Employment Counsellor - Castlegar WorkBC Centre

Are you interested in helping people find sustainable employment in a changing economy?  Do you enjoy working as part of a caring, supportive, skilled, and motivated team?  Are you detail-oriented and computer savvy?

 If so, join us and be part of a dynamic team committed to making a positive difference in our communities! KCDS a certified Great Place to Work for five years running, provides employment and career development services in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Slocan, Salmo, and Kaslo.

 Our team is expanding and we are currently seeking an on-site Employment Counsellor to join our Castlegar WorkBC team.

The Opportunity

 Our Employment Counsellors work with a diverse range of clients, including specialized populations to understand their employment needs and support them towards achieving their training and employment goals. We use a wide range of practical and supportive tools provided by the WorkBC program, plus our own KCDS expertise.

 Providing a true gold standard of client service is our highest priority; we take great care in assessing individual needs, identifying appropriate opportunities and resources, monitoring progress, carefully documenting client files, and doing our utmost to help our clients find and maintain sustainable employment in a changing economy.

Qualifications Required

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills: ability to develop and maintain a respectful, collaborative, and productive relationship with clients including making conscious use of sensitive and respectful language
• Ability to discuss and explore client personality characteristics, learning styles, employment needs and career development needs
• Ability to assess and implement appropriate counselling techniques to best assist a client towards their employment goals
• Highly proficient with computers, equipment and technology used to support clients in their job search; MS Office programs, other word processing applications, online applications, web-based assessment tools, social media platforms, web-based research tools, and web-based learning platforms
• Ability to support clients in an effective job search, identifying strengths, effective resume/cover letter writing skills and interview techniques, application of labour market information on job search and career decision making and assistance with interpreting self-assessment tools
• Ability to provide service in a variety of formats, in person, online, over the phone
• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Proficiency supporting clients from specialized/vulnerable populations
• Ability to work well independently and in a team environment
• Strong time management, ability to prioritize work tasks and organizational skills
• Ability to accurately and objectively document client information, enter data and track statistics
• Ability to read, interpret and explain technical language to clients including policy and eligibility

 Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree or diploma in relevant field or equivalent combination of education and transferrable experience
• 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Working one on one to support clients
  • Coaching and mentoring clients
  • Working with individuals with complex barriers and broad range of cultural backgrounds
  • Building partnerships with employers, community agencies and other stakeholders
• Prior employment counselling experience an asset

 Additional requirements:

• Must be eligible to work in Canada
• Must consent to a Criminal Record Check as required
• May be required to work some evenings and weekends

Wage: Competitive with exceptional benefits

Position Type: Permanent, full-time (35 hours/week)

How to apply:  Please apply with a resume and cover letter by clicking the following application link:  https://easyapply.co/a/29778c51-b61d-4ac6-834a-12fb7a6f9020

We recommend to our clients that they include a cover letter as part of a job application to let employers better understand their transferable skills and strengths; in particular if they do not have any work experience or education that applies directly to the position they are applying for.  Because we are an organization that provides employment services and helps others with their job search skills, your job application gives us our first glimpse into your skills when applying for jobs.  We would appreciate if you included a cover letter in your application.

About KCDS: 

Kootenay Career Development Society provides employment and career development services in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Salmo, Kaslo and Slocan.  We deliver the WorkBC program and a full range of services in our areas as well as a range of programs and workshops that empower individuals, employers, and communities economically and socially through career development, employment counseling, and human resource planning.  KCDS is a dynamic, diverse, and change-responsive centre of excellence.

KCDS is committed to diversity, inclusion and respect in the workplace and welcomes applicants from all groups who may contribute to the diversity of KCDS. For more information, please visit kcds.ca/about.

We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting amazing candidates like you, so please do not hesitate to apply, we would love to hear from you. We also know it is rare for someone to meet 100% of the qualifications. Please apply anyway!

We are working for a world where no one is powerless, and where creating change is a part of everyday life. We are just getting started and hope you'll join us!

We especially encourage applicants of different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences, abilities and perspectives to apply. We are actively working to increase the diversity of experience and perspectives on our team and are looking for someone who can help continue to lead that process.