Employment Specialist

**JOB TITLE**:Employment Specialist (Full-Time Contract)

**PROGRAM**:EMPower

**REPORTS TO**:Program Coordinator - Adult Services

**START DATE**:Immediate

**SALARY**:$25.65 per hour

**PROGRAM DESCRIPTION**

John Howard Society of York Region (JHSYR) is a non-profit, charitable organization serving residents of York Region. The organization works with individuals involved in any stage of criminal justice involvement and their families.

JHSYR is piloting a new employment program. EMPower is an employment program aimed for individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or Newcomers who may be justice-involved or at risk of justice involvement. EMPower provides clients with group-based pre-employment training, followed by a 12-week placement opportunity. This program aims to promote employment and social participation among marginalized communities.

The Employment Specialist will provide assistance, advice, information, and support to clients on all aspects of their employment search and placement. Part of this role will also include workshop facilitation and outreach/recruitment to clients and potential placement/program partners. This position will require delivery of employment services both online and at our office locations in York Region as well as attendance at various meetings within the community.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**
- Recruit potential clients for program
- Program promotion and developing partnerships within the community
- Provide a range of direct individualized services to clients, including intakes, needs assessment, supportive counselling, and job placement (where appropriate)
- Assist clients with career exploration, resume preparation, job search strategies and interview skills, coaching and mentoring
- Facilitate employment opportunities for clients through regular recruitment and contact with prospective employers for job placements
- Facilitate workshops related to employment needs of clients on a weekly basis
- Regularly provide new job postings and leads to clients
- Explore new resources in response to emerging client needs and labor market
- Maintain up to date knowledge of community resources in order to make appropriate referrals to other services
- Maintain accurate, organized, and up to date records and client files; always maintaining client confidentiality
- Maintain daily input of service plans and case notes into database
- Facilitating research collection activities
- Attend monthly team meetings
- Participate in relevant training as directed
- Assist with other roles within the organization as required

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Combination of post-secondary education and practical experience in a relevant Human Services field
- Group facilitation experience
- Knowledge of barriers to employment
- Experience working with clients facing various barriers to employment is an asset
- Have a flexible, non-judgmental, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approach to people and work
- Priority will be given to individuals with lived experience facing barriers to employment and/or involved in the criminal justice system
- Priority will be given to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour

**Job Functions**:

- Recruit potential clients for program
- Program promotion and developing partnerships within the community
- Provide a range of direct individualized services to clients, including intakes, needs assessment, supportive counselling, and job placement (where appropriate)
- Assist clients with career exploration, resume preparation, job search strategies and interview skills; coaching and mentoring
- Facilitate employment opportunities for clients through regular recruitment and contact with prospective employers for job placements
- Facilitate workshops related to employment needs of clients on a weekly basis
- Regularly provide new job postings and leads to clients
- Explore new resources in response to emerging client needs and labor market
- Maintain up to date knowledge of community resources in order to make appropriate referrals to other services
- Maintain accurate, organized, and up to date records and client files and maintain client confidentiality at all times
- Maintain daily input of service plans and case notes into database
- Facilitating research collection activities
- Attend monthly team meetings
- Participate in relevant training as directed
- Assist with other roles within the organization as required
- Identify individual employment needs and support clients with appropriate services
- Have knowledge of and make use of community, government, employment and training resources and labour market information
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of clients that will involve some evening and weekend work as required
- Be outgoing, innovative, and enthusiastic, with a passion for assisting others
- Have strong organizational, time management, coaching, networking, and administration skills
- Possess strong ver