Farsi/dari Speaking Career Advisor

Job DescriptionYWCA Metro Vancouver’s Axis program provides employment services for immigrant or newcomer women who are survivors of violence, trauma or abuse. Axis offers participants with supportive, one-to-one pre-employment services in a first language to prepare them to enter into the labour market and build readiness to further employment or training services such as WorkBC. The staff team will be situated in regions across BC (e.g., Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Northern BC, Central Okanagan) and will deliver virtual services across the Province and offer in-person services as appropriate. Under the general supervision of the Axis Program Manager, the Career Advisor will work mainly in a virtual environment, with a small team of six Career Advisors across BC.

**What you’ll be doing**:

- Career Advisors of the YWCA’s Axis program provide specialized employment services following an individual service-based model to support participants who identify as visible minority women Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse and Trauma survivors
- Ensure safety plan and basic needs are in place and work with participants to refer to counselling, community resources and other referrals as appropriate
- In a trauma-informed practice, support participants with different needs, backgrounds, learning styles and employment goals
- Develop Individualized Client Training Plans and provide key resources to support client goals
- Facilitate soft skills training, employment readiness, essential skills (e.g., developing skills in building healthy boundaries, time management, confidence, resilience and coping)
- Provide job search coaching; assist participants in identifying and overcoming employment barriers, setting realistic career goals, and creating and following action plans
- Assist participants with resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, and labour market information and trend research
- Work collaboratively within the community and YWCA to create resource partnerships addressing issues related to violence, abuse, trauma
- Conduct specialized outreach in the community to recruit participants to engage in services
- Work collaboratively within the wider YWCA ecosystem to ensure optimization of cross referrals
- Assist participants to participate in the Single Parents Employment Initiative and wider WorkBC services where eligible
- Participate in weekly Case Conferencing with program staff to discuss participant and employer issues, and placement opportunities.
- Maintain accurate participant records and confidentiality, as per CARF standards
- Report program outcomes to Program Manager and stakeholders (e.g., program researchers, YWCA leadership)
- Liaise with other community and external stakeholders to promote and engage issues specific to immigrant women who are survivors of violence.
- Meet with employers to create training plans and complete paperwork
- Participate in events / roundtables
- Other duties as required

**What you’ll need**:

- Proficiency in English and Farsi/Dari languages
- Experience in employment/career counselling, social work, job development and/or working with visible minority communities, employment services
- CCDP certification is an asset
- Either a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or a combination of education and experience
- Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations and delivering a trauma-informed approach
- Keen understanding of issues and barriers faced by immigrant women, and survivors of gender-based violence
- Understanding of community resources and wraparound supports available to program participants
- Proven experience to work independently and part of a team to deliver exemplary service
- Excellent computer skills (all Microsoft Applications), SharePoint and OneDrive
- Ability to coordinate and deliver meetings on Microsoft teams, Zoom video conferencing platform
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- A demonstrated positive attitude towards change, and the ability to collaborate and liaison with internal and external partners
- A valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) is required.
- The YWCA Metro Vancouver’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination from COVID-19 is not required at this time. However, should circumstances change and the YWCA deem it necessary to reintroduce such policy, you may be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be eligible to continue performing your duties.

**What we offer**: We offer our eligible employees the following benefits as part of their total compensation package:

- Extended medical and dental benefits
- A defined benefit pension plan
- Flexible working arrangements for applicable positions
- Employee Family Assistance Program, a confidential and voluntary support service for employees and their eligible family members
- Free staff membership to our Health + Fitness