CharityVillage

About The Career Foundation:

The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization that offers a wide range of employment, training, and HR services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of multiple locations, we now help thousands of people each year successfully accomplish their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals has described The Career Foundation as caring, compassionate, innovative, and team-oriented. For more information about us and our services, please visit our website at CareerFoundation.com.

Some of the benefits and features available to our employees include: 

• Competitive compensation
• A comprehensive Health Benefits plan that includes massage therapy, naturopath services, travel coverage, and much more
• A comprehensive Dental Insurance plan
• An RRSP Matching benefit
• An Employee & Family Assistance program
• Employee wellness initiatives
• Paid days off for religious observance purposes
• Paid days off for personal wellness purposes

Program and Role Description:
The Career Foundation’s Disability Employment Services Program is dedicated to supporting job seekers accessing the Ontario government’s Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Our program offers comprehensive services to these job seekers, including job search assistance, job matching and placement, job coaching, retention support, and more. Employers committed to inclusive hiring can also benefit from our tailored services, such as direct access to skilled job seekers with disabilities, assistance in organizing and hosting community hiring events, and guidance on effectively onboarding and coaching new hires to ensure long-term job retention.

As the Team Lead, ODSP Employment Services and Placement Specialist, you will manage a caseload of clients assigned to you while leading the program team, which includes one full-time ODSP Employment Services and Placement Specialist and one part-time Project Assistant. You will oversee the day-to-day operations of the program delivered at two locations—York and Scarborough—ensuring the effective delivery of services that support clients currently accessing the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) in securing and sustaining meaningful employment for up to 12 months. In addition, you will lead the team in achieving funder-mandated performance targets, driving results, ensuring compliance with funder guidelines, and building strong partnerships with employers and community organizations. You will have individual targets assigned to you that result in clients achieving successful outcomes.

Position Type:

• Full-time (37.5 hours per week) contract until March 31, 2026, with excellent potential to lead to other opportunities

Base Location and Travel Requirements:

• The base office location for this opportunity is The Career Foundation’s York office, located at Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave. W. The Team Lead, ODSP Employment Services and Placement Specialist, is also required to work from our Scarborough office, located at Kingston Rd. & Midland Ave., where the program also operates. Travel to other offices and stakeholder sites is also required to support the core deliverables of the program and to help lead clients toward successful outcomes.  
• The successful candidate must possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and have access to a reliable vehicle for travel between sites and to other stakeholder locations to meet the needs of the program.  
• This position currently follows a hybrid-remote schedule, allowing for one work-from-home day per week. The hybrid arrangement is contingent on performance and operational requirements and necessitates a private, dedicated workspace with reliable high-speed internet. A company laptop, cell phone, and other necessary equipment will be provided.

Background Check Requirement:

• An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Reporting to:

• Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services

Responsibilities include:
Employment Counselling, Coaching, and Case Management

• Serves a caseload of clients annually, ensuring client progress is actively monitored and documented, with adjustments made to plans to achieve employment outcomes consistently.
• Facilitates high-quality interventions and wraparound resources required to help clients address and overcome barriers that may prevent them from achieving successful employment outcomes.
• Conducts intakes and completes individualized needs assessments for clients to establish their eligibility for services and pre-employment needs.
• Collects, organises, and analyses client information through completed needs assessments and other mechanisms to appraise clients’ interests, aptitudes, and abilities to create individualized action plans that lead to successful outcomes.
• Provides solution-based employment counselling and ongoing support to an assigned caseload of clients in the areas of job search, job placement, job coaching, job retention, and other areas to support clients in achieving employment goals.
• Consistently monitors and tracks caseload success rates to achieve individual targets that contribute to the team’s overall objectives and expectations from the program’s funder.
• Provides effective job search readiness support services to clients on relevant topics, such as job search strategies, interview preparation, credential assessments, language support, and other areas to help them achieve successful outcomes, such as developing effective résumés.
• Develops and implements innovative, solution-focused employment strategies tailored to unique barriers and labour market trends.
• Empowers clients with self-advocacy skills to articulate their needs and strengths in workplace settings.
• Determines client eligibility for financial supports, administers eligible supports, and ensures proper documentation is on file to support expenditures.
• Guides and supports clients in completing applications for employment and training opportunities.
• Conducts timely follow-ups with clients throughout their job search efforts, providing repeat, one-on-one job coaching sessions and support as needed to review goals, address barriers, and ensure clients are making progress toward goals, including facilitating community-based referrals when needed.
• Supports clients in acquiring a clear understanding of industry perspectives and other information pertaining to the job opportunities to which they are applying.
• Designs and facilitates support group sessions on entrepreneurial thinking, self-employment, and disability disclosure and accommodations for workplace success.
• Provides comprehensive coordination of accommodation supports for clients, ensuring that their specific needs are met to enable full participation in services, programs, or employment opportunities.
• Enters and maintains thorough written documentation in online data reporting systems, ensuring that caseload files are up-to-date and ready for file audits.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Job Development, Placement, and Retention Support

