Career Development Specialist

Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes • London, ON

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Development Specialist is responsible for engaging, supporting, guiding, and following up with job-seeking clients in the Career Centre. As a first and primary point of contact for job seekers, the Career Development Specialist will warmly welcome clients using a strengths-based approach to service, deliver appropriate and timely employment interventions, and case manage the client through all service delivery aspects. This position requires the successful candidate to have a valid driver's license and a reliable insured vehicle. The successful candidate would have to provide proof that they have a valid driver's license and proof of car insurance upon being hired.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge and adherence to funder guidelines.
• Strong Interpersonal/Team Communication, guided by empathy and optimism.
• Self-Reflection skills.
• Strong networking skills.
• Employment counselling techniques and tools.
• Broad Knowledge of community employment programs and services.
• Assessment skills.
• Knowledge of labour market and future employment trends.
• Strong documentation skills.
• Computer skills.
• Strong Interpersonal/Team Communication guided by empathy and optimism.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Community engagement/networking skills.
• 3-5 years’ experience working with people with barriers to employment preferred.
• Professional development in coaching or employment, social services, life skills, marketing, customer service.
• Diploma or degree in related field (Counselling, Social Services, Psychology) preferred.
• Acceptable criminal reference check.
• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Common Assessment Training; Knowledge of current labour market trend, (preferred).
• Experience in conducting group and individual counselling/instructional sessions.

Nice To Haves

• 3-5 years’ experience working with people with barriers to employment
• Professional development in coaching or employment, social services, life skills, marketing, customer service.
• Diploma or degree in related field (Counselling, Social Services, Psychology)
• Common Assessment Training
• Knowledge of current labour market trend
• Experience in conducting group and individual counselling/instructional sessions.

Responsibilities

• Welcome clients into service with engaging, optimistic, timely responsible employment services.
• Provide services in person from Career Centre, other community locations, virtually or by telephone.
• Using the Common Assessment process, assist clients in developing an employment service plan and open case files following current guidelines.
• Work in collaboration with job seekers to develop and initiate realistic and client centered return to work action plans.
• Serve as primary contact for clients throughout their involvement in Employment Services.
• Monitor and evaluate service plan effectiveness and update with stakeholders to build successful outcomes and achieve funder targets.
• Follow Goodwill Career Centre Case Management Toolkit and all program guidelines and funder expectations as outlined in funding agreement.
• Arrange and participate in collaborative case conferences with stakeholders to support client success.
• Maintain accurate and up to date evidence of employment counselling in electronic and paper file system.
• Work in collaboration with Goodwill personnel and clients to deliver identified individual and group employment service interventions as outlined in the Client Service Plan, including but not limited to: interventions in Career Decision Making; Skills Enhancement; Job Search; Job Retention.
• Maintain all appropriate follow up activities including returning job seeker phone calls within a 24 hour time frame and maintain an “active” caseload that guarantees client contact at intervals of no longer than 10 days between contact while respecting client expressed preferences.
• Close client files at conclusion of service plan.
• Support employment retention throughout 12-month post-case management cycle, documenting all contacts and outcomes.
• Develop and submit a minimum of 1 job seeker success story per month following guidelines.
• Follows the Customer Care Cycle (I Care) consistently providing world class customer service to all customers, internal and external, of Goodwill.
• Network and liaise with community service providers to remain current about service options – may include public speaking and formal presentations.
• Keep current with Labour Market Information and employment trends.
• Adhere to our Public Relations policy, acting as a ‘positive ambassador’ when representing Goodwill’s brand in the community.
• Perform other related activities, as necessary or as assigned.
• Follow all safety standards set out in legislation and/or Goodwill policies.
• Be actively involved in the health, well-being and safety of themselves and their team.
• Timely and Accurate completion of service provider requirements for Ministry Delivered Products including but not limited to Better Jobs Ontario, Job Creation Partnership within current guidelines and timelines.
• Network and liaise with community service providers to remain current about service options.
• Keep current with Labour Market Information and employment trends.
• Adhere to our Public Relations policy, acting as a ‘positive ambassador’ when representing Goodwill’s brand in the community.
• Respond to inquiries from management in regards to client data, self-reflections and other information as needed.
• Complete reporting templates as assigned.
• Perform other related activities, as necessary or as assigned.
• Follow all safety standards set out in legislation and//or Goodwill policies.
• Be actively involved in the health, well-being and safety of themselves and their team.
• Other duties as required, including but not limited to coverage of resource centre and front desk.

Benefits

• dental/health
• Registered Pension Plan opportunity
• Employee discount at retail locations.
• Equitable access to skills training & coaching, scholarships, and educational credentials.
• Personal and professional development support with Life Coach & Employee Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree