Workforce Specialist, Base 4 Success - Contract Until December 2027

360°kids; Richmond Hill; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

360°kids is seeking a Workforce Specialist in York Region to market and promote a 12‑week youth employment program for high‑needs youth. The role focuses on employer outreach, relationship building, and coordinating placements with a strong youth supports network.

You will assess youth, facilitate intakes, complete Work Trial Agreements, and ensure safe, effective job opportunities aligned with each youth’s goals and needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years’ experience working with “at‑risk” or street involved youth.
• Great communication and adaptability with diverse youth.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are assets.

Responsibilities

• Market, outreach, and promotion of the program to employers and community.
• Build relationships with employers to provide youth employment opportunities and mentorship.
• Coordinate intake, placement contracts, and progress monitoring for youth.
• Support youth with access to wraparound resources, referrals, and advocacy services.
• Travel to attend employer visits and program events as needed.
• Collaborate with team to ensure placements reflect youth needs and goals.

Skills

Experience with at-risk youth

Education

Post-Secondary degree/diploma in youth/child field

Job description

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.