Employment Engagement Specialist

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 Position: Job Developer (Multiple Positions)

**Specifics**: Self-directed role, interacting with employers in the community. Self-guided daily activities, are 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 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, and train on-the-job new hires leading to job retention and growth.

**Preparation for Employment Experience**:
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 the direct supervisor to support the 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 the program team to identify participant interest
- 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:
Develop and fill designated placement opportunities per intake and work collaboratively to maintain high success rate of employed/placed participants:

- Develop and implement a strategic employer engagement plan to build strong relationships with businesses, ensuring ongoing partnerships and job placement opportunities.
- Proactively conduct outreach to local employers, industry leaders, and HR professionals to promote the program and advocate for hiring individuals with learning disabilities (LDs) and other employment barriers.
- Establish employer networks through cold calling, attending industry events, networking, and leveraging professional platforms like LinkedIn.
- Negotiate job placements and employment conditions (wage subsidies, job accommodations, pay rates, work shifts) while ensuring businesses meet workplace capacity and accessibility requirements.
- Influence employer hiring decisions by promoting the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce and providing education on hiring individuals with exceptionalities.
- Conduct employer needs assessments to ensure job placements align with workforce demands, skills shortages, and program participant capabilities.
- Follow up with employers regularly to ensure job placements are successful and resolve any challenges related to work integration and job retention.
- Identify good sources and prospects for job leads, ensuring participants are matched effectively.
- Accompany participants on their first day of work, as needed, to facilitate a smooth transition.
- Ensure proper documentation and compliance, including preparing contracts, training plans, employment agreements, and verification of hours, payments, and employer records.
- Facilitate workplace orientations, ensuring both employers and participants are clear on expectations, workplace culture, and job responsibilities.
- Evaluate work sites and follow up on referrals made to businesses, ensuring smooth integration of participants into roles.
- Work closely with job coaches to provide ongoing support in employment experience and job retention.