Employment Counsellor, STEP Program

This is a bargaining unit position.

All applications are reviewed by our hiring team. We do not use AI in the screening or selection process.

We advise all applicants with work permits that obtaining employment with Polycultural will not guarantee the approval of any application for Permanent Resident status and emphasize that Polycultural’s positions do not currently qualify under the government’s Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) or Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) initiatives.

About Polycultural

Be a part of Polycultural Immigrant and Community services! Founded in 1993, Polycultural is dedicated to hosting an open and inclusive environment for all. We are a multicultural melting-pot perfectly reflecting Canada’s diversity. We are like a family, have a culture filled with care and genuine connection with a very inclusive environment for all. With a diverse range of programs and services, we help individuals and families build a brighter future in Canada. Serving clients from over eight different locations across the GTA and Orangeville in more than 20 languages.

Polycultural offers comprehensive benefits including employer paid Extended Health and Dental, RRSP match, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Scope

The Employment Counsellor plays a key role in supporting Government-Assisted Refugees in developing the skills, knowledge, confidence, and individualized strategies required to successfully enter the Canadian labour market. Working in a fast-paced, outcome-focused environment, the position requires strong organizational and counselling skills, adaptability, effective prioritization, and a proactive, client centred approach to addressing employment barriers.

The Employment Counsellor is responsible for the design, coordination, and delivery of employment counselling services within the Skills Training and Employment Pathway (STEP), supporting participants in beginning their employment planning from the early stages of settlement. The role guides participants through a structured employment pathway that includes assessment, individualized employment planning, skills development and training, job-search preparation, employer connections, employment placement, and ongoing employment support.

Through a combination of individual counselling and coaching, group facilitation, employment readiness activities, and ongoing follow-up, the Employment Counsellor supports participants in identifying their skills, experience, employment goals, and potential barriers to employment. The position works collaboratively with participants and other program stakeholders to develop realistic employment pathways and support participants, including internationally trained individuals, in securing meaningful and sustainable employment.

Responsibilities

Program Delivery & Curriculum Development

• Develop, coordinate, and deliver the employment counselling components of the STEP service model, supporting Government-Assisted Refugees in progressing toward meaningful and sustainable employment within established program timelines.
• Develop and facilitate engaging, interactive workshops, group sessions, and individualized coaching focused on employment readiness, essential skills, job-search strategies, workplace expectations, and occupation-specific requirements.
• Design and maintain employment-readiness curriculum, learning materials, activities, and resources that respond to participant needs and changes in the Canadian labour market.
• Support internationally trained participants and individuals interested in skilled trades to understand credential recognition, certification, licensing, apprenticeship, and other pathways relevant to their career goals.
• Deliver structured career-planning and professional-readiness activities that help participants identify transferable skills, employment options, and realistic career pathways.
• Develop individualized employment action plans in collaboration with participants, establishing clear goals, activities, timelines, and employment milestones.
• Adapt employment counselling and training approaches to reflect participants’ individual circumstances, levels of employment readiness, language abilities, transferable skills, and identified barriers to employment.

Client Services & Employment Support

• Conduct targeted outreach and engagement activities to recruit eligible participants and support achievement of established program intake targets.
• Complete comprehensive employment needs, suitability, and readiness assessments to identify participants’ skills, experience, employment goals, barriers, and appropriate supports.
• Develop individualized employment action plans with participants, establishing realistic employment goals, strategies, activities, and milestones based on their needs and career objectives.
• Provide participants with current labour market information and guidance on employment pathways, occupational requirements, credential recognition, certification, apprenticeship, and other career development options.
• Connect participants with appropriate skills training, certification, bridging, language, and employment readiness opportunities that support their identified career goals.
• Provide individualized employment counselling and coaching in résumé and cover letter development, job-search techniques, networking, job applications, interview preparation, workplace expectations, and essential employability skills.
• Support participants in identifying and effectively communicating transferable skills, international education, qualifications, and previous work experience to prospective employers.
• Maintain regular contact with participants to monitor progress against their employment action plans, identify emerging barriers, provide timely interventions, and adjust employment strategies as required.
• Collaborate with Job Developers and other program staff to refer employment-ready participants to suitable job opportunities, employer interviews, hiring events, and other employment-related opportunities.

