Workforce Empowerment Coach

This is a temporary position until March 31, 2028, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm with 35 hour work weeks. The hourly wage is $25.07, plus 4% vacation, plus 3% in lieu of benefits.

YES Employment Services is a non-profit, community-based organization with a long history providing employment services in Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Red Rock and surrounding areas. We work with individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds to develop skills to achieve success in attaining their Employment goals. YES Employment works collaboratively with our clients to help them reach their goals in a meaningful way and provides services in line with our organizational values. We believe that everyone who wants to work, deserves to work, and we can help.

Summary: Under the supervision of the Program Supervisor, the Workforce Empowerment Coach implements, and reports on client’s activity, including case management, intake and assessment, counselling, retention support and referral services for clients and employers. As well as delivering workshops and conducting offsite job coaching, the incumbent must have the ability to work in a dynamic service delivery environment.

MAJOR TASKS WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

Employment Counselling, Coaching, and Case Management

• 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.
• Maintain regular and ongoing positive contact with clients (minimum bi-weekly).
• Conducts timely follow-ups job seeker clients throughout their job search efforts, and provides repeat, one-on-one job employment counselling sessions and support, as needed, to review goals, address barriers, and ensure clients are making progress toward goals, including facilitating community-based referrals when needed.
• Assesses and facilitates wraparound and intervention resources and referrals required to help clients address and overcome barriers that may prevent them from achieving successful employment outcomes.
• Consistently monitors and tracks caseload success rate to achieve individual targets that contribute to the team’s overall objectives and expectations from the funder.
• 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.
• 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.
• Supports clients to acquire a clear understanding of industry perspectives and other information pertaining to the job opportunities to which they are applying.
• Guides and supports clients with completing applications for education and/or training opportunities.

Documentation

• Maintains detailed and accurate case notes for client-related activities
• Ensure privacy confidentiality of all client information
• Ensure that client documentation is complete relevant to consent and disclosure of information
• Documentation of client files according to program and agency standards following internal policies and procedures

Job Development, Placement, and Retention Support

• Conducts outreach to develop relationships with employers in a variety of industries to promote YES Employment Services in the community and create job leads for active clients in caseload.
• Collaborates with fellow team members on topics such as job development, case conferencing and retention strategies that help lead clients to successful outcomes.
• Conducts job search activities with clients, including cold calling employers and other strategies to support them with achieving successful outcomes.
• Administers and monitors on-the-job training plans and conducts appropriate follow-ups and interventions with employers, works to mediate issues when needed to ensure that all expectations are met.
• Places clients into meaningful employment opportunities by matching them with job opportunities created through effective employer relationships as well as advertised job vacancies suitable for their experience, skills, and interests.
• Complete matrix, rationale and placement contract based on client and employer needs.
• Ensure finance spreadsheet tracking is reviewed regularly (Minimum – biweekly)
• Negotiates and administers placement, incentive, monitors, and other agreements with employers when applicable.
• Maintain regular and ongoing positive contact with clients on a 1/3/6/12 month basis.

Marketing

• Markets individuals and YES programs and services to employers.
• Liaises with other agencies to promote networking.
• Represents YES at committees and external events.
• Provides information regarding other programs and services when appropriate

Workshops

• Facilitates in-person and virtual workshops in an effective and engaging manner.
• Tracks and reports on client progress.
• Assists with the ongoing development of curriculum.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with other agencies.
• Utilizes a variety of tools, including virtual reality, to create career exploration opportunities for clients.

Programming

• Thorough knowledge of program guidelines.
• Participate in strategic planning process.
• Participate in unit meetings and YES staff meetings.
• Must be an active member of the team, collaborating with other team members and units, operating using evidence-based practices, in the best interest of the agency and our clients.
• Ensure employers are informed relative to YES Employment Services feedback and complaint process

Other duties as assigned by the Leadership Team.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Post-secondary education related to Social Services or Human Relations required.
• A minimum of 2 years’ direct experience in employment counselling, job coaching, and/or job development, or other experience directly transferrable to the position’s responsibilities, is required.
• 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.
• In Motion and Momentum facilitator training and Service Excellence facilitator training are considered strong assets.
• High ethics and confidentiality standards with proven experience maintaining sensitive information and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and good judgment.
• Experience in vocational counselling, managing client caseloads, familiarity with Employment Ontario-funded programming, community outreach, and employer relationship-building considered assets.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• 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.

Disclaimer: Job Descriptions are not all-inclusive. This Job Description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. Employees may perform other related duties and tasks as required to meet the needs of the operation.