Employment Specialist

**Employment Specialist (Summerside Office)**

**Full-Time Position through March 31, 2025**

**Salary**: $23.14 per hour, 37.5 hours per week

Summerside, PE
- Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI (IRSA) acknowledges that Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. The Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq have occupied this Island for over 12,000 years. We honour the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which recognized Mi’kmaq rights and established an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all Treaty People._
- **Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI (IRSA),**_ a not-for-profit organization originally founded in 1993, is seeking an **Employment Specialist (Summerside Office) **to join us on our mission of building a welcoming and inclusive environment through bringing diverse communities together and empowering newcomers to build a future in PEI.

We help all newly landed immigrants and newcomers to Canada through providing vital support in the areas of short-term settlement services, long-term inclusion and community integration programs in the province of Prince Edward Island.

At IRSA, as an organization and as a team, we are guided by our core values of respect, empathy, diversity, integrity, accountability, innovation and team work in all that we do.

**Why Join IRSA?**

You’ll have an impact, making a difference in the lives and livelihoods of newcomers to Prince Edward Island, enriching our local communities through diverse, inclusive and welcoming programming, while having fun and work with a team of like-minded individuals in the process
- Market Competitive Wages
- Generous Time-Off programs for work-life balance
- Group Health Benefits
- Matching Group RRSP up to 5%

**How You’ll Spend Your Time**

As an **Employment Specialist (Summerside Office) **working with our Employment Assistance Services (EAS) team, your primary area of focus will be to provide employment information and career guidance to newcomer immigrants arriving in Canada. You will collaborate with internal and external partners to provide support and education for clients in relation to all aspects of their job search and career planning with the goal of their successful integration into the local community.

This role collaborates across departments to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote IRSA’s vision, mission and core values.

**Responsibilities**:

- Administers needs assessments for individual clients to assist in identifying ideal employment goals and helps identify and navigate potential barriers.
- Facilitates job-preparation workshops, and supports the development of professional resume building, job search, and interview skills.
- Assists clients with the development, editing, and creation of their resumes and cover letters.
- Researches and develops employment information and materials for presentations to businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with businesses and community organizations, as well as seeking valuable networking opportunities with potential employers.
- Works with employers to assist in addressing their questions and potential barriers in hiring qualified newcomers.
- Ensures up to date case notes are completed on client files in a timely manner within IRSA’s client management system (CMS)
- Evaluates service program delivery and provides regular reporting for funding partners as directed
- Monitors the ongoing employment plan to ensure clients are on target, and adjusts plans, if necessary, to meet client needs as they arise.
- Acts as strong client advocate, refers clients/volunteers to internal and external support programs and services, including navigation of government systems, and community resources, as determined through needs assessments.
- Provides support, referrals and information to empower clients to solve and cope with challenges arising from employment needs in Canada.
- Liaises with community organizations to form partnerships for assisting newcomers with Employment concerns.
- Is committed to ongoing process review and improvement to further the efficiency of the above listed duties.

**What You Bring**
- You have a post-secondary degree or diploma in Social Sciences or a related discipline, with a minimum of 1-year experience in role (or an equivalent combination of education, training and work experience)
- Previous experience in employment, career or business counselling would be an asset
- Previous experience in organizing and facilitating workshops or event planning would be considered an asset
- Proven ability to identify and navigate service gaps and manage case loads with competing priorities
- Demonstrates a high level of empathy, coupled with a strong working knowledge of the challenges and issues facing newcomer populations, networks and support organizatio