Retention & Outcome Tracking

• Support participants in securing, transitioning into, and maintaining meaningful and sustainable employment.
• Provide ongoing employment retention support through scheduled follow-ups, individualized coaching, and timely interventions to address workplace challenges and support successful employment outcomes.
• Monitor participant progress toward established employment and retention milestones and identify additional supports or referrals where required.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive participant records, case notes, service activities, employment outcomes, and follow-up documentation in program databases and case files.
• Track employment placements, retention outcomes, and other established program performance indicators to ensure progress toward program targets.
• Prepare accurate reports and contribute to program monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities as required.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain, review, and update employment-related resources, workshop materials, tools, and labour market information to ensure they remain current, relevant, and accessible to participants and staff.
• Contributes to the development and improvement of employment resources, workshops, and service delivery tools based on participant needs and program priorities.
• Participate actively in team meetings, case consultations, training sessions, professional development activities, and program planning initiatives.
• Collaborate with colleagues and community partners to support coordinated service delivery and positive participant outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement by identifying service gaps, sharing observations, and recommending opportunities to enhance program delivery and participant experience.
• Maintain current knowledge of employment services, labour market developments, newcomer employment needs, and relevant community resources.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Adaptability

Adapts approaches, priorities, and communication styles in response to changing participant needs, program requirements, and workplace demands. Remains flexible, solution-focused, and open to learning new approaches while effectively managing changing circumstances and priorities.

Communications

Communicates clearly, respectfully, and effectively with participants, colleagues, employers, and community partners. Adapts communication style to meet diverse cultural, language, and individual needs, actively listens, and promotes open and constructive dialogue.

Initiative

Demonstrates a proactive and resourceful approach to supporting participant success. Anticipates challenges, identifies opportunities for improvement, takes appropriate action with minimal direction, and develops practical solutions to strengthen service delivery and employment outcomes.

Service

Demonstrates a strong commitment to providing responsive, respectful, inclusive, and participant centred services. Seeks to understand individual needs and circumstances and works collaboratively with participants, colleagues, and community partners to achieve positive employment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Employment Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Adult Education, Career Development, Counselling, Human Services, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience providing employment counselling, career development, employment services, or related supports to diverse client populations.
• Demonstrated experience conducting employment assessments, identifying employment barriers, developing individualized employment action plans, and supporting participants in achieving employment goals.
• Strong knowledge of the Canadian labour market, employment trends, job-search strategies, recruitment processes, and workplace expectations.
• Knowledge of credential recognition, skilled trades certification, apprenticeship pathways, and professional licensing processes relevant to internationally trained individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective employment counselling and coaching, including résumé and cover letter development, interview preparation, job-search strategies, career planning, and employment-readiness support.
• Strong organizational, case-management, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage a high-volume caseload, competing priorities, client documentation, data tracking, and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of immigration, refugee, settlement, and employment services, including programs and community resources available within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
• Strong understanding of the employment and settlement challenges experienced by newcomers and refugees, including systemic barriers that may affect their social, cultural, educational, and economic integration.
• Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships with participants from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Experience facilitating employment-readiness workshops, group sessions, presentations, or other adult-learning activities is an asset.
• Experience in community outreach, participant engagement, community development, and the promotion of employment programs and services.
• Strong computer proficiency and ability to use technology for case management, client documentation, data tracking, reporting, virtual service delivery, and employment-related research.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, outcome focused environment.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings or other hours as required to meet program and participant needs.
• Valid driver’s licence and access to reliable transportation to support community outreach and program activities, as required.

Other requirements

• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check (completed when offer is made)

Important Notice to Job Applicants

We strongly advise all applicants to apply for positions only through official and verified channels. Please ensure you are using legitimate links—either from our official website or trusted job platforms. Avoid third-party links or unsolicited messages and never share personal or financial information outside of secure, authorized application portals.

Polycultural reserves the right to post internally and externally.

In support of persons with disabilities, Polycultural asks job applicants with disabilities who require accommodation in the recruitment and selection process, to please advise Human Resources, if contacted for an interview/testing, so that suitable accommodation can be arranged. (In compliance with AODA, 2005, Integrated Accessibility Standards). If you require assistance in sending your resume due to a disability, please contact Human Resources directly.

We thank everyone for their interest in Polycultural; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services hires based on merit and is committed to employment equity.

No phone calls please.