Education and Employment Specialist

Comservice; Maple Ridge; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

MapleRidge/Pitt Meadows Community Services is seeking a temp full-time Education and Employment Specialist to help youth achieve education and employment goals through a strengths-based, person-centered approach. You will provide personalized career guidance, skills development, and barrier reduction while collaborating with clients, employers, and community partners to create inclusive opportunities.

Responsibilities include conducting assessments, developing Employment Action Plans,

Qualifications

• Diploma in a related human/social service field.
• Minimum one (1) year recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience in career development, client outreach, group facilitation, individual employment/career counseling, and portfolio development.
• Experience supporting youth with mental health and substance use challenges.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify client strengths, interests, abilities, and aspirations.
• Support youth in achieving employment and post-secondary education goals, including transitions to training, college, university, trades, and adult learning programs.
• Use motivational interviewing and strengths-based techniques to empower clients and build self-confidence.
• Co-create Employment Action Plans reflecting goals, strengths, and lived experiences.
• Regularly review and adjust plans based on client progress and feedback.
• Assist youth with navigating applications, registration, course planning, funding, and program transitions.
• Collaborate with post-secondary institutions, training providers, and education partners to reduce barriers and support retention.
• Advocate for academic and training accommodations related to mental health or life circumstances.
• Facilitate workshops and one-on-one sessions on pre-employment skills, job search, resume writing, and interview preparation.

Skills

Assessments

Career guidance

Motivational interviewing

Action planning

Employer partnerships

EDI outreach

Education

Diploma in human/social service field

Job description

Education and Employment Specialist

MapleRidge/Pitt Meadows Community Services is currently looking for a temp full-timeEducation and Employment Specialist who supports youth in achieving theireducation and employment goals through a strengths-based, person-centeredapproach. This role provides personalized career guidance, skills development,and barrier reduction, ensuring that each client’s unique strengths, interests,and abilities are recognized and actively fostered. The Education and EmploymentSpecialist collaborates with clients, employers, and community partners tocreate inclusive and accessible opportunities, facilitate workplace andeducational accommodations, and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in allaspects of service delivery. By maintaining consistent, ongoing support andengagement, the Education and Employment Specialist empowers youth tosuccessfully transition into the labour market and participate in theircommunities.

KNOWLEDGESKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify eachclient’s strengths, interests, abilities, and aspirations.
• Supports youth in achieving employment andpost-secondary education goals, including retention, re-engagement, andsuccessful transitions into training, college, university, trades, and adultlearning programs.
• Use motivational interviewing and strengths-basedtechniques to empower clients and build self-confidence.
• Partner with clients to co-create Employment ActionPlans that reflect their goals, strengths, and lived experiences.
• Regularly review and adjust plans in response toclient progress, feedback, and changing circumstances.
• Support youth toaccess, transition into, and remain engaged in post-secondary education,training, and trades programs.
• Assist youth withnavigating applications, registration, course planning, funding, and programtransitions.
• Collaborate withpost-secondary institutions, training providers, and education partners toreduce barriers and support retention.
• Advocate foracademic and training accommodations related to mental health, disability, orlife circumstances.
• Facilitate workshops and one-on-one sessions onpre-employment skills, job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing,and interview preparation.
• Provide access to resources and opportunities forskill-building, including volunteer placements, job shadowing, and trainingprograms.
• Build and maintain relationships with local employers,community agencies, and service providers to expand opportunities for youth.
• Promote EDI principles in all outreach and partnershipactivities, ensuring diverse representation and inclusive practices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience

• Diploma in a related human/socialservice field
• Minimum one (1) year recentrelated experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, andexperience
• Experience in career development,client outreach, group facilitation, individual employment/career counseling,and portfolio development
• Experience supporting youth withmental health and substance use challenges

Additional Requirements:

• Criminal Record Check is required.
• Current First Aid and CPR Certificate.
• Valid and unrestricted Class 5 BC Driver’sLicense with access to a safe and reliable vehicle.
• Acceptable Driver’s Abstract (providedannually).
• Position requires Union Membership.

Shift/Schedule/Hours per week: Temporary FT;35 hours per week

Expected Start Date: ASAP

Wage/Salary: $30.95/hour

Grid Level: 12

ApplicationDeadline: Position will remain open until filled

We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the communities we proudly serve, while encompassing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations including queer, trans, and two-spirit people. In our words and actions, we recognize the challenges for those facing inequalities, while acknowledging our privilege, as we continuously strive to remove bias and reduce barriers that individuals may experience in the hiring and job-seeking process. We invite feedback from all applications who apply for roles within the Agency.