Workforce Specialist

360°kids is a vitally important community agency serving all of York Region. We have been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for more than 35 years as we work to improve the lives of unhoused and marginalized youth and families in York Region. At 360°kids, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of youth. These proven strategies help to keep youth safe by providing stable housing options with 360° wraparound supports.Base 4 Success (B4S) is a 12-week youth employment program providing higher needs, unemployed and out of school York Region youth between the ages of 15 and 30, combining career counselling; employability skill building workshops and certifications; and hands-on workforce opportunities to foster successful entry to the working world and develop a path to living wages. The Workforce Specialist role is to market, outreach, and promote the program to employers and community; ensuring participants access to supportive research and cold call to obtain job leads and community information; relationship build and assess youth to ensure successful job matching. The Workforce Specialist will foster a referral stream of employers, focusing on supporting youth who have barriers to employment are at risk of experiencing poor transitions between education and work. The Workforce Specialist will assist youth to access community program wrap around supports, ensuring access to resources, counselling, referrals, and advocacy services as needed.Duties and Responsibilities Include Marketing, outreach, and promotion of program to employers and community.Builds relationships with employers to create access for youth to employment; creates awareness to the benefits of mentoring youth in employment through research, marketing, outreach and cold calls; program promotion at community events.Build a positive referral base with community partners.Work alongside Employment Specialists, Social Innovation Facilitator and Team Lead to ensure job opportunities reflect youth needs, abilities, employment goals, and overall suitability.Participate in the program intake process as needed.Complete placement contracts (Work Trial Agreements) with youth and employers.Perform work site visits annually to ensure safe and appropriate work environment.Monitoring job placements, liaise with employers, youth, and other team members regarding progress.Support participants by transporting to/from interviews, being present for start of first shifts, as needed.Check in with youth/employers when active in placements as deemed necessary (daily, twice/week, etc.)Problem solve challenges and introduce coping strategies in the workplaceProvide extended employer support and training around mentorship of a young person facing mental healthRepresents the organization and program as required with various aspects of the community including agency partners, employers, donors, coworkers, volunteers, schools, clients, and family members.Act as a positive role model, mentor, and support for youth as they learn new skills.Assist youth to access community programs and provide resources, counseling, referrals, and advocacy services within their community.Assess the employment needs and barriers of youth enrolled in the program and assist and provide support in the development of youth action plans based on Case Management needs.Update and maintain records/activities and case notes.Completes all mandatory recording and reporting including daily documentation, statistical data collection and completing registration forms. Provides reports and related information to the Team Leader and/or Manager of Programs as required.Follows appropriate policies and procedures of 360°kids. Ensures that the program operates in line with 360°kids’ mission, vision and values and activities comply with applicable standards and laws.Participates in regular supervision meetings and performance appraisal meetings on a semi-annual basis.Activate and sustain youth records on funder database (GCOS) and internal case management system (as applicable)Other duties as required.Regular shift work, Monday to Friday, flexibility to work occasional evenings and/or weekends. Job duties take place in an office environment in a community HUB setting, and within the community. Risk of moderate injury due to potentially dangerous situations, dealing with potentially challenging clients who may be physically and/or verbally abusive. Work involves frequent computer use, regular distractions, and shifting priorities. Regular travel to various locations to support client needs, with transport of clients as the need arises.Role requires minimum 4 days in office/community with opportunity for 1 day/week work from home when program delivery needs provide flexibility.Work location will vary throughout York Region with 10415 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill as primary address and requirement to be onsite at 130 Davis Drive, New market as program delivery requires.Qualification and Skills Required :Post-Secondary degree/diploma in a Child/youth related field (e.g. Child and Youth, Social Service Worker, Social Worker, Psychology, Sociology) or the equivalent combination of education and experience working with youth.Minimum of three years’ experience working with “at-risk” or street involved youth.Current First Aid/CPR certification an asset.Current vulnerable sector screening (criminal background check).Car and valid driver’s license with a clean driver’s abstract, and $2M liability insurance required.Demonstrated experience working with street involved youth, awareness of at-risk youth homelessness, sexual, mental health, abuse, and addiction needs.Demonstrable marketing and sales skills experienceDriven by advocating and fostering new experiences for youthAbility to make decisions and work as part of a team.Strong personal ethics, integrity, reliable, time management and organization skills.Demonstrated client focused counselling skills and role modelling.Must possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to be adaptable with a flexible approach taking into consideration the unique qualities of each client; excellent relationship building, and interpersonal skills.Exceptional interpersonal skills that promote positive team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, employment partners, community agencies and the public with a working knowledge of York Region services. 360°kids is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible organization. We are dedicated to having a workforce that reflects the diversity of York Region with a variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome and encourage applicants from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants that require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to notify the People and Culture Department when contacted for an interview. We will work with you to meet your access needs in an equitable and inclusive way.Upon joining 360°kids, you'll be welcomed into a fun and collaborative environment where we truly value our employees and want to see them succeed. We thank everyone for their interest and appreciate the time put into applying, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.