Counsellor/Facilitator/Coach – Skilled Trades (Contract)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Contract

Work Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: $49,329 annually (Level 5), plus comprehensive benefits

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Contract period: March 24, 2025 – April 08, 2026

Internal Application Deadline: Friday, March 07, 2025

External Application Deadline: Monday, March 10, 2025

JOIN OUR TEAM

YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

The Counsellor, Facilitator, Coach is responsible for coordinating the promotion of the skilled trades program and assist with the selection of candidates who are eligible to enter Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship and/or Reskilling trades programs. The incumbent will be responsible to perform information sessions, intake and assessment of prospective clients, facilitate skilled trade and job readiness sessions, provide support and conduct evaluations, work closely with trade partners including trade schools, unions, educational institutions, community partners and employers to bring awareness of skilled trades as a viable career path through Pre-apprenticeship, Apprenticeship and/or Reskilling trades programs. The responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with the mission and policies of YWCA Toronto.

ABOUT YWCA WOMEN IN TRADES AND TECHNOLOGY

The Women in Trades and Technology programs provide training and employment service to women and gender diverse people interested in joining the construction, landscape and information technology industries. Programs are funded by MTCU (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) and are geared to educate women and gender diverse people about career opportunities in non-traditional occupations and train them in trades-specific programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans outreach activities for recruiting eligible participants for skilled trade training programs in consultation with the Manager and the training partners and collaboration with the marketing and outreach counsellors;
• Organizes all intake activities for the programs including arranging information sessions, preparing intake forms, confirming client’s attendance, verifying applicants’ documentation;
• Conduct individual needs assessments with participants and provide wrap-around supports, resources and referrals to other community services as necessary;
• Provides individual counselling and coaching to the participants and assists them to develop individual training and apprenticeship plans;
• Supports participants towards achieving journeyperson status and/or Red Seal designation;
• Provides participants information and support to enter the trades through Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships, Trade Schools, Unions and Colleges as well as provide job development counselling, job coaching, and job retention support;
• Overall responsibility for training school and trade partners and participant relations including orienting partners to participant needs, mediating contentious issues, negotiating next steps to enter the trades. This includes coordination of schedules with training schools;
• Develops, organizes and facilitates trades and employment readiness components of the program;
• Provides support to participants and conducts on-going evaluations of participant apprenticeship plan;
• Tracks the progress of participants, maintains participant records throughout the process of them becoming a journeyperson or Red Seal designee;
• Responsible for securing paid or unpaid placements for the group participants;
• Identifies employers who are willing to offer paid or unpaid placements, designs work placements including wage subsidies incentives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of an undergraduate degree in Social Work, Adult Education, and/or Career Counselling or equivalent. (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• 1-3 years’ experience in related field;
• Group Facilitation and/or Life Skills Training required;
• Counselling approach that is flexible, de-escalates tension, teaches conflict resolution and is focused on success;
• Ability to work within an anti-oppression, feminist framework;
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to handle crisis situations effectively both in person and by telephone;
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, E-mail, the Internet, Zoom, MS Teams or other videoconferencing applications, database programs; knowledge of a Learning Management System, an asset;
• Ability to maintain a positive approach and a professional manner at all times;
• Owning a motor vehicle would be an asset.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit
• Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25%
• Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days
• Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.

Posting Date: February 26, 2025

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.