement for participants

Other program support, reporting, LDATD: 5%

- Support monitoring of employment/placements, including follow-ups, surveys and outcome and provide statistical information as requested
- Evaluate results, record weekly activity and submit a report to program supervisor
- Continue to support participants accessing the job retention part or direct hire
- 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 and 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 practical experience in aspects of employment, recruiting, job searching, placement and subsidies
• Competent in career counselling, coaching, needs assessment and intake

• Solid knowledge of current labour market trends, employment job prospects within industries and sectors of GTA, to assist individuals to develop their employment skills required to meet the expectations of work, education and/or training
• 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.
• Experience with successfully matching program participants with employment/placement partners and businesses
• Demonstrated records of establishing, maintaining and growing professional and business relationship with diverse stakeholders, including local businesses
• Working experience of community resources, programs and supports in a client-oriented environment, funding and required reporting milestones and procedure.
• Knowledge of computerized career and job search tools
• Experience organizing and promoting events
• Understanding of Learning Disabilities (LDs) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD(H)D)
• 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)
• Understand barriers individuals face in everyday life and social and economic integration
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural competency
• Excellent negotiation skills and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional presentation skills (marketing, outreach, sales, promotion)
• Recognized ability to engage and motivate others
• High level of communication ability – listening, spoken and written
• Strength in building rapport and customer service
• Reliable, dedicated team player
• Self-motivated, self-directed, goal and results-oriented, with ability to set priorities and remain focused on results
• Organized, flexible and adaptable: with superior time management skills
• Proficient at providing quality reports and deliverables
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural/multiracial/ anti-oppressive environment
• Proficiency with computers, government database and portals, software applications (Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, various web browsers, Internet networks, employment tools)

TERMS:
Work hours:
• 25 hours (Part-Time)
• Start date: ASAP
• Pay Rate: $28
• Fixed-term contract position

Location:
- Hybrid within LDATD offices/program locations in North York