Employer Engagement and Placement Specialist - York

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 operates five full suite Integrated Employment Services (IES) Centres across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), conveniently located in Etobicoke, North York, Toronto, York, and Scarborough. These centres provide job seekers with a comprehensive range of services, including career exploration, résumé and interview preparation, job search support, employer connections, and employment retention support. The Career Foundation also partners with employers that share our commitment to community hiring. Employer services include access to a diverse talent pool, support with coordinating and hosting hiring events, guidance on how to effectively coach and support new hires, and strategies to support job retention.

As an Employer Engagement & Placement Specialist, you will fulfill a critical role in the Progress phase of the Integrated Employment Services (IES) client journey by building and maintaining strong employer relationships and connecting job ready clients to sustainable employment opportunities. This role focuses on job development, employer engagement, and successful client placement outcomes while ensuring alignment between employer needs and client capabilities. The Employer Engagement & Placement Specialist actively engages employers across sectors, identifies labour market opportunities, and facilitates employment placements through targeted outreach and relationship building. The role requires close collaboration with Career Success Coaches and other team members to ensure clients are job ready and matched effectively to employment opportunities. You will also be responsible for meeting ongoing individual targets relevant to your position that contribute to the team’s collective ability to meet and exceed all contractual obligations with our funder and lead clients to successful employment outcomes.

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 opportunity is based at The Career Foundation’s York Employment Centre, located near Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave. W., and requires frequent and regular travel to employer sites, as well as other stakeholder locations, to fulfill the core requirements of the role. The successful candidate must possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle to perform the core deliverables of the position that require frequent travel, including to locations not accessible by transit. The position will also permit a hybrid schedule, allowing for one work from home day per week. The hybrid schedule is based on performance and operational requirements and is therefore subject to change at any time.

Vacancy Status:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Start:
As soon as possible.

Reporting to:
Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services

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:

Employer Engagement, Job Development, and Business Development

• Develops and maintains strong relationships with employers by identifying employment opportunities aligned with client skills and program objectives.
• Conducts targeted employer outreach through networking, meetings, presentations, cold calling, and sector specific engagement activities.
• Identifies labour market trends, hiring needs, and sector opportunities to inform job development and placement strategies.
• Promotes Integrated Employment Services (IES) to employers by communicating program benefits, available supports, and partnership value.
• Builds and expands employer networks by establishing sustainable relationships across industries and sectors.
• Organizes and supports employer engagement activities, including hiring fairs, recruitment events, and employer information sessions.
• Maintains consistent communication with employers to support long term partnerships and ongoing hiring needs.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Job Matching, Placement & Employment Outcomes

• Matches clients to suitable employment opportunities by aligning skills, experience, and career goals with employer needs.
• Collaborates with Career Success Coaches to ensure clients are job ready and prepared for employment opportunities.
• Coordinates interviews and hiring processes between employers and clients to support successful outcomes.
• Supports employers with candidate screening and selection processes, as required.
• Negotiates employment terms, placement agreements, and wage incentives, ensuring alignment with employer and program requirements.
• Coordinates experiential learning opportunities, including job trials, work placements, and training based placements.
• Conducts site visits to ensure employer eligibility, workplace safety standards, and job suitability.
• Monitors placements by providing ongoing support to employers and clients to address challenges and support retention.
• Collaborates with Career Retention Specialists to ensure smooth transition into post placement support and long term employment success.
• Supports timely re employment for clients identified as unemployed at checkpoint stages, facilitating return to employment prior to scheduled milestones.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Client Support, Job Readiness, and Service Alignment

• Provides job search support, including résumé development, interview preparation, and application strategies, when required.
• Supports clients in understanding workplace expectations, employer requirements, and job readiness standards.
• Guides clients in navigating employment opportunities aligned with career goals and labour market conditions.
• Collaborates with internal team members to ensure coordinated and seamless service delivery across all phases of the IES model.
• Contributes to individual and team performance targets related to placements, employer engagement, and employment outcomes.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Administration and Data Management

• Maintains accurate records of employer contacts, job opportunities, and placement outcomes within NewOrg and FFAI systems.
• Documents employer engagement activities, placements, and service interactions within the FFAI funder case management system.
• Utilizes CaMS and internal systems to support accurate tracking of employer engagement and client placement activity.
• Tracks employment outcomes, employer partnerships, and job development activities in accordance with funder reporting requirements.
• Ensures documentation meets program compliance and audit readiness requirements.
• Maintains detailed records of employer meetings, job leads, recruitment activities, and placement outcomes.
• Communicates with internal team members to ensure documentation is complete, accurate, and consistent across systems.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of client and employer information in accordance with privacy and security protocols and policies.
• Provides reports to management, as assigned, related to employer engagement, job placements, and labour market trends.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Post secondary diploma or degree in Business, Career Development, Sales Administration, or another related field relevant to the position’s duties is highly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in employer engagement, job development, business development, sales, community outreach, recruitment, or other directly transferable experience related to the position’s responsibilities is required.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining professional relationships with employers and industry stakeholders, coupled with strong business development and outreach skills to identify job opportunities aligned with labour market demand.
• Proven track record in a results driven environment, with experience meeting targets.
• Must possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle for frequent and regular travel to meet the core deliverables of the position, including travel to locations not accessible by transit.
• 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.
• Knowledge of labour market trends, recruitment practices, and employer hiring needs is considered an asset.
• Ability to confidently negotiate agreements with employers related to hiring incentives and job placements.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple employer relationships and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated understanding of workplace expectations, employment standards, and employer practices.
• Experience supporting individuals facing barriers to employment and working within government funded employment programs is considered an asset.
• High emotional intelligence, demonstrating patience, empathy, and connection when working with clients of 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.
• Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies and systems. Prior experience using case management systems (e.g., FFAI, CaMS) is considered a strong asset.
• Flexibility to work outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, during peak periods.
• Strong work ethic, with the ability to multitask while maintaining a positive and proactive attitude.
• Demonstrated 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.