Workforce Specialist, Base 4 Success - Contract Until December 2027

360°kids is a vitally important community agency serving all of York Region. We have been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for more than 35 years as we work to improve the lives of unhoused and marginalized youth and families in York Region. At 360°kids, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of youth. These proven strategies help to keep youth safe by providing stable housing options with 360° wraparound supports.

Base 4 Success (B4S) is a 12-week youth employment program providing higher needs, unemployed and out of school York Region youth between the ages of 15 and 30, combining career counselling; employability skill building workshops and certifications; and hands-on workforce opportunities to foster successful entry to the working world and develop a path to living wages.

The Workforce Specialist role is to market, outreach, and promote the program to employers and community; ensuring participants access to supportive research and cold call to obtain job leads and community information; relationship build and assess youth to ensure successful job matching.

The Workforce Specialist will foster a referral stream of employers, focussing on supporting youth who have barriers to employment are at risk of experiencing poor transitions between education and work.

The Workforce Specialist will assist youth to access community program wrap around supports, ensuring access to resources, counselling, referrals, and advocacy services as needed.

Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00AM – 4:00 PM

Key Responsibilities:

• Marketing, outreach, and promotion of program to employers and community.
• Build relationships with employers to create access for youth to employment; creates awareness to the benefits of mentoring youth in employment through research, marketing, outreach and cold calls; program promotion at community events.
• Assist in implementing programming and employer database.
• Build a positive referral base with community partners.
• Acts as a support to employers for questions and concerns regarding the program and the youth placements.
• Work alongside Employment Specialists, Social Innovation Coordinator and Team Lead to ensure job opportunities reflect youth needs, abilities, employment goals, and overall suitability.
• Participate in the program intake process as needed.
• Complete placement contracts (Work Trial Agreements) with youth and employers
• Act as a support to employers and handle any questions or concerns that arise.
• Perform work site visits annually to ensure safe and appropriate work environment.
• Liaise with employer/youth/team to ensure placement and action plan success and adjust where necessary.
• Monitoring job placements, liaise with employers, youth, and other team members regarding progress.
• Support participants by transporting to/from interviews, being present for start of first shifts, as needed.
• Check in as deemed necessary (daily, twice/week, once /week, etc.)
  • Problem-solve challenges in the workplace
  • Introduce coping strategies for the workplace
  • Introduce self-care and self-awareness
• Provide extended employer support and training around mentorship of a young person facing mental health
• Represents the organization and program as required with various aspects of the community including agency partners, employers, donors, coworkers, volunteers, schools, clients, and family members.
• Relationship building and assessment of youth to ensure successful job matching.
• Coach and support youth throughout program.
• Act as a positive role model, mentor, and support for youth as they learn new skills.
• Co-ordinate youth action plan activities, monitor progress, and keep client case notes.
• Activate and sustain youth records on funder database (GCOS) and internal case management system (as applicable)
• Attends training workshops and relevant conferences that pertain to the role.

Education & Skills required

• Post-Secondary degree/diploma in a Child/youth related field (e.g. Child and Youth, Social Service Worker, Social Worker, Psychology, Sociology) or the equivalent combination of education and experience working with youth.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working with “at-risk” or street involved youth.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification an asset.
• Current Broad Record Check (criminal background check).
• Car and valid driver’s license with a clean driver’s abstract, and $2M liability insurance required.
• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of working with youth, including understanding of the regulatory environment (e.g. CFSA).
• Demonstrated client focused counselling skills and role modelling.
• Must possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to be adaptable with a flexible approach taking into consideration the unique qualities of each client.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills that promote positive team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Will possess a broad knowledge of community resources and the ability to strongly advocate for clients and professional referrals.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization. Apply Today – We Review Applications as they come in!

360°kids is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible organization. We are dedicated to having a workforce that reflects the diversity of York Region with a variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome and encourage applicants from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

We recognize that lived experiences shape the way individuals navigate the workplace, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment. If you are a member of an equity-deserving group and feel comfortable sharing this with us, we welcome you to do so. This information is completely voluntary and will be used solely to help us improve our hiring practices and workplace inclusivity.

Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants that require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to notify the People and Culture Department when contacted for an interview. We will work with you to meet your access needs in an equitable and inclusive way.

Upon joining 360°kids, you'll be welcomed into a fun and collaborative environment where we truly value our employees and want to see them succeed. We thank everyone for their interest and appreciate the time put into applying, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The use of artificial intelligence is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants. All hiring decisions are made by our managers and People & Culture team.