Trades Employment Specialist

**Embark on a Bright Future with Centre for Skills Development**

Are you entrepreneurial, client-focused and committed to teamwork and excellence? Do you enjoy working with clients from diverse backgrounds? If you want to work for a recognized leader in career and workforce development, then consider a career with Centre for Skills Development

Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, with locations in Oakville, Milton and Clarkson, Centre for Skills delivers high caliber employment services, language training & settlement services, skilled trades training and literacy upgrading. Providing people with opportunities to build a better future and making a positive impact on peoples’ lives is integral to the business of Centre for Skills. For more information, visit: centreforskills.ca

**THE OPPORTUNITY**

**Job Number: 466**

**Job Title: Trades Employment Specialist**

**Department: Skilled Trades**

**Location: Burlington In-person**

**Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm / 10:30am - 6:30pm**

**Hours of Work: Permanent Full-time (35 hours per week)**

**Pay Rate: $60,569 per annum**

The **Trades** **Employment Specialist** plays a key role in supporting the successful recruitment, assessment, onboarding, and career development of newcomers to Canada enrolled in the Ontario Bridge Training Program (OBTP) pre-apprenticeship program. This position involves direct engagement with the newcomer clients through facilitation of employment-related workshops that address Canadian workplace culture and job search practices, individualized coaching tailored to the unique needs of newcomers, and close collaboration with settlement service providers, employers, and program partners to support client success from intake through to sustainable employment.

**These are your responsibilities**:

- Lead the recruitment process for OBTP clients, ensuring outreach and engagement strategies actively target newcomer populations and align with program goals and funder expectations.
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate all elements of the intake process, including assessment sessions, shop day experiences, and applicant interviews.
- Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date applicant tracking systems, ensuring accurate documentation of intake, assessment outcomes, and selection decisions
- Prepare and manage program acceptance materials, ensuring timely collection and submission of all entry documentation, including funder-mandated forms, educational records, identification, etc. and completion of Common Assessment Questionnaire
- Respond to program-related inquiries in a professional and timely manner, providing clear and accessible information to prospective and current clients, particularly those new to Canada who may be unfamiliar with Canadian systems.
- Lead the onboarding process for new students, including the delivery of first-week information, orientation to instructors and program structure, and collection of all required preliminary forms.
- Facilitate workshops on employability topics such as Employer Expectations, Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Job Searching, Apprenticeship Process, etc., and ensuring content is adapted for newcomers and addresses Canadian workplace culture, credential recognition, and job search strategies.
- Provide ongoing one-on-one coaching and engagement with students throughout the program and post-completion, helping to establish employment goals and develop customized job search plans.
- Deliver employability coaching aimed at enhancing workplace readiness, self-marketing, and integration into the Canadian labour market.
- Conduct follow-up with graduates in alignment with funder and Employment Services requirements, tracking outcomes and offering continued support as needed.
- Partner with the Workforce Development Specialist (Job Coach) to identify and secure appropriate work placement and employment opportunities for participants.
- Collaborate with the Mental Health Specialist to support student well-being, with particular attention to settlement stressors, cultural adjustment, and barriers faced by newcomer clients.

**What you need to bring to this job**:

- Diploma or degree in a related field. Suitable educational equivalents may be considered for individuals with 5+ years of highly related experience in a similar role within a workforce development setting.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working with employment counselling, case management, mental health counselling/coaching, addictions and/or crisis intervention.
- Experience working with adults from culturally and socio-economically diverse backgrounds, including newcomers, youth, OW/ODSP recipients, and multi-barriered clients; Preference will be given to those with EO experience.
- Experience supporting individuals with securing employment or apprenticeships in the skilled trades is a strong asset.
- Knowledge and experience with Motivational Interviewing, Solution-focused Counselling, and the Common Assessment Tool and/or s