Student Links Coordinator

Community Living Ontario is a not-for-profit, provincial confederation, which advocates for, promotes, and facilitates the full participation, inclusion and citizenship of people who have an intellectual disability. We are a progressive leader in the developmental services sector, representing approximately 80,000 individuals and families, through over 100 member organizations.

**About the Role**

We are seeking a socially conscious and motivated self-starter who is highly organized with a passion for relationship building to join the team as a Student Links Coordinator in the **Ottawa** region.

Reporting to the Manager of the Student Links Initiative, the Coordinator is responsible for maintaining and expanding a mentoring program intended to enhance the capacity of high school students who have an intellectual disability or who are on the autism spectrum. The program aims to match each student with a mentor who has expertise in the student’s identified area of interest and who is willing to make a personal investment in the student by bringing out their individual gifts, supporting skill development, identifying roles, and exploring community opportunities. Coordinators promote the natural network surrounding each student and are responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and vetting all prospective mentors, facilitating meetings, and developing meaningful mentorship plans.

**Are you naturally sociable and skilled at making connections with people?** If yes, this position is a great fit for you

Members of the Student Links team from across the province, meet virtually on a regular basis to brainstorm ideas and share challenges and in-person semi-annually with all staff in Toronto.

Student Links Coordinators are an integral part of the Community Living Ontario team and participate in Community Living Ontario’s annual Inspiring Possibilities Annual Meeting & Conference. Staff are encouraged to contribute to and participate in committee and departmental project work throughout the year.

**Community Living Ontario offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefits package including an RRSP plan**. We encourage our staff to seek training opportunities that help to make them leaders in their role.

**_This position requires you to work remotely from your home office and a cell phone/internet allowance is provided, as well as mileage._**

**Primary Duties and Responsibilities**
- Work with the Student Links Manager and Student Links Director to create strategies and develop a recruitment plan for the **region in which you are hired**.
- Though you will work from your home office, you will have regular presence in your community supporting mentorship experiences.
- Develop and implement a plan for engagement that demonstrates a commitment to a qualitative approach.
- Develop comprehensive and creative mentorship plans that are tailored to the gifts, interests, and identities of individual students.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with a pool of new and existing students, mentors, families, teachers, and schools.
- Train and support new and existing mentors.
- Meet and connect with students and families on an on-going basis to build rapport, determine interests, establish priorities and to offer support.
- Pro-actively connect with personal and professional contacts, networks, and community members to secure connections and informational meetings for students.
- Manage and document daily activities including research efforts, cold calls, meetings, and correspondence via the database and detailed calendar entries.
- Commitment to meeting and exceeding annual and quarterly targets.
- Assist with special projects and events as assigned.

**Qualifications**

**Education**:

- Bachelor’s degree or College diploma in a relevant area of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A minimum of 5 years work-related experience.

**Knowledge, Skills, Abilities**:

- Excellent relationship building and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate and engage others and nurture long-term relationships.
- Personal experience with a person or people who have an intellectual disability is an asset.
- Demonstrated understanding of recruitment, community development and relationship management.
- Strong knowledge and awareness of barriers facing people who have an intellectual disability and knowledge of appropriate and respectful strategies that may be used.
- Adept at welcoming and empowering community members to collaborate with students who have intellectual disabilities and their families.
- Experience in working respectfully with diverse communities and individuals who have experienced marginalization.
- Experience in using a person-centred approach that highlights strengths and gifts.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills and presentation/public speaking skills.
- Highly organized, and self-directed, with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities.