YWCA Metro Vancouver is launching a new mentorship program focused on sourcing and coordinating micro-mentorship activities for employment program participants, with a focus on supporting self-identifying newcomer women. The program will work to reduce barriers for participants to access employers and other professionals to enhance their networking and interview skills, learn about employment opportunities, and receive valuable industry guidance.  

Working with YWCA employment programs, Volunteer Services, program participants and their established goals, the Career Advisor [2] will ensure that a targeted number of participants receive connections to industry professionals for micro-mentorship activities, including but not limited to: informational interviews, mock interviews, work place visits and guest speaker sessions on a variety of career development and labour market topics.   

The Career Advisor, reporting to the Program Manager, will demonstrate coordination and leadership skills, providing coordination and support to volunteers and program participants in the Mentorship Program.  

What you’ll be doing: 

• Working with employment programs and Volunteer Services to support participant employment goals by providing access to micro-mentorship activities  

• Connect participants with YWCA Metro Vancouver volunteers, program alumni, professional groups and employers for informational interviews, industry insights, networking and learning opportunities, work place tours, and job opportunities. 

• Update and maintain documentation to match program participants to available volunteers, employers and other industry professionals for individual or group mentorship activities  

• Plan and host mentorship activity events such as meet & greets, mock interview practice sessions, workplace tours and other workshops and guest speakers.  

• Assess and monitor participant involvement, facilitate goal setting and provide feedback on participant marketing tools such as resumes, and communication with mentors. 

• Collaborate with YWCA Volunteer Services to implement recruitment and screening to prepare external stakeholders and participants for activities  

• Facilitate individual and group orientation sessions with participants, employers and volunteers  

• Conduct outreach with companies and community organizations to secure mentorship opportunities  

• Track activities and progress of participants, maintain participant records, provide monthly reporting of overall program activities  

• Host networking and guest speaker events for employers, mentors and participants  

• Regularly communicate with the mentorship matches to provide support, to problem solve and to monitor for safety. 

• Facilitate matches between mentors and mentees, including introductions and follow up, post micro-mentorship activities.  

• Promote the program both internally and externally to engage mentors and participants  

• Stay informed about hiring trends and initiatives to support a diverse group job-seekers, including newcomers, women, and others with barriers to stable employment 

• Work with program managers and staff teams; conduct focus groups to determine program, participant and volunteer needs to plan meaningful activities  

• Collect feedback, testimonials and administer YWCA satisfaction surveys from participants, employers and community groups  

• Other duties as required  

What you’ll need: 

• Career coaching, recruiting, or volunteer management experience  

• Relevant post-secondary degree or diploma or a combination of relevant education and experience   

• Experience writing participant notes and keeping accurate files and records   

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and create and implement new programs  

• Confident to foster strong working relationships with internal staff, various partners and stakeholders to ensure cooperation and effective information flow between programs/departments  

• Knowledge of issues and barriers faced by women and newcomers to Canada  

• Understanding of community resources and wrap-around supports available to program participants  

• Advanced computer skills (all Microsoft Applications), SharePoint, OneDrive 

• Ability to coordinate and deliver meetings on Zoom video conferencing platform  

• Must be reliable, well-organized, detail-oriented, excellent follow-through skills  

• Self-starter: the ability to take initiative, and maintain effective and professional work habits (i.e. prioritize, plan and manage work; punctuality) to produce timely and effective results  

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion  

• Able to occasionally work after hours or weekends and commute between sites  

• A valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) is required.   

• The YWCA Metro Vancouver’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination from COVID-19 is not required at this time. However, should circumstances change and the YWCA deem it necessary to reintroduce such policy, you may be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be eligible to continue performing your duties.  

Bonus qualities (but not required) 

• A second language is an asset  

• Event planning and coordination skills a bonus 

• CCDP certification will be considered an asset   

What we offer:  We offer our eligible employees the following benefits as part of their total compensation package: 

• Extended medical and dental benefits  

• A defined benefit pension plan 

• Flexible working arrangements for applicable positions 

• Employee Family Assistance Program, a confidential and voluntary support service for employees and their eligible family members 

• free membership to our Health + Fitness Centre, discounts at our YWCA Hotel and priority in YWCA Child Care centres 

• Pay Rate: 30.55 + 12% in lieu of benefits  

• A workplace that prioritizes employee health, safety and wellbeing, including many learning and growth opportunities such as our staff mentorship program and three equity committees who help to support our goals towards achieving meaningful equity and inclusion.