• Establishes and nurtures strategic, long-term partnerships with inclusive employers and professional networks to create diverse and sustainable employment opportunities for clients.
• Leverages job carving and customized employment strategies to align job roles with clients’ unique skills and abilities.
• Provides comprehensive retention support through regular check-ins with clients and employers, addressing challenges promptly and collaboratively.
• Develops individualized retention plans for clients, including goal setting, skill development, and workplace integration strategies to support long-term success.
• Works with employers to implement inclusive onboarding processes and workplace accommodations tailored to clients' needs.
• Facilitates ongoing communication between clients and employers to ensure expectations are met and to pre-emptively address potential workplace conflicts.
• Monitors job retention and career advancement metrics, using insights to continuously improve placement strategies and support services.
• Organizes post-placement support groups or one-on-one sessions for clients to address topics such as workplace conflict resolution, time management, and career progression.
• Utilizes advanced digital tools and platforms to streamline job matching, enhance employer engagement, and track post-placement outcomes effectively.
• Conducts outreach to employers across various industries to promote The Career Foundation’s ODSP program, creating job opportunities tailored to clients’ needs.
• Collaborates with clients on job search activities, including identifying opportunities, cold calling employers, and networking to secure meaningful placements.
• Matches clients to suitable roles by leveraging employer relationships and advertised job openings, ensuring alignment with their qualifications and goals.
• Negotiates and manages employment agreements, including placement and incentive structures, while ensuring compliance with program guidelines.
• Develops and oversees on-the-job training plans, conducting follow-ups to ensure expectations are met and identifying areas for improvement.
• Provides on-the-job coaching and support, accompanying clients during their initial days in a new job to facilitate a smooth transition and build their confidence in the workplace.
• Acts as a mediator between clients and employers to resolve workplace issues and foster productive relationships.
• Collaborates with clients to build skills that enhance job stability, such as stress management, workplace communication, and adaptability to changing job demands.
• Works collaboratively with team members to develop innovative job development strategies and retention solutions to enhance client success rates.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Team Leadership

• Provides leadership and expertise to the small project team in areas of customer service, career exploration, assessment, case management, information and referral services, job search, job matching, placement and retention, and other areas of client service.
• Develops program strategies and workflows designed to meet or exceed funder-mandated targets for employment outcomes.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with community organizations to enhance service delivery and expand client resources.
• Provides detailed, accurate, and timely reports on program performance, emphasizing the achievement of employment outcomes and adherence to funding requirements.
• Provides regular feedback and support to team members, emphasizing the importance of achieving employment outcomes as a core responsibility.
• Facilitates daily team meetings to strategize for client case conferences, review progress toward goals, and guide the team in troubleshooting and brainstorming solutions.
• Conducts daily reviews of client service quality by examining case histories and regularly auditing client files, aiming to achieve top ratings during external audits.
• Conducts performance appraisals with team members, ensuring thorough documentation.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Knowledge of the Ontario government’s Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and experience working with job seekers with disabilities, is required.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in vocational counselling, job coaching, job matching, job development, retention support, supported employment, or disability services - or experience that is directly transferrable to the responsibilities outlined in the job posting, such as recruitment, community outreach, or employer relationship development is required.
• A post-secondary degree or diploma in Career Development or a related field such as Social Services or Psychology.
• Comprehensive understanding of disabilities, inclusive practices, community resources, supports available to job seekers, and current labour market trends.
• Previous experience in disability case management, return-to-work coordination, and team leadership are considered significant assets.
• Candidates who possess the above qualifications, as well as prior experience in a team leadership role, will be prioritized.
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Management Certificate, Trauma-Informed Care Certification, and/or Certificate in Disability Studies are considered assets.
• Excellent relationship development skills.
• Must be willing to work from The Career Foundation’s York and Scarborough locations, with travel to other sites as needed, and possess a valid Ontario G driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle for community outreach, client and employer engagement, and other essential job functions that require local travel within the communities served.
• A professional and courteous approach to client service, with a high level of respect for the diversity of the people served.
• Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to uphold the organisation’s core values.
• Proven track record in a results-driven environment and experience meeting assigned targets.
• High ethical and confidentiality standards, with proven experience maintaining sensitive information and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and good judgement.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Bilingualism is considered an asset.
• Proven attention to detail, time management, and the ability to multi-task to meet deadlines and achieve targets and objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Outlook 365 applications, including MS Teams and SharePoint.
• Must possess the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
• Familiarity with Power BI is considered an asset.
• Willingness and flexibility to occasionally work outside regular business hours when required to ensure the team meets all objectives.
• Dedicated work ethic with a positive and client-centred approach to work.