Trade (Program) Manager

Support Ontario Youth is non-profit organization specializing in the skilled trades and apprenticeship pathway across the construction, industrial and motive power sectors. We are looking to hire a Trade (Program) Manager**,**to help support our fast paced, driven, focused, and ever-expanding organization.

**JOB SUMMARY**

Reporting to the Director of Workforce Development, the Trade (Program) Manager is responsible for creating, managing and maintaining specific trade relationships and communications while working directly with employers and their apprentices to streamline the apprenticeship registration process and supporting to completion.

In addition, the Trade Manager will participate in facilitating workshops to raise awareness of the skilled trades and apprenticeship pathway to increase participants employability skills, providing guidance and career counselling to assist them in starting their careers, which supports of SOY’s mandate of connecting job seekers with employers and trade specific workers to gain hands-on learning.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Manage trade specific apprentices, employers, and association relationships while providing wrap-around-support to all parties.
- Support and guide apprentice journey to completion including preparation for certification exams
- Develop, maintain, and grow relationships with employers participating in our group sponsor program.
- Collaborate with SOY’s recruiter to assist employers with hiring apprentices.
- Implement conflict resolution techniques, such as negotiation, compromise, and consensus-building strategies to maintain program momentum.
- Navigate formal and informal communication channels with finesse.
- Present information clearly and concisely, even in high-pressure situations.
- Establish good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with ministry contacts, community groups, partners, employment agencies and/or organizations, and other organizations to help achieve the goals of the incentive program.
- Represent SOY at industry-related events and trade associations.
- Facilitate and help various audiences navigate the apprenticeship pathway through public speaking, workshops and presentations both in-person and virtually.
- Collaborate and participate in project plans, execute project components and inform the senior leadership team of project progress and deliverables.
- Participate on various Advisory Committees with Colleges and other stakeholders
- Assist in building relationships with Provincial School Boards (Elementary & Secondary, specifically OYAP, Co-op, Dual-Credit & SHSM programs), Colleges & Training Delivery Agents (TDA’s).
- Track success stories that impact KPI’s of program for Activity Reports.
- Other duties as assigned.

**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE**
- Post-secondary education in Business, Human Resources or experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
- Additional formal education in job development, recruitment, career coaching and pre-employment skills development is strongly preferred.
- 3-5 years of experience in managing business relationships, human resources, career outreach, recruitment, employer liaison, or similar role required.
- Experience working with or in the skilled trades or apprenticeship pathway is an asset, but not required
- Familiarity with the workings of a not-for-profit organization, an asset but not mandatory.

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES**
- Strong planning, time-management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
- Highly detail-oriented with demonstrated critical thinking skills.
- Ability to manage a long-term project plan with multiple deliverables.
- Professional verbal and written communication skills. Possesses the ability to flex communication style to the audience.
- Excellent presentation and facilitation skills (small or large groups).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team.
- Ability to adapt in a fast-changing environment.
- Well-developed conflict resolution skills/abilities.
- Creative problem-solving skills. Ability to remain calm and solutions oriented when issues arise.
- Excellent relationship development and management skills. Can build relationships with individuals in various capacities.
- Intermediate level skills with technology (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint), adapts well to new technologies (i.e., databases, learning management systems, etc.).
- Continuous improvement mindset - open to giving and receiving feedback.
- Competent in making routine decisions and working with mínimal guidance.
- Knowledge of Ontario Apprenticeship program and requirements, and other regulatory bodies would be an asset but not required.
- Knowledge of potential employment trends/developments in the Construction, Industrial, & Services Sectors would be an asset but not required.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, news and trends would be an asset but not required.