Job Description

Sunshine Valley Community Services seeks a motivated and skilled Employment Specialist to use their creativity, planning, marketing, networking, negotiating skills and connections in the community to assist people with developmental disabilities in achieving meaningful employment. The SVCS Employment Specialist is committed to supporting individuals who face significant barriers to entering the traditional workforce.

Through a process of discovering a job seeker's unique skills, support needs, learning style, communication needs etc. the Employment Specialist will identify and negotiate customized jobs that match an employer's hiring needs in their workplace. If you have a background in building strong community connections, have access to the local business community and past experience in job development, business, marketing or communications this position may be for you!

As the SVCS Employment Specialist, your day will include engaging job seekers to create a comprehensive Job Seeker profile that will guide your job development strategies. You will then spend extensive time learning about local employers, help identify opportunities in their workplace that will be a match for the skills, interests and needs of the Job Seeker. Once employed, you will create and use a Job Support plan to assist the employer and new employee with integrating into the workplace and job until independence can be achieved.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications:

Post-Secondary education in Human Services, Social Services field, Career Development, Business, Education or a related field Training/experience in marketing and communications or an equivalent combination of experience and education is a strong asset A minimum of 3+ years of experience working with adults with developmental disabilities and/or mental health diagnosis Previous experience and/or training in providing employment services is an asset Preferred experience in developing personal profiles, employment proposal writing and proven ability to work with both local businesses and the community Demonstrated success in facilitating supported, customized, and self-employment opportunities for people with complex support needs Possession of an Emergency First Aid/CPR certificate and Class 5 Drivers License Mental Health First Aid training is considered an asset Clear Criminal Record Check for vulnerable sectors required as a condition of employment

Job Skills and Abilities:

Successful candidates will demonstrate strong community living values, good interpersonal skills, a high level of self-motivation, initiative, organization and planning Strong written & oral communication skills and extensive knowledge of the local community Ability to make cold calls and approach local employers on behalf of job seekers A philosophy of service that is in line with SVCS' vision, philosophy and values Creative problem solver, with sound judgment, sensitivity and strong commitment to confidentiality Excellent teamwork skills maintaining honest, direct and respectful working relationships; as well as being able to work independently Outgoing personality that can develop relationships and positively represent SVCS to the business community and potential employers Ability to observe, record and evaluate change in job seeker behaviour Administrative and computer skills to support documentation, reporting, and communication Proficiency with Office 365 tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Demonstrated ability to develop program related reference & resource material Ability to manage emergencies/crisis in a calm and effective manner taking all precautionary measures

Key Responsibilities:

Apply agency practices and customized employment strategies to discover necessary information about each potential job seeker Use knowledge about the job seeker to develop a comprehensive job profile that outlines strategies for job development Uses community connections, cold calling and networking to identify potential job and career options for the job seeker Negotiates job opportunities with local employers that are customized to the support needs, skills and goals of the job seeker Develops a training and support plan to assist the job seeker in transitioning into the new job and workplace Monitors and collects feedback from the job seeker, their co-workers and/or employer to ensure successful long-term placement Maintain funder required up-to-date reporting requirements

Additional Information:

Ability to work evenings and weekends as required Ability to work at multiple locations within the service catchment area Refer job seekers to external supports as needed
SVCS is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to building an inclusive environment that embraces diversity of thought, backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to the equitable treatment of all individuals and will continue to embed diversity and inclusion principles within our policies, procedures, services, and activities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $27.54 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Company pension Dental care Disability insurance Employee assistance program Extended health care Life insurance Paid time off Vision care
Flexible language requirement:

French not required
Schedule:

Day shift Monday to Friday No weekends Weekends as needed
Ability to commute/relocate:

Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Willing to work Evenings and Weekends as necessary based on needs of employers and job seekers
Education:

Secondary School (required)
Experience:

Working with persons with disabilities: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:

First Aid Certification (required)
Work Location: In person