Newcomer Employment Counsellor

**Who We Are**

Founded in 1889, **YWCA Hamilton** is known as one of Hamilton’s original social innovators and works from a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive framework. We are dedicated to strengthening women’s and girl’s voices, broadening their choices, building dynamic leadership and providing essential services that promote safe, inclusive and equitable communities.

**Position Description**

**Posting Code**:4-MSI-2025

**Department**:Employment and Training Services

**Reports to**:Manager, Immigrant & Settlement Services

**Location**:Hamilton, ON

**Hours of Work**:30 hours per week

**Contract Start Date**:TBD

**Contract End Date**:August 1, 2025

**Posting Date**:June 11, 2025

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Carry an active caseload of 25 program participants
- Supports job seekers through resume building, interview preparation, training, and coaching, to develop the job seekers/clients’ skill set and knowledge;
- Provides solutions-based 1-1 counselling in the areas of job search, job placement, career decision making, job maintenance, or other identified employment needs;
- Conducts intakes, including needs and risk assessments and creates employment action plans;
- Contracts, implements and follows-up as it pertains to employment/vocational goals and other client needs as prescribed by program guidelines;
- Develops action plan collaboratively with clients and support implementation;
- Creates and facilitates monthly workshops on a variety of job seeking and employability skills topics;
- Refers client to external agencies as needed and tracks connections and results;
- Assists employers and clients with job maintenance and retention;
- Researches, and plans for targeted, individualized job placements that meet the needs of each individual;
- Identifies and assesses client’s need for job coaching; assists clients in the development of appropriate work habits and attitudes for the workplace;
- Educates employers to hire job seekers with barriers into the workforce, citing the importance of a diverse workforce and job development; assists with connections between service providers and employers for placement and training funding; Nurtures and maintains relationships with community partners;
- Tracks job seeker/clients’ progress and outcomes and documents all activities and provides accurate and timely reports to Manager;
- Reviews and evaluates results and recommendations from job seekers/clients; shares program outcomes with Manager and stakeholders;
- Maintains accurate records/statistics and evaluation information related to the activities undertaken/outcomes achieved;
- Implements appropriate program guidelines and procedures/templates for program to ensure consistency and excellence;
- Provides program reports to Manager as required;
- Attends industry related networking events and representing the YWCA on community committees;
- Understands and incorporates emerging trends, leading practices, industry professional standards;
- Maintains client’s confidential data, ensuring confidentiality per privacy policies and YWCA Hamilton policies and procedures;
- Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;
- Perform other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Occasional evening and weekend work is required

**Qualifications**
- Completion of 2 years’ college in career development, human resources, social services or business, or equivalent;
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in counselling, job coaching or human resources;
- Minimum 2 years’ experience working with immigrants, experience working with youth an asset;
- Knowledge of settlement services and issues for newcomers and experience working with immigrants;
- Career Development Practitioner (CDP) is an asset;
- Must have a current certificate in Cashier/Customer Service, Safe Food Handling, Smart Serve or willingness to obtain at own cost;
- Must have current Emergency First Aid and CPR certificate or willingness to obtain at own cost;
- Must be able to work from a feminist, anti-racist/anti-oppressive perspective;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Must provide a current Criminal Record Judicial Matters Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;
- Experience working with Career Cruising, Strong Interest Inventory, BESI and Sustainable Livelihoods Model an asset;
- Ability to work occasional evening and weekends;
- Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset.

**YWork for us?**

At **YWCA Hamilton**, we are intentional about fostering a workplace culture that values positive physical and emotional well-being through our values of Inclusivity, Equity, Community, Self-determination, and Accountability. We invest in our employees so that we can bring our values into the communities in which we live. We offer our employees:

- On-the-job training and professional development opportunities
- Staff fitness, childcare and recreation discounts
- Opportunities to get involved in our community
- A competitive total rewards p