The Jane/Finch Centre is a multi-service, community-based organization with a strong focus on poverty reduction through resident engagement, capacity building, and anti-oppression. Our vision is a healthy Jane Finch community – strong, inclusive, socially and politically active through diversity, opportunity and participation.

Employer Engagement Lead

Fixed term contract ending July 9, 2027 

35 hours/week 

$41.21 per hour

The Position
The Jane/Finch Centre is currently filling a position for an Employer Engagement Lead.

Accountability

The position is accountable to the Manager of Employment Initiatives. 

Position Overview 
As part of a new joint team and pilot initiative between the Jane/Finch Centre and the Hospitality Workers Training Centre (HWTC), the Employer Engagement Lead will be responsible for identifying good job and career advancement opportunities within the hospitality and service industries. They will cultivate strategic relationships with local employers to help successfully recruit, hire, and retain equity-deserving job seekers. They will be an advocate for inclusive hiring practices and work towards building better employment connections between job seekers, community partners, and employers.

Specific Responsibilities

Employer Engagement and Relationship Management

• Proactively identify and engage small- and medium-sized local employers in the service industries through targeted outreach, networking, and community events 

• Conduct comprehensive assessments with Human Resources Directors, Hiring Managers, and other employer partners to identify their operational needs, workforce gaps, workplace cultures, and current job/career advancement opportunities  

• Educate employer partners on the systemic barriers faced by equity-deserving job seekers - including youth, racialized individuals, newcomers, and those experiencing poverty, - and advocate for more inclusive hiring practices, workplace accommodations, and retention strategies

• Where needed, help coordinate information sessions, hiring events, and other outreach/engagement activities with employers and other community partners 

• Work one-on-one with employer partners to provide ongoing supports, capacity building, and connections 

• Build, manage, and maintain a comprehensive relationship management system to track all employer information, interactions, and evaluation data 

Job Placement Coordination & Job Seeker Advocacy

• Work collaboratively with other program staff to coordinate participants' access to appropriate job opportunities in direct alignment with their individual service plans

• Serve as an ongoing resource for both employers and newly hired participants during the onboarding phase, bridging communication gaps to ensure the workplace environment supports the specific needs of equity-deserving workers and reduces barriers 

Continuous Program Improvement & Feedback 

• Monitor post-placement employment outcomes systematically, tracking both employer and participant feedback 

• Collect and analyze this data to provide the program team with actionable information, ensuring that we continuously adapt to real-time industry demands and the lived experiences and needs of job seekers, while delivering long-term impact 

• Keep employer partners informed of program findings to strengthen sector-wide learning

• Conduct additional labour market and community-based research as required 

Key Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as an HR/recruitment specialist combined with business development experience

• Ability to bring a critical, equity-driven, and anti-oppressive framework to employment service delivery

• Deep understanding of systemic barriers to employment among equity-deserving job seekers

• Current or former resident of the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, or experience living or working within other low-income, racialized communities

• Excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills with a dedicated focus on continuous problem-solving

• Experience with Salesforce or a similar CRM

• A Canadian Human Resource Practitioner (CHRP) designation is an asset

• Knowledge of hospitality and service industry is an asset

Diversity and Equity 

The Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Toronto community and the participants we serve. We strongly encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, and all those who can provide varied and unique perspectives.  

Accessibility and Accommodation 

We are dedicated to inclusive, barrier-free hiring practices. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), we will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodation during all stages of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, please contact Wayne Woolery at or call 416-663-2733 ext 239 in advance so we can work with you to meet your needs.