Indigenous Apprenticeship Advisor

**About ACCESS**

ACCESS, the place to start building your future today. ACCESS delivers a unique and diverse assortment of labour market services and support frameworks, including education, training, employment advising, and financial assistance to members of the Urban Indigenous community. Our mission is to support individuals overcome barriers to successful employment. We develop strong partnerships with organizations and employers, understanding their employment needs and matching them to the needs of our trained and supported Indigenous clients, ensuring a successful outcome for both parties.

Reporting to the Director of Trades, the Apprenticeship Advisor is responsible for supporting Indigenous apprentices throughout the full term of their trades apprenticeship program until they achieve Red Seal or Provincial Certification in their trade.  Work closely with the Skilled Trades BC of BC and maintains partnerships with government, training institutes, employers, trades organizations and community groups to provide apprentices with industry certified training and connections to employment.
- Journeyperson Certification with three years construction experience, plus 1 year administration experience.  Counselling experience is an asset.
- Sound understanding of trade apprenticeship systems provincially and nationally  .
- Experience working with Indigenous Peoples
- Excellent knowledge of Indigenous Culture and Traditions

**Our Apprenticeship Advisor is a key contributor to the Trades team and supports the program in the following ways**:

- Provide career advice and guidance to potential apprentices about the trades sector, apprentice requirements of different trades, labour market information, and employment.
- Work with Employment Advisors on providing training and employment support and career guidance for ACCESS apprentices by building a trusting relationship with each apprentice, and understanding their life situation, goals, needs, and tailor support as required.
- Register Indigenous apprentices into the ACCESS Trades sponsorship. Monitor and track the progress of registered apprentices until they attain Red Seal certification.
- Monitor progress of ACCESS trainees who are sponsored by employers and unions.
- Work with Trades Training and Employment Coaches to assist Indigenous students in completing ACCESS Trades Foundation programs by preparing resumes, securing job placements and providing career guidance.
- Maintain close working relationships with SKILLED TRADES BC Customer Service and SKILLED TRADES BC Apprenticeship Advisors  to monitor and update the apprentices’ progress through the program.
- Schedule ACCESS sponsored apprentices for technical training at SKILLED TRADES BC recognized training institutions and follow-up on apprentices attending technical training.
- Collect work-based hours from employers for apprentices sponsored by ACCESS and enter the hours into the SKILLED TRADES BC Direct Access and the ACCESS Trades Data Base.
- Research Labour Market Information and trades initiatives provincially and federally to keep current with future employment trends in Trades and to monitor changing regulations.
- Provide statistics for reports.

**Our Apprenticeship Advisor has a variety of outreach and marketing responsibilities including**:

- Develop relationships with various Industry stakeholders, Indigenous communities, employers, Skilled Trades BC, Trade Unions, colleges, training institutions and high schools to promote the Trades program, source potential clients, and engage support.
- Field Inquiries from apprentices, employers and Indigenous individuals interested in the trades to answer questions and advise on ACCESS’ program  requirements for the broad scope of apprenticeship programs and to suggest next steps to source additional information.
- Promote ACCESS by attending career fairs, job fairs and industry events to promote the organization and the Trades programs.
- Meet with Employers when possible to discuss job opportunities and apprenticeship
- Work with High Schools on SSA and ACE IT Indigenous students and attend high school committee meetings.
- Strong and effective support skills to build trusting relationships with clients and provide individual support for success as they enter the program, and through to achieving certification.  
- Ability to be empathic towards the apprentice’s needs and issues and provide advice and support through difficult situations, while holding the apprenticeship accountable. 
- Sound ability to act within ACCESS values and at times being skillfully diplomatic when coaching clients for success.  
- Excellent listening, problem solving, oral and written communication skills. 
- Self-motivated, takes initiative to assess next steps, develop plans and take action. Works diligently with mínimal supervision. 
- Sound computer skills on MS Office, data entry and other systems required in the role.   
- Solid team player with a willingness to