About The Career Foundation: The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization that offers a wide range of employment, training, and HR services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of seven locations, we now help thousands of people each year successfully accomplish their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals have described The Career Foundation as caring, compassionate, innovative, and team oriented. For more information about us and our services, please visit our website at CareerFoundation.com.

Some of the benefits and features available to our employees include: 

• Competitive compensation
• A comprehensive Health Benefits plan that includes massage therapy, naturopath services, travel coverage, and much more
• A comprehensive Dental Insurance plan
• An RRSP Matching benefit
• An Employee & Family Assistance program
• Employee wellness initiatives
• Paid days off for religious observance purpose

Program and Role Description: The Career Foundation’s Completing the Circle (CTC) program is a youth employment and skills development project funded by Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). Our CTC program provides individualized support to youth with barriers to employment. Through the program, youth participants are empowered to find employment and are equipped with tools, support, new skills, and confidence to start and maintain work.

The Community Outreach Worker is an essential team member responsible for promoting and marketing The Career Foundation’s Completing the Circle (CTC) program to recruit eligible youth participants and employers.

The Community Outreach Worker will perform effective outreach throughout all communities served by our CTC program, including Hamilton, Peel, and York, develop relationships with employers and community partners, coordinate and host events, facilitate information sessions and workshops, conduct intakes and participate in the selection process of new cohorts, and perform other essential duties to help ensure the program's success. 

• Position type: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) one-year contract with strong potential to lead to permanent

• Base location: Hamilton, ON (James Street South & Hunter Street)

• Travel Requirements: This opportunity is based with The Career Foundation’s Hamilton office and requires frequent local travel within the communities served by our CTC program, including York, Peel, and Hamilton. The position will also permit periodic work-from-home days contingent on program operational needs and performance. The successful candidate must have a valid G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle to meet the essential requirements of the position that require local travel between offices and the communities served. Company laptop, cell phone, and other equipment provided.

• Reporting to: Coordinator

Responsibilities include:

Community Outreach, Program Promotion, and Participant Recruitment

• Conducts outreach to recruit new, eligible youth participants into The Career Foundation’s Completing the Circle (CTC) program, including those from equity-deserving groups, and ensures that outreach activities are tailored and appropriate to diverse groups and communities.
• Presents the program to potential participants, employers, and community partners, ensuring they understand the program objectives and the time requirements.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with new employer contacts to continuously develop job placement opportunities for program participants.
• Establishes and maintains new relationships with community agencies to ensure effective partnerships and referrals.
• Attends community events, job fairs, and other networking opportunities to recruit eligible youth participants and employers into the program.
• Utilizes social media channels and works in collaboration with The Career Foundation’s Marketing and Communications Specialist to develop effective marketing campaigns to promote the CTC program to new potential participants and employers.
• Coordinates guest speakers, group mentorship events, and other initiatives to support program participants in achieving successful outcomes.
• Facilitates information sessions and pre-employment workshops within the communities served.
• Seeks marketing opportunities to feature the CTC program within the communities served.
• Hosts internal information sessions about the CTC program for staff across The Career Foundation to facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Supports program management in preparing marketing-related communications about the program, including success stories and entries for annual reports.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Intake, Selection, and Participant Coaching

• Conducts intakes and participates in the selection process of new cohorts for the program.
• Screens applications for eligibility and suitability factors, schedules interviews, and facilitates information sessions.
• Completes individual assessments of program applicants based on program eligibility requirements and ensures that all mandatory intake forms are completed.
• Supports the team to provide job search and employability skills coaching to youth participants as needed.
• Supports the team to provide workshops for program participants on relevant topics, including self-marketing skills, job search strategies, and employer research.
• Assists program participants in the exploration of employment requirements, industry accreditation, and further education/training opportunities as needed.
• Researches and provides program participants with referral information for other services in the community when needed.
• Collaborates with fellow team members on topics such as job development and employment retention strategies that help lead program participants to successful outcomes.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Case Management & Documentation

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date files and case notes in internal data management system in compliance with internal policies and funder expectations.
• Ensures that all files are audit-ready and accurately reflect records of services provided to program participants and employers.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• A post-secondary degree or diploma in human services or a related field relevant to the position’s duties is highly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. 
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in community outreach, job development, or other experience that is directly transferrable to the duties of the position is required. Candidates who possess the above qualifications and experience working with youth facing barriers to employment will be prioritized.
• Must be willing to perform frequent local travel within Hamilton, York, and Peel to meet the essential requirements of the position.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills to develop and maintain effective connections with employers and community partners. 
• A professional and courteous approach to client service with a high level of respect for the diversity of the people served.
• Exceptional customer service skills and ability to uphold the organization’s core values.
• Proven track record in a results-driven environment and experience with meeting assigned targets.
• High ethics and confidentiality standards with proven experience maintaining sensitive information and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and good judgment. 
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Bilingualism is considered an asset.
• Strong detail orientation, time management, and ability to multi-task to meet deadlines and achieve targets and objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Outlook 365 applications, including MS Teams and SharePoint. Must possess aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies. 
• Willingness and flexibility to occasionally work outside regular business hours when required to ensure the team meets all objectives. 
• Strong work ethic with a positive and client-centered approach to work.  

The Career Foundation’s Commitment:

The Career Foundation is committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy and rewarding environment for all. We welcome applications from qualified individuals who represent the diversity of the people we proudly serve, including, but not limited to, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and individuals of all genders and sexual orientation. The Career Foundation, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), is also committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with candidates requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.