Employment Counsellor (GBV Hub)

YWCA Hamilton; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Hamilton is seeking an Employment Support Specialist dedicated to empowering job seekers facing complex barriers. This position involves developing tailored action plans, conducting assessments, and facilitating training sessions. Join a team committed to fostering economic independence for individuals affected by gender-based violence in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Benefits

On-the-job training and professional development opportunities

Childcare discounts

Opportunities to get involved in our community

A competitive total rewards package

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in counseling, job coaching or human resources.
• Current knowledge of best practices in mental health and gender-based violence work.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and also work effectively in a team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes, including needs and risk assessments and create employment action plans.
• Assist clients in identifying and overcoming barriers to employment.
• Support job seekers through resume building, interview preparation, training, and coaching.

Skills

Counseling

Job Coaching

Communication

Crisis De-escalation

Community Engagement

Education

Completion of 2 years’ college in career development, human resources, social services or business

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1889, YWCA Hamilton is known as one of Hamilton’s original social innovators and works from a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive framework. We are dedicated to strengthening women’s and girl’s voices, broadening their choices, building dynamic leadership and providing essential services that promote safe, inclusive and equitable communities.

YWork for us?

At YWCA Hamilton , we are intentional about fostering a workplace culture that values positive physical and emotional well-being through our values of Intersectional Feminism, People Centred, Belonging, Responsibility, and Partnerships. We invest in our employees so that we can bring our values into the communities in which we live. We offer our employees:

• On-the-job training and professional development opportunities
• Childcare discounts
• Opportunities to get involved in our community
• A competitive total rewards package

If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of women, children, and families every day, we would love for you to join our team!

Position Description

Job Code: 3-HUB-2025

Department: Employment and Training

Reports to: Manager, Employment & Training (Skilled Trades)

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours/week

Contract Start Date: TBD

Contract End Date: December 31, 2026

Posting Date: June 20, 2025

Supports job seekers by providing employment support and job training to individuals with complex barriers including but not limited to individuals who have experienced violence using a strength-based, trauma-informed, intersectional, feminist framework, new immigrant and lack of job market experience. This role is part of an interdisciplinary team through a gender-based violence hub focused on prevention, support, and economic empowerment. This role will work closely with community partners, educators, service providers, and families to deliver trauma-informed programming aimed at improving stability and economic independence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Conducts intakes, including needs and risk assessments and creates employment action plans;

· Develop a job search strategy with clear steps, actions, and goals for each client/participant, provide advice and coaching through each stage and throughout the reskilling program;

· Adapt programming to respond to concerns related to gender-based violence;

· Implement evidence-based curriculum to support women fleeing violence in gaining economic independence;

· Assist clients/participants in identifying and overcoming barriers to employment. Focus on expanding their options as it relates to industry, position, and career opportunity;

· Provides solutions-based 1-1 counselling in the areas of job search, job placement, career decision making, job maintenance, or other identified employment needs;

· Supports job seekers through resume building, interview preparation, training, and coaching, to develop the job seekers/clients’ skill set and knowledge;

· Liaise with member associations and resource programs to support clients/participants as they access and secure plans for childcare, transportation, housing, technical resources, etc.

· Works collaboratively with the employer and community in the specialized, individualized planning to identify, secure and maintain employment;

· Assists employers with workplace accommodations including site visit, employer site reviews, and on-site job coaching;

· Identifies and assesses client’s need for job coaching; assists clients in the development of appropriate work habits and attitudes for the workplace;

· Collaborate with employers and seeks out employment opportunities, including identifying and contacting new prospective employers in industries/labor market that job seekers have identified as area of interest;

· Facilitates, develops and evaluates group/individual training with regards to pre-employment and job maintenance issues;

· Nurtures and maintains relationships with community partners and employers;

· Tracks job seeker/clients’ progress and outcomes and documents all activities and provides

accurate and timely reports to Manager;

· Maintains accurate records/statistics and evaluation information related to the activities

undertaken/outcomes achieved;

· Develops and implements appropriate program guidelines and procedures/templates for GBV Hub to ensure consistency and excellence;

· Provides program reports to Manager as required;

· Understands and incorporates emerging trends, leading practices, industry professional standards;

· Works safely, reports all workplace hazards and follows all YWCA Hamilton Health and Safety policies and procedures;

· Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;

· Works extensive pieces of client’s confidential data, ensuring confidentiality per privacy policies and YWCA Hamilton policies and procedures;

· Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;

· Performs other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

· Works 37.50 hours work week on site, including evenings and weekends as and when required.

Qualifications

· Completion of 2 years’ college in career development, human resources, social services or business, or equivalent;

· Minimum 2 years’ experience in counselling, job coaching or human resources;

· Current knowledge of best practices in mental health and gender-based violence work (e.g., safety planning, crisis de-escalation, suicide prevention, harm reduction, child abuse etc.).

· Demonstrated experience working with individuals who have experienced abuse using a trauma informed, intersectional, feminist, anti-oppression framework

· Career Development Practitioner (CDP) is an asset;

· Must have a current Mental Health First Aid and ASIST certifications or willingness to obtain at own cost;

· Must have current Emergency First Aid and CPR certificate or willingness to obtain at own cost;

· Ability to work on-site with availability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required;

· Must provide a current Criminal Record Judicial Matters Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;

· Demonstrate ability to learn and adapt to new online systems and emerging technologies;

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

· Must be able to lead and work from a feminist, anti-racist / anti-oppressive perspective for operations and strategic planning;

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

· Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and also work effectively in a team;

· Knowledge of the dynamics of gender-based violence, including power and control, cycles of abuse, and systemic barriers;

· Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset.

As part of YWCA Hamilton’s commitment to Access and Equity, we strive to represent the diverse communities that we serve. Individuals who are women, First Nations, Métis, immigrant, refugee, LGBTQ2S+; individuals with disabilities; and individuals from racialized communities or other marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. Please inform us of any accommodation requests.

Please Note :Personal information collected during the recruitment process will only be used for employment opportunities only in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. Only applications from individuals eligible to work in Canada will be considered.

Thank you for your interest in YWCA Hamilton. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.