Employment Navigator

Join the YMCA Team

Be the Spark Join our professional and passionate team and be the spark that ignites the potential in others. 

Our culture is of paramount importance to us. We formally measure employee engagement annually to ensure our employees are having an excellent employment experience. Our current level of engagement is 80%, compared to some Canadian employer statistics of 69%.

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario was founded in 1856 and has over 200 locations from Goderich to Point Pelee, and Windsor to Woodstock. We are one of the largest not-for-profit providers of licensed child care in Canada and have over 100 school age programs across our regions. We also offer settlement services to newcomers, employment programs, mental health support, and youth programs. YMCA of Southwestern Ontario operates two overnight camps, one in Point Pelee National Park, and one on Beausoleil Island in Muskoka. We also have 15 Health & Fitness branches across Southwestern Ontario.

Why The Y? 

At the Y, our people are central to delivering our mission. We are committed to the development of healthy communities and welcome people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities.

We provide valuable training and development opportunities to help our team members grow professionally and personally.

 We look for the following qualities in all of our employees and volunteers:

• Demonstrates our Core Values; Caring, Honesty, Respect & Responsibility and Inclusivity
• Fun, Enthusiastic & Friendly Individuals
• Hardworking and Dependable
• Positive Role Model
• Team Player
• Professionalism
• Enjoy working in a Social Environment
• Ability to effectively communicate with Employees & Members 

Employees and volunteers of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario are ambassadors for the Y both on and off the job. We rely on them to help share our mission and increase awareness of the positive impact the Y can have on the lives of people in their communities. Particularly how we are helping to create healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.

All employees and volunteers are required to provide a current satisfactory Criminal Record and may require a Vulnerable Sector Search as a condition of their employment. Police Record checks are reviewed on an individual basis, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirements of the position, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered gainful employment.

Position: Employment Navigator

Location: Wortley YMCA, Centre Branch YMCA 

Start Date: ASAP

Salary: $26.00/hour x 40 hours/week

As part of your total compensation:

• Receive a complimentary YMCA personal membership to our Health & Fitness facilities, and discounts on YMCA child care and camp programs 
• Access vacation entitlement in accordance with the employment standards regulations, and up to 12 paid personal days annually
• Benefits package and Pension, applicable with position/contract length
• Be part of a caring and supportive network of people to help each other succeed
• Complimentary access to wellness and counselling services
• Contribute to real, meaningful impact in the lives of children and youth

In this role, you will:

• Developing and implementing local strategies to welcome Francophone clients in the employment system
• Provide personalized, culturally relevant employment navigation services rooted in Francophone culture, values and language, including needs identification, orientation to available services, and individualized guidance to support clients in achieving their employment goals
• Provide one-on-one consultations or small group career counselling and job search assistance sessions 
• Provide appropriate job seeker financial supports that address and breakdown barriers to employment 
• Supporting clients through their employment journey including job search assistance, career planning, access to skills development or training, and facilitation of labor market integration
• Conduct labour market research and develop integration plans for Francophone job seekers
• Building strong relationships with employers, community organizations, and service partners to create an inclusive environment for Francophone job seekers
• Coordinate closely with other funded programs to ensure services are complementary and non-duplicative, as outlined in the project's non-duplication strategy
• Host and participate in information events such as resource fairs or sector-specific information sessions 
• Attend professional networking events such as job fairs, webinars or community events 

Education & Skills Qualifications:

• Clear communication and excellent command of the English and French language both spoken and written are required
• Post-secondary education preferably in employment or career development, social work, social services or combination of education and relevant work experience
• Experience in employment counselling, job development and client management
• Computer skills utilizing MS Office applications including email and internet
• High level of interpersonal oral and written communication skills with Francophone job seekers including adults, newcomers, persons with disabilities and youth and other clients from various cultures, social and economic backgrounds
• Ability to work with and understand employment barriers and client assets 
• Ability to work with community partners and build and maintain relationships
• Ability to work with clients with diverse backgrounds and skill levels; particularly Francophones, newcomers and Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program recipients
• Awareness of local resources and willingness to develop community supports
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable and multi-task in high demand environment
• Proven responsibility to coordinate tasks and work as part of a team
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Customer service experience is an asset

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

NOTE: The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our members/participants, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.

Candidates, please be advised that our recruitment process incorporates AI technology for initial application screening. This assists us in efficiently assessing qualifications. Rest assured, our recruiters will additionally review resumes to ensure a fair and accurate assessment is completed.