Customized Employment Specialist

Open Door Group (ODG), a trailblazing non-profit organization serving communities across Canada, is looking for a Customized Employment Specialist to join our team!

The Customized Employment Specialist supports individuals in Red Deer who experience chronic unemployment and may face intersecting barriers such as housing instability, mental health or substance use challenges, poverty, systemic barriers and limited community supports.

This is a flexible, community-based role focused on building relationships, recognizing strengths and creating individualized pathways toward meaningful employment, greater stability and independence.

Wage: $33.49 to $35.31

Status: Full-Time, Permanent

Schedule: This role offers a flexible scheduling model, giving you autonomy to plan your schedule around client needs and the outcomes of the role. You'll work an average of 72 hours every two weeks, with some evening or weekend availability as needed.

Location: The primary work location for this position will be community outreach in Red Deer, with a home office, and a secondary work location of the Open Door Group/ETHOS office at 4728 Ross St, Red Deer.

Your Role:

The Customized Employment Specialist supports individuals who may not be well served by traditional employment approaches to discover, access and maintain meaningful employment that fits their strengths, interests, abilities and individual circumstances.

This isn't a traditional, desk-based employment counselling role. Much of your work will happen in the community. You'll meet people where they are, get to know their strengths and goals, explore employment possibilities alongside them, connect them with community supports, build relationships with employers, visit workplaces and provide hands-on support as they move toward employment and greater independence.

You'll use individualized assessment and discovery tools to understand each person's strengths, needs, relationships, resources and goals. These may include Livelihoods Assessments, Asset Mapping and other person-centred approaches. You'll use what you learn to develop individualized plans and provide flexible support based on where each person is in their journey.

Customized Employment is an individualized and flexible approach that creates opportunities that work for both job seekers and employers. Rather than simply matching someone to an existing job posting, you'll get to know local workplaces, understand employers' needs and look for opportunities to adapt, carve or create employment. You'll also work with community organizations and social enterprises to develop supports and work-based learning opportunities.

Your day might include meeting someone in the community to explore their goals, helping a client navigate a setback or connect with community resources, visiting a workplace to understand an employer's needs, developing a work-based learning opportunity, reaching out to a new employer or community partner, providing job coaching, or documenting client progress and managing your caseload.

This role is a great fit for someone who is curious, creative and relationship-oriented, enjoys being out in the community, and can see strengths and possibilities that may not be immediately obvious. You'll need to be equally comfortable building trusting relationships with clients, navigating complex situations and approaching employers and community partners to develop opportunities and supports.

The people you support may be navigating:

• Housing instability or homelessness
• Physical or mental health conditions
• Substance use and recovery
• Histories of trauma or violence
• Poverty and economic marginalization
• Involvement with the criminal justice system

Success in this role requires patience, empathy, adaptability, strong professional boundaries and a respectful, non-judgmental approach. You'll bring a strengths-based and solutions-focused perspective while maintaining a steady presence through both setbacks and successes.

Please see the full job description for a detailed description of the responsibilities included in this position. Full posting and job description are available here: Careers at Open Door Group

Why Open Door Group?

Champion of Great Workplaces:

ODG proudly holds the title of one of Canada's Certified Great Places to Work, fostering a culture of compassion and authenticity. Join a team that values your unique contribution and believes in the boundless potential of every individual.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits:

As a Certified Living Wage Employer, ODG is committed to offering more than just a job. Enjoy a comprehensive 100% employer-paid benefits package and an RRSP matching program. Your well-being matters, and we provide an Employee and Family Assistance Program to support you. Invest in your future with our professional development fund and pursue courses, workshops or certifications to enhance your skills and advance your career.

Community Impact:

Be part of an organization that goes beyond conventional approaches to employment. You'll work alongside people to recognize their strengths, navigate barriers and create meaningful employment opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked. Your work will contribute directly to greater inclusion, independence and economic participation in the community.

What you bring to the position:

If you meet most of the qualifications and are passionate about supporting people in their employment journey, we encourage you to apply. Your experience may come from customized or supported employment, community support, outreach, job coaching, disability services, employment services or another related field. We recognize that career paths are not always linear and welcome equivalent combinations of education and experience.

Key Qualifications:

• Diploma in Social Sciences, Community Support, Human Services or another relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two (2) years of recent, related experience in customized or supported employment, community support, outreach, job coaching, disability services or another related field. Experience with Discovery assessments and customized employment is an asset.
• Experience supporting individuals with complex needs, which may include mental health challenges, substance use, disabilities or health concerns, unstable housing, trauma, poverty or other personal and systemic barriers.
• Experience building trusting relationships and providing individualized, strengths-based support.
• Experience maintaining accurate client documentation, case notes or service records and using digital systems to organize and manage work.
• Comfort working independently in community settings and meeting individuals in non-traditional or informal settings.
• Valid driver's licence and use of a personal motor vehicle during working hours.

Additional Qualifications:

• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training (can be acquired after hire).
• Mental Health First Aid Training (can be acquired after hire).
• Motivational Interviewing Training and Certification considered an asset.
• Trauma-Informed Practice Training and Certification considered an asset.
• CCDP Certification considered an asset.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Customized Employment Skills

• Ability to use individualized and person-centred approaches to understand a person's strengths, interests, abilities, experiences and employment goals.
• Ability to think creatively about employment possibilities and identify opportunities beyond traditional job-search approaches.
• Ability to build relationships with employers, understand their workplaces and identify needs that could lead to customized or supported employment opportunities.
• Ability to develop opportunities that create value for both the job seeker and employer, including adapting, carving or creating employment opportunities.
• Ability to provide individualized job coaching and workplace support to help clients develop skills, independence and sustainable employment.
• Knowledge of employment barriers, workplace accommodations, community resources and wraparound supports.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based and motivational interviewing approaches.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to build trusting, respectful relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with complex needs.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with clients, employers, community service providers and other partners.
• Ability to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions and recognize strengths and possibilities that may not be immediately obvious.
• Ability to observe and respond appropriately to changes in client needs or circumstances.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, navigate conflict and remain composed in challenging situations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Case Management Skills

• Ability to balance direct client support, employer and community engagement, outreach and administrative responsibilities.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely client records and documentation.
• Ability to confidently use digital systems and workplace technology to document services and organize work.
• Ability to take initiative, adapt to changing circumstances and work effectively in a flexible, community-based environment.

Open Door Group values diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive work environment. We are looking for qualified individuals who represent, at all job levels, the diversity of the people we serve and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, individuals of all genders and sexual orientations, origins and ethnic affiliations, disabilities, ages and religions.

We strive to ensure an accessible experience for candidates. If you require an alternative method to submit your application, please contact us toll-free at 1 866 377 3670 and ask to speak with an HR representative, or you can email us at [email protected].

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in joining the Open Door Group team!