In support of British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction’s (SDPR) mandate to address intergenerational poverty, the NextStep program aims to empower youth aged 16 to 30 who are either BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) clients or are from families with a dependency on BCEA to break the cycle of poverty by providing a holistic approach that includes skills training, pre-employment support and comprehensive wraparound services. NextStep will engage youth experiencing poverty through a community-centered approach, working closely with local service providers and poverty serving agencies who support families and youth on BCEA. 

 

YWCA NextStep is delivered in a hybrid program model with both in-person and virtual delivery for youth, 16-30 years of age, facing multiple barriers to obtaining employment and/or further education. The 12-week program offers life skills, employability skills, peer support, community connections, financial assistance, and wrap-around services in a safe environment to provide youth the structure needed to set and move forward towards their goals. In collaboration with a Research Consultant, NextStep will identify best practices through comprehensive research and evaluation, assessing the effectiveness of various approaches and pinpointing key factors that drive successful employment and educational outcomes for youth. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Providing the vision and execution of the program to meet the funding mandate and fulfill the goal of supporting youth to build stable and self-sufficient futures 

• Oversee and manage teams across two distinct locations within the province, providing direct onsite leadership in Port Coquitlam and offering remote support and coordination for the team in Prince George, with occasional travel to Prince George to ensure effective team management and support 

• Establishing and fostering effective relationships with local community partners to promote the program and recruit eligible participants 

• Collaborate with the YWCA marketing team to craft an innovative marketing strategy, while partnering closely with ELMSD to design and pilot effective referral pathways from the ministry to NextStep 

• Provide support to the research consultant by coordinating access to relevant program data, demographic information, and other required resources, ensuring they have the tools needed for successful analysis and reporting 

• Overseeing day to day operations to ensure smooth and efficient execution 

• Monitoring and managing budget to ensure fiscal accountability  

• Ensure accurate and confidential maintenance of participant records in compliance with funder requirements 

• Conducting performance reviews and performance management of staff 

• Overview of data input and accuracy and ongoing program development, evaluation and design 

• Prepare and submit required reports on program results to leadership and funder in a timely manner 

• Working with senior management to ensure program success and accountability 

• Lead weekly Case Conferencing with program staff to discuss client and program issues 

• Providing coverage for workshop facilitation and career advising for program delivery 

• Stay updated on labor market trends, job postings, employment issues, community resources, education planning, volunteer opportunities, and other relevant employment-related supports 

• Perform other duties as required 

Qualifications: 

• Passion for working with youth facing barriers to employment 

• Minimum educational requirements: Relevant post-secondary education and/or a combination of relevant education and work experience 

• 3 years in a supervisory role is an asset and 3-5 years combined experience in career counselling, job development, and working with at-risk youth 

• Experience working with youth and/or families living in poverty and dependent on BCEA 

• Knowledge of social determinants of health and trauma informed practices 

• Proven experience to work independently and part of a team to deliver meaningful programming 

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal 

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

• Understanding of the labour market within British Columbia 

• Must be able to work at the physical office location in Port Coquitlam, with occasional travel to Prince George 

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

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 

• 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. 

Pay rate starting at: $39.34 per hour