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 Employee & Family Assistance program
• An RRSP Matching plan
• A Wellness program

Program & Role Description: Conveniently located in Etobicoke, North York, Downtown Toronto, York, and Scarborough, The Career Foundation’s five (5) full-suite Employment Centres provide job seekers with a full range of services, including exploring career options, improving their résumés, preparing for interviews, and much more. Our Employment Centres also offer a range of services to employers, including job matching, hiring fairs, retention advice, and other services.  

The Employment Services and Placement Specialists are essential members of the team, responsible for providing solution-based employment counselling to an assigned caseload of clients, in the areas of job search, job placement, career decision making, job retention, and other areas to support clients with achieving successful outcomes. The Employment Services and Placement Specialists also develop and maintain relationships with employers to find suitable employment opportunities for clients in their caseload, complete important administration of records for client files, and other duties.

Position Type: Full-time position (37.5 hours per week)

Location: This opportunity is currently structured as a hybrid-remote position comprised of on-site work at The Career Foundation’s Lawrence West Employment Centre (Lawrence Ave. West and Allen Rd.), local travel to other sites when needed, and some work-from-home days. The successful candidate must be willing to work from The Career Foundation’s Lawrence West office on a regular basis. The hybrid-remote schedule is based on operational needs and contingent on the successful candidate possessing a private work-from-home space with reliable, high-speed internet. Company laptop and other equipment provided.

Years of experience: 2+

Reporting to: Manager

Please note: Full-time employees in their first year with The Career Foundation are normally provided with a term employment agreement until they have reached one year of service, at which time if all is going mutually well they are offered indefinite employment.

Start date: As soon as possible

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Employment Counselling, Coaching, and Case Management

• Provides solution-based employment counselling and ongoing support to an assigned caseload of clients in the areas of job search, job placement, career decision making, job retention, and other areas to support clients with achieving employment goals.
• Consistently monitors and tracks caseload success rate to achieve individual targets that contribute to the team’s overall objectives and expectations from the program’s funder.
• Conducts intakes and completes individualized needs assessments for clients to establish their eligibility for services and pre-employment needs.
• Collects, organizes, and analyzes client information through completed needs assessments and other mechanisms to appraise clients’ interests, aptitudes, and abilities to create individualized action plans that lead to successful outcomes.
• Enters and maintains thorough written documentation in online data reporting systems, ensuring that caseload files are up-to-date and ready for file audits.  
• Provides effective job search readiness support services to clients on relevant topics, such as job search strategies, interview preparation, credential assessments, language support, and other areas to help them achieve successful outcomes, such as developing effective résumés.
• Determines client eligibility for financial supports, administers eligible supports, and ensures proper documentation is on file to support expenditures.
• Guides and supports clients with completing applications for education and/or training opportunities.
• Supports clients to acquire a clear understanding of industry perspectives and other information pertaining to the job opportunities to which they are applying.
• Coaches, motivates, and conducts timely follow-ups with clients throughout their job search efforts, providing repeat one-on-one employment counselling sessions as needed to review goals, address barriers, and ensure progress is being made.
• Assesses and facilitates wraparound and intervention resources required to help clients address and overcome barriers that may prevent them from achieving a successful employment outcome, including facilitating community-based referrals when needed.
• Assesses and documents clients’ job retention status at regular check-in intervals post-employment for a one-year period with the goal of positive retention.
• Facilitates in-person and virtual workshops for clients on a variety of relevant topics, on a rotational basis.
• Other related duties as needed.

Job Development, Retention Support, and Employer Services

• Conducts outreach to develop relationships with employers in a variety of industries to promote The Career Foundation’s full suite Employment Centres and create appropriate job opportunities for active clients in caseload.
• Conducts job search activities with clients, including cold calling employers and other strategies to support them with achieving successful outcomes.
• Places clients into meaningful employment opportunities by matching them with job leads created through effective employer relationships as well as advertised job vacancies suitable for their experience, skills, and interests.
• Negotiates and administers placement, incentive, and other agreements with employers when applicable.
• Administers and monitors on-the-job training plans and conducts appropriate follow-ups and interventions with employers when needed to ensure that all expectations are met.
• Supports clients and employers to mediate issues as needed.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of all job development activities in online systems.
• Collaborates with fellow team members on topics such as job development and employment retention strategies that help lead clients to successful outcomes.
• Other related duties as needed.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in human services or a related field that is relevant to the duties of the position is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Candidates who possess experience in vocational counselling and managing a caseload of clients will be prioritized.
• A minimum of 2 years’ direct experience in job coaching, employment counselling and/or job development, or other experience that is directly transferrable to the responsibilities of the position, is required.
• Proven track record in a results-driven environment and experience with meeting assigned targets.
• Must be willing to work from The Career Foundation’s Lawrence West Employment Centre (Lawrence Ave. West and Allen Rd.)
• Experience with community outreach and developing relationships with employers considered an asset.
• Experience facilitating workshops with a high-level of participant engagement and completion rates considered an asset.
• Excellent verbal and written English communications skills. Bilingualism considered an asset.
• Strong detail orientation, time management, and ability to multi-task in order to meet deadlines and achieve targets and objectives.
• Ability to maintain sensitive information, exhibit tact, diplomacy, and good judgment, with high standards of ethics and confidentiality.
• A professional and courteous approach to client service with a high level of respect for the diversity of the people served.
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to uphold the organization’s service standards, policies, and core values.
• Knowledge of current labour market trends, job search techniques and employment research methods considered an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), as well as Zoom and Outlook 365 applications, including Teams and SharePoint. Must possess aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
• Flexible team player with a positive attitude and willingness to take initiative to lend assistance where needed to ensure that the team is successful in meeting all objectives.

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.