Community Outreach Worker

About The Career Foundation:

The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization and registered charity that offers a wide range of employment, training, and workforce development services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of seven locations in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, as well as offices in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, we now help thousands of people each year successfully achieve 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 Completing the Circle program is a youth employment and skills development project funded by Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). The program provides individualized support to youth with barriers to employment. Through the program, youth participants are empowered to find employment and are equipped with tools, support, new skills, and confidence to start and maintain work.

The Community Outreach Worker is an integral member of the program team. As the Community Outreach Worker, you will be responsible for conducting effective community outreach; developing and maintaining relationships with employers, community partners, and stakeholders; coordinating and hosting events; facilitating information sessions and workshops; conducting participant intakes; and supporting the selection process for new youth cohorts. You will also be responsible for meeting ongoing individual targets associated with the position, contributing to the team’s collective ability to fulfill all contractual obligations with the program’s funder while supporting youth participants in achieving positive employment outcomes.

As the ideal candidate, you are an outgoing and results-driven professional with a passion for community engagement and helping youth achieve their goals. You excel at building meaningful relationships with stakeholders at all levels and possess the confidence to conduct effective outreach initiatives and deliver presentations. You possess excellent communication, facilitation, and client service skills, enabling you to effectively engage diverse audiences and foster ongoing stakeholder partnerships. You are also highly organized and adept at maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with program and funder requirements.

Position Type:
Full-time (37.5 hours per week) one-year contract with excellent potential for permanency.

Starting Salary:
The starting annual salary for this position is $57,000.00 (or $58k if the successful candidate holds a master’s degree, full bilingualism in French, or full proficiency in Sign Language).

Base Location and Travel Requirements:
This position is based at The Career Foundation’s Hamilton location, located near James Street South and Main Street West, and requires frequent regular travel within the communities served by the program, including Hamilton, Peel, and York. The successful candidate should have a valid G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle to meet the essential requirements of the position that require frequent travel between all served communities, including to locations not accessible by transit. The position will also permit periodic work from home days on rotation when feasible contingent on program operational needs, performance, and other requirements. The hybrid schedule is therefore subject to change at any time. The successful candidate must be willing to work on site from the office on a full time basis and be comfortable with the frequent travel required to support the scope of community outreach activities. A company laptop, cell phone, and other equipment will be provided.

Vacancy Status:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Start:
As soon as possible.

Reporting to:
Program Manager

Vulnerable Sector Check:
An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).

Use of Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not currently used to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.

Responsibilities include:

Community Outreach & Participant Recruitment

• Conducts outreach to recruit new, eligible youth participants into the program, including those from equity-deserving groups, and ensures that outreach activities are tailored and appropriate to diverse communities.
• Presents the program to potential participants, employers, and community partners, ensuring they understand the program objectives and the time requirements.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with new employer contacts to continuously develop job placement opportunities for program participants.
• Establishes and maintains new relationships with community agencies to ensure effective partnerships and referrals.
• Attends community events, job fairs, and other networking opportunities to recruit eligible youth participants and employers into the program.
• Utilizes social media channels and works in collaboration with the marketing department to develop effective marketing campaigns to promote the program.
• Seeks marketing opportunities to feature the program within the communities served.
• Coordinates guest speakers, group mentorship events, and other initiatives to support program participants in achieving successful outcomes.
• Facilitates information sessions and pre-employment workshops within the community.
• Hosts internal information sessions about the program for staff members across The Career Foundation to facilitate appropriate referrals from other programs.
• Supports program management in preparing marketing-related communications about the program, including success stories and entries for annual reports.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Intake, Selection, and Participant Coaching

• Participates in the selection process for new youth cohorts and conducts individual intakes with participants joining the program.
• Screens applications for eligibility and suitability factors, schedules interviews, and facilitates information sessions.
• Completes individual assessments of program applicants based on program eligibility requirements and ensures that all mandatory intake forms are completed.
• Supports the team to provide job search and employability skills coaching and workshops.
• Guides program participants in the exploration of employment requirements, industry accreditation, and further education/training opportunities as needed.
• Conducts research and provides program participants with referral information for other services in the community when needed.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Case Management & Documentation

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date files and case notes in data reporting systems in compliance with internal policies and funder expectations, ensuring that all files are audit-ready.
• Provides ongoing activity and outcome reports to program management.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Post secondary degree or diploma in Career Services, Business, Social Services, or another related field relevant to the scope of the position is highly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in community outreach, employment services, account management, sales, recruitment, or other directly transferable experience.
• Demonstrated confidence and aptitude for sales and business development activities, including cold calling, door-to-door employer outreach, networking, and prospecting to promote services, identify opportunities, and achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience supporting youth facing barriers to employment and working within government funded employment programs is considered a strong asset.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate information. Fluency in a second language is considered an asset.
• Exceptional relationship building skills, with a proven ability to develop rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds and a range of stakeholder groups.
• Proven track record in a results driven environment, with experience meeting targets.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with a proven ability to develop rapport with people from all stakeholder groups
• High emotional intelligence, with proven conflict resolution skills and a demonstrated capacity to build rapport while showing patience, empathy, and genuine connection when working with youth from diverse backgrounds and with varying experiences, needs, and abilities.
• Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to uphold the organization’s service standards, policies, and core values.
• High ethical and confidentiality standards, with proven experience handling sensitive information and demonstrating tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and achieve targets and objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies and systems. Prior experience using case management systems is considered an asset.
• Flexibility to work outside regular business hours, as needed, to support program objectives.
• Committed work ethic with a proven ability to remain flexible and resilient, adapting quickly to changing priorities while maintaining trust and positive working relationships.

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.