Employment Support Specialist (Contract, 3 Positions Available)

Employment Type:  Full-Time, Contract (3 Positions Available)
Position Status:  New Position
Work Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: $54,869 annually (Level 5), plus comprehensive benefits
Contract Duration:  October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027
Location: 3090 Kingston Rd, Scarborough, ON M1M 1P2

Internal Application Deadline:  Wednesday, September 23, 2026
External Application Deadline:  Friday, September 25, 2026

JOIN OUR TEAM
Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion .

The Employment Support Specialist, is responsible for assisting unemployed individuals with their career, employment and training goals under the Job Search Assisted Services component of the Integrated Employment Services (IES) model and for contributing to quality service delivery. They are required to maintain an effective working relationship with the team and the extended community in accordance with the Mission and Policies of YWCA Toronto..

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – YWCA EMPLOYMENT CENTRE (3090 KINGSTON ROAD)
YWCA Toronto Employment Centre 3090 Kingston Road is a customer-focused program model for job seekers and employers, with focus on women, young women and gender-diverse people. The YWCA Toronto Employment Centre is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development through their Employment Ontario Division (EO). We act as a one-stop service for all jobseekers and employers. We use our resources to support all job seekers, especially those more distantly removed from the workforce, to reach their goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for 10 monthly job starts (employment outcomes)
• Follows up with clients at least once per month to monitor clients’ progress.
• Ensures that comprehensive case notes and other written documentation and statistics for each file is consistently up to date in the FFAI and CaMS databases
• Identifies employment barriers and provides appropriate referrals to other services.
• Assists clients with the application process for job placements and completes Broker Incentive Agreements, as applicable.
• Prepares requests for clients’ financial supports as needed
• Conducts follow ups with clients who exited the program to capture information on job status and to offer further support.
• Administers employer contracts, including processing financial incentives, payments, and Employment-Related Financial Supports in a timely manner
• Conducts site visits at employer premises, including outside regular office hours as needed, to
• arrange and monitor work placement opportunities both before and during the job placement
• Conducts outreach to employers, community resources and programs

QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (examples: Adult Education, Career Counselling, Social Science or equivalent). Work involves application of theoretical knowledge to job-related problems. (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• 1-3 years of experience in related field.
• Group Facilitation and Life Skills Training is required.
• Strong knowledge of Employment Ontario ES model and other employment sector programs.
• Specialized training and experience in vocational testing and interpretation.
• Ability to operate in an environment that has minimal supervision and where considerable judgment and critical analyses are required.
• Experience in dealing with conflicts and diffusing contentious situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to adapt to program changes when required.
• Commitment and ability to work with diverse groups.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office Applications and online communication platforms.

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. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are a YWCA Toronto Bargaining Unit Employee. For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.

Posting Date: September 16, 2026

 

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 before 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 may use AI-supported tools to assist with parts of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by people and guided by our commitment to equity and fairness.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.