Position Details:  Full-Time, 35 hours per week

Location:  18 King Street East, Bolton ON (hybrid – combination of on-site and remote)           

Start Date:  ASAP                    

Deadline to Apply: September 22, 2023

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early; interviews will be conducted throughout the competition process.

Agency Overview:   Within our 12 community service locations, including seniors services in 6 Peel Living buildings, across the entirety of the Town of Caledon, Caledon Community Services (CCS) helps shape the future of a caring and engaged Caledon community. Our programs address community needs in a uniquely challenging and increasingly diverse GTA community. CCS is home to Caledon’s only accessible transportation program, the Exchange Community Hub that includes food supports and a range of activities, the Caledon Specialist Clinic, personal support services for seniors, respite and transitional care. We offer settlement services and language classes for newcomers and comprehensive employment services for job seekers and local businesses. We provide paid job skills and training programs for Caledon youth as well as exciting internships and volunteer opportunities. Finally, we open our doors to the community at Evolve Caledon, our social enterprise retail shopping and donation destinations with proceeds supporting all of our programs and services. The breadth of our services makes for compelling opportunities to attract new friends and raise support for our work. Learn more at ccs4u.org.  

Our Customer Service Vision:  Making it Easy to Ask, Participate and Give

Position Overview: 

The Employment Specialist assists individuals with their employment goals, job search strategy, and provides support with career clarification, goal setting, skills and interest assessment, interview, employment preparation, job placement and referrals. The Employment Specialist will be responsible to provide part or all aspects of the Employment Service model.

Position Deliverables/Accountabilities: The Employment Specialist is a member of the Employment and Training Division, Employment Services team. Under the general direction of the Director, Employment and Training the incumbent will provide:

Job Search & Retention:

• Provides job search and career exploration, identification and clarification of interests, abilities, skills, education and experience in relation to short and long term career and employment goals in a group or individual setting;
• Facilitates the preparation of job search tools including resumes and applications, interview and job search strategies, school and training records;
• Supports mentoring and coaching during the job search process;
• Provides supported referral and access to other services including but not limited to education & training;
• Facilitates structured and individualized support for conducting successful job search to individuals in a group setting or individually;
• Provides documentation of a clear rationale to support the participant accessing the job retention part of the ES service including the service plan and any preliminary work done that supports the clients need for retention services;
• Works with Division Job Development team to ensure clients are appropriately referred to JMPI services when ready;

Client Assessment:

• Engages clients in the completion of a comprehensive needs assessment and develops service plan based on individual needs;
• Provides coaching and informal counseling in those life skills that support successful employment;
• Supports individuals for disclosure of disabilities that may affect employment participation;
• Develops relationships with clients, coworkers and external agencies to facilitate and support effective case management;
• Utilizes the in house and Ministry systems for tracking clients, conducting follow up and recording activities while ensuring confidentiality of client records in compliance with all statutory requirements and Agency protocols;

Resources and Information:

• Offers flexibility to deliver all aspects of the ES model as required;
• Provides information on local training and employment opportunities, community service supports, occupational and training requirements and resources to support independent job search, career clarification and planning, and informed education, training and employment decisions;
• Orients new, incoming clients to the Resource Centre and available services;
• Develops and maintains systems that will assist clients in accessing services and resources;
• Makes determination if a client is best served through unassisted, assisted and/or other Employment Services programs;
• Makes external referrals to community partners, programs and services as needed;
• Maintains and updates print and electronic materials in the resource centre including Job Postings;
• Prepares materials for information sessions/workshops and promotional purposes, working closely with Communications dept.;
• Delivers workshops and information sessions on employment and education/training topics, career exploration, labour market information, job search techniques, etc.;
• Assists clients with computer usage, including internet-based services and use of e-mail;
• Ensures that CCS Front Reception services are effectively and efficiently delivered to clients, public and internal staff and volunteers;

Job Matching, Placement & Incentives (JMPI) 

• Supports and maintains online job bank including employer/job seeker accounts, postings and provides administrative support as required;
• Coordinates and supports job development activities across programs in collaboration with Division staff;
• Conducts monitors and provide coaching and support during the placement including identifying and resolving workplace issues that may affect participant success both during and after the placement;

 General:  

• Participates in a team approach to ensure that the effective and co-operative functioning across the division;
• Participates in a division team approach to ensure that the effective and co-operative functioning of all specialists is maintained;
• Participates in decision making procedures within the context of the mission statement;
• Participates in staff meetings and community meetings deemed appropriate by the Division Director;
• Develops strong working relationships with affiliates;
• Supports and maintains online job bank including employer/job seeker accounts, postings and provides administrative support as required;
• Travels and works off-site as assigned;
• Represents the agency and program as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.

 Qualification Criteria: 

• 2 year college diploma in related field such as Social Service Work, Career and Work Counseling, Career Development, Career Foundations;
• 1 to 2 years related experience;
• Demonstrated experience in some or all aspects of Job Search, Job Placement and Incentives or Job Retention including employment/coaching;
• Experience facilitating job search related sessions with knowledge of current job search techniques and assessment tools in a group setting to adult learners;
• Commitment to relationship building in delivery of client service;
• Understanding of job search strategies, career counseling and experience facilitating full time job search sessions;
• Flexibility in delivery of all aspects of ES programming and administration;
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups – including adults, youth, newcomers to Canada or other groups with specialized needs;
• Demonstrated understanding of community resources, programs, employment services and various counselling/coaching approaches;
• Ability to administer and interpret assessment instruments; Personality Dimensions, Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Choices Career System or Life Skills Certification would be an asset;
• Computer proficiency and internet experience and familiar with using career resources including computerized assessment tools, and Microsoft Office 365 and various digital platforms including; Google, Zoom, Teams, etc.
• Passionate about helping others;
• Effective communicator; excellent interpersonal, analytical, communication and teamwork skills;
• Desire to work in a positive team environment; committed to working with a team to build a great customer experience;
• Experience working with Databases (CaMS, CaseFLO, CTS);
• Strong presentation/facilitating and one to one coaching skill;
• Access to a vehicle, valid driver’s license and insurance;
• Access to a personal device (smart phone or tablet) is required for periodic, two-factor authentication using the Microsoft Authenticator App when signing into CCS networks/cloud environment as part of I.T. security protocols;
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check.

We thank all applicants for their interest but will only be contacting those selected to attend an interview.   CCS is an equal opportunity employer encouraging applications from qualified individuals from diverse groups including Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientation or gender identity and other grounds identified under the Ontario Human Rights Code.  CCS will provide information and/or accommodation pertaining to this job posting and/or the recruitment process in an accessible manner upon request.