Coordinator, Fernie Works Youth Employment Program

**FERNIE YOUTH SERVICES**

**COORDINATOR, FERNIE WORKS (EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM)**

**JOB POSTING**

**About Us**:
Fernie Youth Services gives opportunities to young people that have been given up on, marginalized and excluded from opportunity. Guided by values of respect, integrity, compassion, and excellence we serve young people in and at risk of being in conflict with the law on a journey towards reintegration and purposeful living. Caring Beyond Reason is at the heart of our programs for young people and their families and at the heart of all we do. To date, Fernie has put over 6,000 young men and women on new paths to become contributing, law-abiding citizens.

**What’s it like to work here?**

Always going above and beyond, we give the next generation hope to become the best versions of themselves. That is us. An organization of diverse professionals focused on creating a feeling of hope and of purpose in the young persons we support. And we support each other, through learning, listening and support to develop a career of value and meaning, wherever you are on your career journey. And we have big plans Journey of Hope, our 3-year strategic plan, is full of exciting new ideas to expand our reach - to reach more young people, in more communities, and in more ways - for the next 6,000 young people.

**About the Role: Coordinator, Fernie Works (Employment Program**

Fernie Works is an employment and employability program targeting youth aged 17 - 27. With a focus on justice-involved, racialized youth, the goal of this program is to provide clients with real-world experience in the working world, complemented by career development, occupational skills, education and certifications - so youth can take their rightful place in Ontario’s economy, in meaningful, well-paying jobs.

The Program Coordinator is a day-to-day leader of the Fernie Works team and liaison to the Manager of Community Programs. This individual leads the Fernie Works team and its extensive network of stakeholders and youth clients. This role is charged with leading all three core program elements: Fernie Works social enterprise, Fernie Plans/Fernie Learns career and educational programming, and case management (wrapround services) for youth clients. Individuals in this role will carry out direct support for program referrals, case management, program operations, administrative duties, and supervisory responsibilities, while carrying a small caseload of youth clients.

Key Duties and Responsibilities include:

- Supervise, encourage and support team; support, recruit, orient and train new staff.
- Build and manage an extensive network of external business partners: referrals, outreach, employment, education, business, and customer stakeholders.
- Support all intake, assessment and scheduling of community and youth-justice referrals and online and in-person workshops, coaching and case management, providing high quality programming for these key partners.
- Problem-solve with stakeholders to maximize value to partners, youth and FYS.
- Act as an escalation point for stakeholder concerns and issues.
- Establish and maintain good relationships with appropriate boundaries with youth and staff.
- Maintain a mindset of continuous improvement, to suggest program improvements.
- Case Management: this role will manage a small caseload of youth clients requiring wraparound supports.
- Supports the Lead, Fernie Works in delivering the Fernie Lawn Care social enterprise, which may include customer contact, participating with youth in lawn care activities, providing oversight on health and safety issues, and understanding business management aspects of the social enterprise.

**About You**:Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Post-Secondary degree or diploma in social work, criminology or another relevant field.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience working in management in the social service field, working directly with at-risk youth and/or young persons in conflict with the law; preferred case management experience.
- Experience working with program development and delivery, with youth clients; experience with employment, career and social enterprise/entrepreneurship a strong asset.
- Understanding and experience working with individuals impacted by trauma; understanding and experience of underlying systemic barriers young people face; understanding and experience utilizing anti-racism and anti-oppression lens.
- Effectively direct and monitor the work of others, including team effectiveness, through effective coaching, development, and performance management.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidelines, including but not limited to: Ontario labour law (Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act); Youth Criminal Justice Act, Child Youth & Family Services Act, Education Act, Ontario including ECPP programs.
- Effectively analyze program-related problems, making recommendations and implementing solutions as neede