Employment Consultant

**Culture**: Kootenay Employment Services (KES) has strong values that we strive to action in our everyday work including: wellness, DEI, integrity, having fun, personal and professional growth, innovation, and delivering exceptional service to our communities.

**Opportunity**: We hire the best and brightest individuals, and we are pretty darn proud of the KES family. Opportunity abounds at KES with an internal practice of promoting from within as often as possible.

**Meaningful work**: We are driven by our desire to help. Supporting our clients, local employers, and communities is at the heart of what we do.

**What does Kootenay Employment Services do?**

With offices in Creston, Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere, we administer employment contracts, including the WorkBC program, which is a provincially funded program assisting local community members to find meaningful and sustainable employment.

**A new opportunity**:
Our East Kootenay WorkBC services are transitioning to a new sub-contract. The roles within our service delivery model are changing, resulting in a recruitment process. In the interest of time, we have posted all roles internally and externally. We expect internal applicants will be interested in many of our roles and they will be prioritized, but we still want to hear from you

**We have great benefits including**:

- Fully employer paid health, dental and vision, EAP
- Co-Contribution Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan
- Your birthday off every year
- Wellness Wednesday - a paid break to use for your choice of self-care activities
- Higher vacation rates after first year, with ongoing increases up to 12%

**What would you do in this role?**

The Employment Consultant is an integral part of a service delivery team that works together collaboratively to assist the clients in finding sustainable employment. You would need to develop positive relationships with your clients, encouraging, motivating and supporting them in their journey. You will teach your clients skills to increase their independence and self-sufficiency in their job search. You will be the one who oversees the clients action plan and services and ensuring all documentation is recorded. The Fernie Centre is a small Team supported by a Team Lead. Higher wage ranges reserved for applicants with the suitability for the Team Lead designation.

**A typical day at work**:

- Conduct a Client Needs Assessment with eligible clients as the first step in their individualized action plan; set clear and concrete employment goals together
- Support and monitor the progress of each client by reviewing the client’s progress and comparing it against the client’s action plan, verify client engagement, ensure documentation requirements are being completed, and perform general oversight activities
- Provide individualized job search support, including: interviews, employer contacts, job matching, and negotiating the terms of the client’s employment
- Provide services in a manner that is welcoming, safe and professional and ensures that client privacy is protected
- Work collaboratively with employers and community partners to facilitate client placements for work experience and job start supports; provide individualized job sustainment support to clients and employers when the client requires on-the-job support
- Collaborate with all program staff to ensure seamless delivery of quality services

**What are we looking for?**
- Essential Requirements:_
- Demonstrated experience in coaching clients; working with individuals with complex barriers and inclusion groups; building rapport with clients; using de-escalation strategies; working with individuals and building partnerships with employers, community agencies, and other stakeholders
- Successful track record helping clients to overcome barriers to meet identified goals and targets
- Knowledge of the local labour market, community resources, government programs, job search techniques, career development and issues relating to unemployment
- Solid understanding of confidentiality and other professional codes of conduct; must submit for a criminal record check
- Degree or diploma in a relevant field (e.g., career or employment development, vocational rehabilitation, social work, psychology, sociology, human services, counselling, education, or human resources management) preferred; or equivalent experience
- Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work Monday to Friday in Centre during scheduled office hours
- Ability to understand, interpret and utilize government policy, directives and processes.
- Lifelong learner, willing and able to remain flexible and adapt to changes in program and company requirements
- Preferred Criteria:_
- Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) Designation
- Bilingual (French and English)
- Experience in the employment services sector
- Experience with provincial government and other online tools such as ICM and online