JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Employer Retention Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Employer Engagement
COMPANY: Skills for Change
LOCATION: 791 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto ON
REPORTS TO: Supervisor, Employer Engagement
CONTRACT TYPE: Contract (Union)
HOURS 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday with occasional evening and/or weekend hours)
PAY RATE 22.55
REPORTS TO Supervisor, Employer Engagement & Partnerships
START DATE Immediately
END DATE March 29, 2025
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
With 41 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected non-profit charity with a province wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for skilled trades, women, and youth. We have 5 locations across the GTA and serve 16,000 clients annually.
PROGRAM NATURE AND SCOPE:
The Immigrant, Refugee and Settlement (IRS) hub is a coordinated suite of programs and services to support the social, civic and economic integration of newcomers to Canada. IRS programs operate like a “hub,” delivering a hybrid model of classroom and online learning, information sessions, referrals, mentoring support as well as itinerant programs and services to meet the needs of immigrants and refugees in the various communities within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Supporting the IRS hub, Employer Retention Specialist will establish meaningful and sustainable relationships with existing and new employers, corporations and cross-sector leaders who can provide our clients with opportunities to build their skills and create opportunities for long-term retention and opportunities for growth. The Employer Retention Specialist will focus on developing a process to provide training and guidance to employers and their human resource units on talent and career management of newcomers and refugees, credential assessments and specific needs of clients experiencing multiple barriers including financial barriers. The Specialist will play a key role in growing Skills for Change’s employer base by focusing on acquisition and retention.
The ideal candidate has:
◉ A passion for supporting the successful integration of refugees and immigrants into the Canadian workforce.
◉ Proven experience in program development, particularly in designing and implementing effective mentoring and employer engagement strategies.
◉ A track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with employers, industry associations, and community agencies. ◉ Strong business acumen and the ability to identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
◉ Excellent networking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at various levels
◉ Demonstrated proficiency in client relationship management, employing diverse sales approaches, and implementing successful recruitment strategies.
◉ Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey complex information to diverse ◉ audiences.
◉ Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
A solid understanding of the current labor market, including employer expectations, in-demand skills, and education requirements. ◉ Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by refugees and immigrants. • A commitment to continuous learning, staying updated on market trends, and being proactive in identifying opportunities for skills and education training.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
◉ Support the development and execution of an employer retention strategy and activities to support employers’ preparedness for labour market trends as it relates to newcomer and refugee settlement and integration into the labour market
◉ Aid the development of coaching techniques on strategies to create opportunities for newcomer employment and employment for equity-seeking groups to roll out to employers and their HR units.
◉ Assist with the development of a process to engage employers on the unique skills of clients and identifying specific needs of the role. Work with employers on the interview process and to develop training plans to support client success.
◉ Create a process to track the clients’ employment and ongoing employer needs.
◉ Develop new job opportunities and postings with existing employers, aligning with our strategic targets and increasing diversity of programs from which employers hire
◉ Track employer recruitment activities and develop cross-selling tactics.
◉ Collaborate on the creation of strategies to engage new employers,
◉ provide presentations on Skills for Change’s services to grow employer services.
◉ Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop employment objectives.
◉ Provide subject matter expertise for an online employer portal, focused on employer supports to hire and retain clients. ◉ Contribute to the online marketing of new and existing employer services.
◉ Design and deliver engaging and innovative events and workshops for potential employers.
◉ Attend relevant community meetings; participate in relevant councils, roundtables and committees
◉ Measure and report on the performance of all outreach, marketing and assess impact
◉ Actively contribute to business planning and performance monitoring to support agreement and delivery of program/agency targets ◉ Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with different functional groups
◉ Maintain employer files, update employer information on Funders’ and Agency required databases
◉ Participate in the evaluation of the program’s effectiveness and present solutions to enhance service effectiveness on an ongoing basis and as part of the larger agency service system
◉ Participate in team meetings, staff meetings, and all other board and committee meetings as required
◉ Handle all other duties as assigned by Management
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
◉ Post-Secondary degree in marketing, administration, social services, immigrant settlement, or a related discipline.
◉ A minimum of 2 years of experience in client relationship management, recruitment strategies, and marketing to employers using diverse sales approaches.
◉ Excellent interpersonal and client-focused skills, with a positive attitude towards change.
◉ Exceptional verbal, written communication, and presentation skills.
◉ Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and the ability to create and deliver compelling presentations.
◉ Excellent time management and teamwork skills.
◉ Knowledge of the current labor market, employer expectations, and training and education requirements.
◉ Understanding of the unique challenges and concerns faced by refugees and immigrants.
PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO:hr@skillsforchange.org
As part of our commitment to diverse & inclusion racial justice and reconciliation, Skills for Change encourages applications from those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other under-represented communities. Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in alternate format on request.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.