Social Services jobs in Durham District, ON

DUTIES:

Reporting to the Social Services Supervisor, the Employment, Training & Business Support Officer is responsible for strengthening community capacity by supporting MSIFN members in employment readiness, skills development, training access, and small business sustainability. The role takes a proactive, community-centered approach to helping members build skills, confidence, and pathways to economic independence through meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.

Member Employment & Training Support: Provide hands-on support to MSIFN members seeking employment, training, or self-employment, including career exploration, job search assistance, resume development, interview preparation, and navigation of available supports and services.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Support: Support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with business planning, feasibility considerations, financial literacy, operational skills, and sustainability planning.

Community Needs & Program Planning: Identify community skills gaps, workforce challenges, and training needs through engagement, data collection, and analysis, and translate findings into practical supports and programming.

Workshops & Capacity Building: Plan, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate workshops, seminars, and training sessions focused on employment readiness, workplace skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and community capacity-building.

Partnerships & Relationships: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with employers, training providers, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, government partners, internal departments, and community members to expand employment and training opportunities.

Summer Student Employment Program: Provide overall coordination and oversight of the Summer Student Employment Program, including annual planning, intake coordination, placements, orientations, work planning, monitoring, issue resolution, program wrap-up, and compliance with MSIFN policies and funding requirements.

Data, Tracking & Reporting: Collect, maintain, and analyze workforce-related data, including skills inventories, participation levels, attendance, training outcomes, and skill development results to inform planning and continuous improvement.

Budgeting & Funding: Prepare, manage, and monitor program budgets for employment, training, and business support initiatives. Identify, apply for, and administer funding that supports employment, training, youth employment, and community capacity-building initiatives, including outcome tracking and required reporting.

Mentorship & Participant Support: Mentor and support program participants, including Summer Students, by promoting professional skill development, workplace readiness, accountability, positive work habits, and strengths-based participation.

Other: Perform other related duties to support employment, training, and business support programming. Comply with privacy legislation, laws, policies, and procedures while maintaining confidentiality; comply with health and safety legislation, policies, and procedures; participate in mandatory meetings and training sessions as directed; and perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

· Diploma in Business Administration, Community Development, Employment and Training, Indigenous Studies, Workforce Development, or a related field.

· 3 years of related work experience in employment services, training coordination, small business support, or community capacity-building.

· 5 years total work experience.

· Demonstrated knowledge of First Nation governance, community dynamics, and culturally grounded approaches to employment, training, and community capacity-building.

· Strong understanding of employment readiness, workforce development, and training pathways, including supports for youth, students, and adults at varying stages of skill and career development.

· Ability to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs through practical guidance in business planning, financial literacy, operational skills, and sustainability.

· Proven skill in designing, coordinating, delivering, and evaluating workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building initiatives that respond to identified community needs.

· Experience coordinating or overseeing employment programs, including student or youth employment initiatives, with the ability to support placements, monitor participation, and promote positive learning and skill-development outcomes.

· Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including empathy, cultural awareness, and the ability to work respectfully and effectively with community members who have diverse experiences, capabilities, and life circumstances.

· Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, funding applications, briefing materials, promotional content, and correspondence for diverse audiences.

· Demonstrated ability to prepare, manage, and monitor program budgets and funding agreements, ensuring accountability, compliance with policies, and accurate reporting.

· Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing community needs, and support positive conflict resolution.

· Valid driver's license and $1M liability insurance.

· CPIC/VSS acceptable to position upon conditional offer.

· Work experience with a First Nation or Indigenous Organization is considered an asset.

· Knowledge, understanding, and respect for Indigenous culture, traditions, teachings, and community dynamics is considered an asset.

· An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, as deemed appropriate by the hiring panel, will also be considered.

Pay: $39.63-$45.41 per hour

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Paid time off
• Wellness program
• Work from home

Work Location: In person