JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Youth Employer Partnerships Specialist -- YESS program
PROGRAM: Employer Engagement and Partnerships
COMPANY: Skills for Change
REPORTS TO: Manager, Employer Engagement \& Partnerships
CONTRACT TYPE: This is a contract position for a special project, governed by Art. 2.03 of the Collective Agreement.
CONTRACT END: March 27, 2026
HOURS: 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday with occasional evening and/or weekend hours)
RATE: $24.97 per hour
START DATE: Immediately
COMPANY:
Located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, Skills for Change is working towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Named Charity Village's Best Non-Profit Employer - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and winner of the 2021 Canada Volunteer Awards for innovation, our organization is committed to reducing poverty, improve mental health, eliminating gender-based violence, building community, eradicating systemic racism, and settling and creating sustainable communities for all immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities. Start your career with SfC and join our 40-year history of creating innovative programming to build welcoming and equitable communities.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
Founded in 1982, Skills for Change is a leading non-profit organization serving immigrants and refugees in Canada. Our mission is to build welcoming and equitable communities. Skills for Change is known for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We create skills development opportunities for immigrants and refugees to access and fully participate in the workplace and wider community. Our Agency has played a major role in uplifting immigrant and equity-seeking communities for 40 years. As one of the leading holistic service providers in our sector, Skills for Change offers more than 25 programs and services, and annually serves 16,000 people who are newcomers, immigrants, and equity-seeking groups in services around employment, integration, mental health, leadership, entrepreneurship, and more.
Skills for Change is working to:
• Reduce poverty through decent jobs,
• Settle newcomers to build a life in Canada,
• Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing,
• Build skills to promote increased labour market freedom,
• Advocate for environmentally sustainable and healthy communities,
• Combat social and professional isolation through mentorship and networking,
• Help underserved seniors to make friends and be digitally safe,
• Empower entire communities to work towards eradicating systemic racism,
• Provide youth with equal access to opportunities,
• Promote gender equality.
PROGRAM NATURE AND SCOPE:
The need to support more diverse groups is apparent and Skills for Change is the ideal organization to lead a program focused on advancing the diversity in STEM, the Skilled Trades and Sustainability sectors for youth. As such, Skills for Change is seeking a Youth Employer Partnership Specialist to enhance employer engagement and create meaningful employment opportunities for youth in STEM, Skilled Trades, and Sustainability (Green Jobs) career pathways. This role will focus on building sustainable partnerships with employers, providing education on barriers youth face entering the workforce, and offering tailored training and support to facilitate long-term employment success
The ideal candidate has:
A passion for supporting the successful integration of refugees and immigrants into the Canadian workforce.
Knowledge of the STEM, skilled trades and sustainability sectors and labour market trends and opportunities for youth.
Proven experience in program development, particularly in designing and implementing effective employer engagement strategies.
A track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with employers, industry associations, and community agencies.
Strong business acumen and the ability to identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
Excellent networking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at various levels.
Demonstrated proficiency in client relationship management, employing diverse sales approaches, and implementing successful recruitment strategies.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey complex information to diverse audiences.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
A solid understanding of the current labor market, including employer expectations, in-demand skills, and education requirements.
Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by refugees and immigrants.
• A commitment to continuous learning, staying updated on market trends, and being proactive in identifying opportunities for skills and education training.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Build and maintain relationships with employers in STEM, Skilled Trades, and Sustainability sectors.
• Develop and implement strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with partners, including regular communication, collaboration on joint projects, and participation in partner events and activities.
Educate employers on barriers faced by youth, including systemic challenges and workplace accessibility.
Collaborate with employers to design customized training, onboarding, and retention strategies to support youth employment.
Develop and execute employer-focused initiatives to promote inclusivity and accessibility in hiring practices.
Work with employers to create and implement training plans addressing the needs of youth with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Work with employers to ensure an ongoing supportive environment for youth development in the workplace.
Organize employer-focused workshops, networking events, and training sessions.
• Work closely with our program teams to understand the needs of job seekers in the trades sector and identify opportunities for partnership with employers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for partner organizations, responding to inquiries, addressing concerns, and providing excellent customer service.
• Manage employer accounts, tracking all employer engagement initiatives and maintaining accurate records.
Represent Skills for Change at industry events, councils, and roundtables to expand the program's visibility.
Facilitate engagement activities, including job fairs, employer panels, and mentoring events tailored to youth participants.
Monitor and evaluate the outcomes of employer partnerships, tracking metrics like retention rates, job placements, and employer satisfaction.
Participate in agency marketing and promotion activities, including networking and mentoring sessions and special events, to strengthen relationships with stakeholders.
Stay connected with public and community resources relevant to the organization's programs, fostering collaboration and identifying opportunities for partnerships.
Stay abreast of market-demand trends, changes in various sectors/industries, and in-demand skills and education training.
Contribute to the distribution, collection, and analysis of participant surveys and other evaluation procedures to improve program effectiveness.
Provide regular reports and recommendations to improve program impact.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Strong all-round written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to write and speak in a second language is considered an asset (French, Hindi, Farsi, Yoruba, Swahili, Chinese etc).
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collectively in a diverse and dynamic team environment.
Strong planning and organization skills with ability to prioritize deliverables.
QUALIFICATIONS \& REQUIREMENTS:
Post-Secondary degree in marketing, administration, social services, immigrant settlement, or a related discipline.
A minimum of 3 years of experience in client relationship management, recruitment strategies, and marketing to employers using diverse sales approaches.
Strong facilitation and employment counseling skills, with experience in vocational counseling being an asset.
Excellent interpersonal and client-focused skills, with a positive attitude towards change.
Proven ability to develop goals and action plans in collaboration with program participants.
Exceptional verbal, written communication, and presentation skills.
Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and the ability to create and deliver compelling presentations.
Excellent time management and teamwork skills.
Knowledge of the current labor market, employer expectations, and training and education requirements.
Understanding of the unique challenges and concerns faced by refugees and immigrants.
Skills for Change provides learning and training opportunities for immigrants, refugees and equity seeking groups to access and fully participate in the workplace and wider community to persons with disabilities to newcomers to Canada (including refugees) to Indigenous peoples to members of a visible minority to children or youth to seniors to the LGBTQ2 community.
Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in alternate format on request.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted
