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 multiple locations, we now help thousands of people each year successfully accomplish their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals has 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 RRSP Matching benefit
- An Employee & Family Assistance program
- Employee wellness initiatives
- Paid days off for religious observance purposes
- Paid days off for personal wellness purposes
Program and Role Description:
The Career Foundation’s Disability Employment Services program is dedicated to supporting job seekers accessing the Ontario government’s_ Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)._ Our program offers comprehensive services to these job seekers, including job search assistance, job matching and placement, job coaching, retention support, and more. Employers committed to inclusive hiring can also benefit from our tailored services, such as direct access to skilled job seekers with disabilities, assistance in organizing and hosting community hiring events, and guidance on effectively onboarding and coaching new hires to ensure long-term job retention.
As the Team Lead, ODSP Employment Services & Placement Specialist, you will manage a caseload of clients assigned to you while leading the program team, which includes one full-time ODSP Employment Services & Placement Specialist and one part-time Project Assistant. You will oversee the day-to-day operations of the program, ensuring the effective delivery of services to help clients currently accessing the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) secure and sustain meaningful employment for up to 12 months. Additionally, you will lead the team to meet funder-mandated performance targets, drive results, ensure compliance with funder guidelines, and build partnerships with employers and community organizations.
Position Type:
Full-time (37.5 hours per week) one-year contract with excellent potential to lead to permanent
Base Location and Travel Requirements:
The base office location for this opportunity is The Career Foundation’s York office, located at Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave. W. The Team Lead, ODSP Employment Services & Placement Specialist, is also required to work from our North York office, located at Lawrence Ave. W. & Allen Rd., with travel to other offices as needed.
The successful candidate must possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle for travel between sites and other stakeholder locations to meet the needs of the program.
The position is currently structured under a hybrid-remote schedule that permits one work-from-home day per week. The hybrid schedule is based on performance and operational needs and requires a private work-from-home space with reliable, high-speed internet. A company laptop, cell phone, and other equipment will be provided.
Background Check Requirement:
An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC), also known as a Level 2 Check.
Reporting to:
Senior Manager
Responsibilities include:
Employment Counselling, Coaching, and Case Management
- Serves a caseload of clients annually, ensuring client progress is actively monitored and documented, with adjustments made to plans to achieve employment outcomes consistently.
- Facilitates high-quality interventions and wraparound resources required to help clients address and overcome barriers that may prevent them from achieving successful employment outcomes.
- Conducts intakes and completes individualized needs assessments for clients to establish their eligibility for services and pre-employment needs.
- Collects, organises, and analyses 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.
- Provides solution-based employment counselling and ongoing support to an assigned caseload of clients in the areas of job search, job placement, job coaching, job retention, and other areas to support clients in achieving employment goals.
- Consistently monitors and tracks caseload success rates to achieve individual targets that contribute to the team’s overall objectives and expectations from the program’s funder.
- 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.
- Develops and implements innovative, solution-focused employment strategies tailored to unique barriers and labour market trends.
- Empowers clients with self-advocacy skills to articulate their needs and strengths in workplace settings.
- Determines client eligibility for financial supports, administers eligible supports, and ensures proper documentation is on file to support expenditures.
- Guides and supports clients in completing applications for employment and training opportunities.
- Conducts timely follow-ups with clients throughout their job search efforts, providing repeat, one-on-one job coaching 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.
- Supports clients in acquiring a clear understanding of industry perspectives and other information pertaining to the job opportunities to which they are applying.
- Designs and facilitates support group sessions on entrepreneurial thinking, self-employment, and disability disclosure and accommodations for workplace success.
- Provides comprehensive coordination of accommodation supports for clients, ensuring that their specific needs are met to enable full participation in services, programs, or employment opportunities.
- Enters and maintains thorough written documentation in online data reporting systems, ensuring that caseload files are up-to-date and ready for file audits.
- Performs other relevant duties as assigned.
Job Development, Placement, and Retention Support
- Establishes and nurtures strategic, long-term partnerships with inclusive employers and professional networks to create diverse and sustainable employment opportunities for clients.
- Leverages job carving and customized employment strategies to align job roles with clients’ unique skills and abilities.
- Provides comprehensive retention support through regular check-ins with clients and employers, addressing challenges promptly and collaboratively.
- Develops individualized retention plans for clients, including goal setting, skill development, and workplace integration strategies to support long-term success.
- Works with employers to implement inclusive onboarding processes and workplace accommodations tailored to clients’ needs.
- Facilitates ongoing communication between clients and employers to ensure expectations are met and to pre-emptively address potential workplace conflicts.
- Monitors job retention and career advancement metrics, using insights to continuously improve placement strategies and support services.
- Organizes post-placement support groups or one-on-one sessions for clients to address topics such as workplace conflict resolution, time management, and career progression.
- Utilizes advanced digital tools and platforms to streamline job matching, enhance employer engagement, and track post-placement outcomes effectively.
- Conducts outreach to employers across various industries to promote The Career Foundation’s ODSP program, creating job opportunities tailored to clients’ needs.
- Collaborates with clients on job search activities, including identifying opportunities, cold calling employers, and networking to secure meaningful placements.
- Matches clients to suitable roles by leveraging employer relationships and advertised job openings, ensuring alignment with their qualifications and goals.
- Negotiates and manages employment agreements, including placement and incentive structures, while ensuring compliance with program guidelines.
- Develops and oversees on-the-job training plans, conducting follow-ups to ensure expectations are met and identifying areas for improvement.
- Provides on-the-job coaching and support, accompanying clients during their initial days in a new job to facilitate a smooth transition and build their confidence in the workplace.
- Acts as a mediator between clients and employers to resolve workplace issues and foster productive relationships.
- Collaborates with clients to build skills that enhance job stability, such as stress management, workplace communication, and adaptability to changing job demands.
- Works collaboratively with team members to develop innovative job development strategies and retention solutions to enhance client success rates.
- Performs other relevant duties as assigned.
Team Leadership
- Provides leadership and expertise to the small project team in areas of customer service, career exploration, assessment, case management, information and referral services, job search, job matching, placement and retention, and other areas of client service.
- Develops program strategies and workflows designed to meet or exceed funder-mandated targets for employment outcomes.
- Establishes and maintains partnerships with community organizations to enhance service delivery and expand client resources.
- Provides detailed, accurate, and timely reports on program performance, emphasizing the achievement of employment outcomes and adherence to funding requirements.
- Provides regular feedback and support to team members, emphasizing the importance of achieving employment outcomes as a core responsibility.
- Facilitates daily team meetings to strategize for client case conferences, review progress toward goals, and guide the team in troubleshooting and brainstorming solutions.
- Conducts daily reviews of client service quality by examining case histories and regularly auditing client files, aiming to achieve top ratings during external audits.
- Conducts performance appraisals with team members, ensuring thorough documentation.
- Performs other relevant duties as assigned.
Qualifications/ Skills Required:
- A post-secondary degree either in the field of Career Development or related fields such as Social Services or Psychology, and a minimum of 3 years hands-on experience in social services, supported employment or disability services.
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Management Certificate, Trauma-Informed Care Certification, and/or Certificate in Disability Studies are considered assets.
- Comprehensive understanding of disabilities, inclusive practices, community resources, supports available to job seekers, and current labour market trends.
- Previous exposure in disability case management, return to work coordination, and team leadership are considered significant assets.
- Hands-on experience in vocational counselling, job coaching, and/or job development within the Employment Services industry is highly valued.
- Excellent relationship development skills.
- Must be willing to work from The Career Foundation’s York office (Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave.) on a full-time schedule as well as other offices as needed and possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle for community outreach, client and employer engagement, and other essential job functions that require local travel within the communities served.
- Experience in sales, marketing, mentorship, coaching and counselling, and employer relationship-building are considered assets.
- 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 the ability to uphold the organization’s core values.
- Proven track record in a results-driven environment and experience with meeting assigned targets.
- High ethics and confidentiality standards with proven experience maintaining sensitive information and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and good judgment.
- Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Bilingualism is considered an asset.
- Proven attention to detail, time management, and the 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 the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
- Familiarity with Power BI considered an asset.
- Willingness and flexibility to occasionally work outside regular business hours when required to ensure the team meets all objectives.
- Dedicated work ethic with a positive and client-centered approach to work.
How to Apply:
Please visit the Join Our Team page on our website at https://careerfoundation.com/join-our-team and select the position for which you would like to submit your application. You may complete the application form directly through our website. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please. Thank you for your interest in The Career Foundation.
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.
#workwithus
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $22.36-$29.69 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Application question(s):
- Do you have direct or transferable experience and credentials as outlined in the job posting, including experience in social services, supported employment, or disability services?
- As outlined in the job posting, this position is based at our Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave. office in York, Ontario. The successful candidate must also have a valid Ontario G driver's licence and a vehicle for frequent local travel between offices, other stakeholder locations, and for community outreach to meet the needs of the program. Are you willing to work from our Weston & Lawrence office, and do you possess a valid Ontario G driver's licence and a vehicle?
- What is your salary expectation?
Work Location: In person
