Program Support Specialist
National Youth Thrive Program – Edmonton, Alberta
About The Career Foundation:
The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization and registered charity that offers a wide range of employment, training, and workforce development services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of seven locations in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, as well as offices in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, we now help thousands of people each year successfully achieve their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals has described The Career Foundation as caring, compassionate, innovative, and team-oriented. For more information about us and our services, please visit our website at CareerFoundation.com.
Some of the benefits and features available to our employees include:
Competitive compensation
A comprehensive health benefits plan that includes massage therapy, naturopath services, travel coverage, and much more
A comprehensive dental insurance plan
An RRSP Matching benefit
An Employee & Family Assistance program
Employee wellness initiatives
Paid days off for religious observance purposes
Paid days off for personal wellness purposes
Program and Role Description: The Career Foundation’s Youth Thrive program operates both regionally and nationally, offering youth a variety of activities such as professional skills workshops, a virtual retreat, and volunteer placements. These opportunities help youth participants gain valuable skills and experiences, engage in important community projects, and promote civic engagement and social inclusion. Our national Youth Thrive program is available to youth aged 16 to 30 living in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, or Nova Scotia, while our regional Youth Thrive program serves eligible youth living in Ontario. Both programs particularly focus on youth who identify as Indigenous or are underserved from equity-deserving groups.
This Program Support Specialist position is available with our national Youth Thrive program, based in Edmonton, Alberta. In this role, you will be an integral member of the project team.
Some of your responsibilities will include presenting the program to potential youth participants, including those who identify as Indigenous or who are underserved members of equity-deserving groups; conducting thorough assessments and intakes; and developing tailored service plans with appropriate interventions to help youth participants achieve successful outcomes in their volunteer placements.
Utilizing your excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, you will also perform important quality assurance and administrative functions to ensure data integrity and high-quality record-keeping, among other duties.
You will be responsible for achieving targets relevant to your role, contributing to the team’s collective ability to meet all contractual requirements set by the program’s funder.
Position Type:
Full-time (37.5 hours per week) contract until March 31, 2027 with good potential for permanency.
Starting Salary:
The starting annual salary for this position is $57,000.00 (or $58k if the successful candidate holds a master’s degree, full bilingualism in French, or full proficiency in Sign Language).
Base Location:
This position is based from our satellite office in Edmonton, Alberta, and requires frequent local travel to community partner locations and other stakeholder sites throughout Alberta to meet the core deliverables of the position and support program objectives. The successful candidate should possess a valid Alberta driver’s licence without restrictions and a reliable vehicle to meet the core deliverables of the position that require frequent travel throughout Alberta, including to remote areas not accessible by transit.
The position also currently operates under a hybrid-remote schedule, permitting one work-from-home day per week, contingent on individual performance and program operational requirements, and is therefore subject to change at any time. The hybrid schedule requires a private work-from-home space with reliable, high-speed internet. A company laptop, cell phone, and other equipment will be provided.
Please note that the work schedule for this position also requires flexibility and availability to work some evening hours and occasional weekends to meet the needs of the program.
Vacancy Status:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Start:
As soon as possible.
Reporting to:
Program Coordinator
Vulnerable Sector Check:
An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).
Use of Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not currently used to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.
Responsibilities include:
Information Sessions, Youth Intakes, and Service Planning
Presents program information to youth in a clear, engaging, and motivating manner, ensuring they fully understand the objectives, time commitment, and benefits of the program, while highlighting the numerous benefits of civic engagement and volunteerism, with an emphasis on personal growth and community impact.
Conducts thorough screening and completes detailed intakes with potential youth participants for the program, ensuring they meet all eligibility requirements.
Assesses each youth participant’s individual needs and volunteer goals, tailoring support to help them achieve their volunteer aspirations, and develops tailored service plans with appropriate interventions to guide them toward successful outcomes in the program.
Obtains all necessary signed documentation from youth participants, ensuring documents are accurately completed to maintain compliance and accuracy, and enters and maintains accurate and up-to-date case notes in online data reporting systems, ensuring files are ready for audits at any time.
Completes all necessary documentation when additional services are coordinated to provide wraparound support for youth participants.
Conducts proactive follow-ups with new youth participants scheduled to start the program, providing them with all pertinent program information and support.
Conducts on-site visits with other team members at non-profit partner facilities to ensure they provide suitable and safe environments for youth participants to complete their volunteer placements.
Utilizes digital systems and technologies provided by The Career Foundation to further assist youth participants in achieving their goals.
Performs other relevant duties as assigned.
Program Administration, Data Integrity, and File Compliance
Maintains comprehensive documentation on intakes, referrals, participant attendance, suitability indicators, outcomes, and other required information, ensuring all records are thorough and accurate.
Conducts file reviews, ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of data in reports, databases, and files, and confirming that all electronic records are audit-ready and meet compliance standards.
Communicates effectively with fellow team members to investigate and resolve any missing data or signatures on documentation, ensuring all records are complete and comply with quality standards and requirements.
Creates and administers satisfaction surveys for youth participants and placement organizations.
Updates youth participants’ details, placement information, and service activities in online data systems as appropriate, maintaining current and accurate records.
Supports program management to mediate challenges with youth placements when necessary, ensuring positive outcomes for both youth and partner organizations, and enhances protocols for incident reporting, resolution, and follow-up, ensuring all team activities align with organizational policies, funder expectations, and ethical standards.
Works in collaboration with program management to update and create processes that support effective, safe, and successful youth placements, ensuring alignment with organizational and program requirements.
Assists program management with onboarding and training new team members, modelling best practices in client service and community engagement.
Performs other relevant duties as assigned.
Qualifications/ Skills Required:
Post-secondary degree or diploma in administration, business, human/social services, or a related field relevant to the position's duties is highly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar capacity, including needs assessments, service planning, program administration, and quality assurance, or other relevant experience directly transferable to the scope of responsibilities.
Experience working with youth, including those who identify as Indigenous or are from underserved, equity-deserving groups, is considered a strong asset.
Must possess a valid Alberta driver’s licence without restrictions and a reliable vehicle to conduct essential work-related travel throughout Alberta, including to remote areas not accessible by transit.
Knowledge of current labour market trends and youth employment research methods is considered an asset.
Excellent attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills, with the ability to multitask to meet deadlines, targets, and objectives.
Exceptional relationship-building skills with a proven ability to develop rapport with people from all stakeholder groups.
Proven track record in a results-driven environment with experience meeting assigned targets.
Exceptional customer service skills with the ability to uphold the organization’s service standards, policies, and core values.
Professional and courteous approach to client service, with a high level of respect for the diversity of the people served.
High emotional intelligence, demonstrating patience, empathy, and the ability to build strong connections with youth of varying experiences, needs, and abilities.
Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Bilingualism is considered an asset.
Proven ability to maintain sensitive information and exhibit tact, diplomacy, and good judgment, with high standards of ethics and confidentiality.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Office 365 applications, including Teams and SharePoint. Must possess the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
Must be flexible and available to work some evening hours and occasional weekends.
Positive attitude with a dedicated work ethic and willingness to take initiative, with demonstrated flexibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities while maintaining positive working relationships.
The Career Foundation’s Commitment:
The Career Foundation is committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy and rewarding environment for all. We welcome applications from qualified individuals who represent the diversity of the people we proudly serve, including, but not limited to, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and individuals of all genders and sexual orientation. The Career Foundation, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), is also committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with candidates requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.
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