Youth Employer Partnerships Specialist

Skills For Change Metro•Toronto, ON

9h•Onsite

About The Position

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, and a commitment to continuous learning, staying updated on market trends, and being proactive in identifying opportunities for skills and education training.

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.

Nice To Haves

Ability to write and speak in a second language is considered an asset (French, Hindi, Farsi, Yoruba, Swahili, Chinese etc).

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.
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.