Employment Support Specialist - Workbc, Vancouver Northeast

mkkkkMOSAIC operates on the traditional and unceded Coast Salish Territories, the ancestral lands of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), sc̓əwaθən məsteyəx (Tsawwassen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwitwetlam), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo) and Matsqui nations where we are privileged to carry out our mission. 

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US:

MOSAIC is one of Canada’s largest settlement non-profit organizations. Our newcomer services change the lives of immigrants, refugees, and individuals from diverse backgrounds in Greater Vancouver and throughout BC.  Since 1976, MOSAIC has worked to strengthen communities by advocating for positive changes and supporting newcomers in building their new lives in Canada. As an employer we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can trust that their skills and contributions are valued. We advocate for and promote equitable employment opportunities for women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (2SLGBTQI+), and racialized individuals. We have been recognized in the 2019 List of Best Workplaces™ in Canada (100-999 employees), the 2020 list of Best Workplaces Managed by Women and 2021 List of Best Workplaces™ in Canada (100-999 employees) by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Our employees benefit from many diverse perspectives, taking part in training opportunities for career growth.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

We are looking for a motivated Employment Support Specialist to join our Vancouver Northeast WorkBC team!

POSITION FUNCTION:

Employment Support Specialists are responsible for building lasting relationships with local employers, supporting, and advocating for our clients in sourcing employment, and creating work experience opportunities that lead to long-term sustainable employment opportunities. The Employment Support Specialist works collaboratively with the WorkBC Client Services Team to support clients towards successful job attachment outcomes. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Provide wrap around support including but not limited to:

• Develop business and employer relationships.

• Maintain an excellent working knowledge of local employment opportunities via cold calling, attending networking events, and engaging with local boards of trade, etc.

• Coordinate employer engagement events, such as job fairs, industry presentations, work site visits, etc. Provide job leads for clients, determine employment requirements, and assess client qualifications and suitability, ensuring quality job matching.

• Maintain and update the WorkBC and MOSAIC databases, including the current catalogue of employment opportunities and employers.

• Consult with employers to negotiate employment terms, monitor placements, follow up regularly and address any issues to promote placement success and employment retention.

• Provide educational support to employers (with consent from client) to ensure their needs and rights are respected.

• Promote and improve wage subsidy placements and employment support services for clients.

• Work collaboratively with WorkBC staff and clients to target job opportunities that meet the clients’ identified employment goals.

• Provide one-to-one support for clients through job search coaching, motivation, mock interview, and other feedback to successfully attain employment.

• Understand WorkBC program service policies and contractual obligations and understand the role an Employment Support Specialist plays in achieving these goals (i.e., key performance measures and contractual outcomes).

• Work collaboratively with Employment Counsellors and Employment Skills Facilitators to understanding clients’ needs and occupational goals and implement strategies to secure employment.

• Maintain and monitor client progress to successful job attachment outcome by building a strong rapport with clients and employers.

• Assist clients and employers in completing wage subsidy applications.

• Document the clients’ progress in achieving the goals outlined in their work experience plan and pro-actively address issues to ensure successful long-term job sustainability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Post-secondary degree, certificate or diploma in career or employment development, social work, adult learning, human resources management, psychology, or counselling or a combination of coursework and 2 or more years of experience: 

• Experience in Marketing or Sales roles are a definite asset.
• Working with individuals with complex barriers and a broad range of cultural backgrounds including people referenced as members of the Client Inclusion Groups identified by the Ministry (Indigenous People, Francophones, Immigrants, Persons with a Disability, Multi-Barriered, Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse, Youth (including Youth At-Risk) is an asset.

Knowledge of the Employment Insurance Act, BC Employment and Assistance Program, and WorkBC Employment Program policies. 

Current and satisfactory criminal record check required. 

DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Exceptional people skills and the ability to build strong relationships with individuals from any background.
• Experience building partnerships with community agencies, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Confidence and assertiveness to contact employers who might never have heard of the WorkBC program.
• Critical thinking skills: the ability to process and organize facts, data, and other information to define a problem and develop effective solutions.
• Experience providing customer service and resolving issues both in person and in a virtual service delivery environment.
• Knowledge of and experience collaborating with individuals with barriers to employment.
• Solid understanding of current job search techniques and practices, employment barriers including employment maintenance issues, and assessing client needs and employer/labour market requirements.
• Experience interpreting client needs assessments.
• Experience coaching and mentoring clients.
• Ability to work co-operatively in a team environment and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams, and the Integrated Case Management system (ICM).
• Tactful, discreet, diplomatic, patient, and flexible, with cultural sensitivity and excellent decision-making skills.

BONUS SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS: 

• Career Development Practitioner certification considered an asset.
• Proficiency in a second language considered an asset.

HOURS: Full-time position (35 hours per week).

The successful candidate must be able to commute to Vancouver Northeast WorkBC.

BENEFITS:

A competitive benefits package is provided with contracts of at least 1 year in length and which offer a minimum of 17.5 hours of work per week.

DEADLINE: Ongoing until filled.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Before applying, you must be legally permitted to work in Canada through citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have a work permit, please ensure that it allows you to work for the duration of this position.
• We are committed to creating a safe and healthy working environment for our employees. MOSAIC employees are expected to adhere to several policies and procedures such as Right to a Respectful Workplace and Code of Conduct. As of September 18, 2023 MOSAIC’s HSS-21 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy is currently suspended. Therefore, until further notice, employees are no longer required to provide a proof of vaccination. However, should circumstances change and MOSAIC deems it necessary to reinstate such Policy in order to ensure a safe workplace, MOSAIC reserves the right to require employees to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be eligible to continue performing their work duties.