The Empowering Abilities project assists individuals with disabilities in overcoming barriers to employment by enhancing their employability to make a successful transition to employment or to return to school to further their career goal.  The Job Developer/ Outreach Worker will focus on establishing new relationships with employers, securing wage subsidy placements for clients, and ensuring job retention.  The Job Developer/ Outreach Worker will also deliver some pre-employment workshops and provide some job coaching.  

Position Type:  Full time 3-month parental leave contract (possibility of renewal)

Reporting to: Project Coordinator

Location(s): Scarborough

Number of positions: 1

Experience: 2 + years

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

Job Development

• Places individuals with disabilities into full time employment on a weekly and monthly basis
• Ensures that each client obtains a personalized assessment, addressing their individual barriers and outlining steps to their short and long-term goals
• Develops 2-3 new employer contacts each week and 8-12 new employer contacts each month
• Ensures employer database continues to offer diverse employment opportunities
• Prepares and submit job development activity report
• Attends networking events and hiring fairs to connect with new employers
• Analyzes, evaluates, and interprets collected information to assist persons with disabilities in targeting the most suitable employment based on their experience, education, disability and existing labour market factors
• Administers placement agreements with wage subsidies
• Conducts cold calling and job search workshops
• Prepares clients for position specific interviews by conducting mock interviews as needed
• Arranges appropriate job interviews for participants
• Ensures quality of the placements by appropriately matching clients’ skills with the job requirements and meeting funder’s criteria
• Demonstrates good understanding of the position’s clients are applying for and clarify questions they may have
• Reviews clients job search material prior to sending to employers
• Visits employers to initiate and maintain relationship
• Works effectively as part of a team, this includes demonstrating a willingness to be cross trained
• Collects pay-stubs and processes payment claims
• Conducts site monitors
• Works with employers to identify and create effective accommodations for clients
• Travels on a regular basis to visit employers and community partners
• Manages individual and team administrative duties by scheduling appointments, completing paperwork, maintaining client and employer files, and filing system 

Job Coaching and Retention

• Ensures retention of clients in wage subsidy through coaching to overcome barriers during their placement
• Conducts weekly follows-up with all active clients
• Provides one–on-one sessions on job maintenance skills to ensure clients can handle challenges on the job
• Delivers employability skills workshops focusing on overcoming barriers to employment and job maintenance
• Coaches and motivates persons with disabilities during job search and after placement to ensure job retention

Outreach and Recruitment

• Assists in the recruitment of new clients through community outreach
• Presents the program to community partners and applicants ensuring they understand program objectives and time requirements
• Strong familiarity with community partners, employers, and stakeholders
• Holds hiring fairs and other related events to support employers as well as to attract new clients to the program

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Degree or Diploma in Human Services or related is required
• Vocational Rehabilitation Worker Certification considered an asset
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in job development, job coaching and/or business development
• Experience placing individuals with a disability into jobs is considered a very strong asset
• Vocational counselling/ mental health counselling considered an asset
• Must possess superior written communication skills and outstanding attention to detail
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Workshop facilitation skills
• Ability to effectively apply the principles of the sales process to generate leads for wage subsidy placements
• Knowledge of current labour market trends and the impact of COVID-19 on the local labour market
• Knowledge on online communication platforms such as Zoom and MS Teams with an aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new technologies
• Strong resume and cover letter writing skills
• Must be willing to travel for work on a regular basis  
• Bilingual (English/ French) is considered a strong asset