Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor

JOB TITLE: Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor – Internal/External Posting
POSITION STATUS: Full-time, Contract to March 20, 2026 (35 hrs./week)
COMPENSATION: $42,630 - $52,212 per year
REPORTS TO: Manager of Specialized Programs
CLOSING DATE: Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EDT

Are you looking for a meaningful opportunity to grow your career while making a positive impact in our community? Join the Sault Community Career Centre (SCCC) as a Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor! At SCCC, our mission is to empower job seekers and newcomers through personalized employment and settlement services that foster connection, support employers, and enrich our community. Our inclusive, supportive workplace offers valuable experience, collaboration with a dedicated team, and a healthy work-life balance with generous vacation and paid personal emergency days. Be part of an organization that champions innovation, teamwork, and career growth.

JOB SUMMARY

The Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor plays a pivotal role in supporting the social and economic well-being of newcomers to Ontario, including naturalized citizens, Ontario provincial nominees and their dependents, refugee claimants, temporary foreign workers, and international students. This position provides guidance and assistance to newcomers as they navigate settlement, language training, and employment challenges, ensuring they have the resources, skills, and opportunities to succeed in their local communities and the labour market. The counsellor will conduct needs assessments, develop personalized settlement and career plans, and connect clients to essential community and government services, including health, housing, employment, and language support.

The Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor will also deliver targeted labour market orientation services, assist clients with foreign qualification recognition, and offer career planning to help clients achieve skills-appropriate employment or explore self-employment opportunities. By working closely with federal and provincial service providers, the Newcomer Employment and Settlement Counsellor ensures seamless coordination of services, maximizing efficiency and minimizing duplication. Ultimately, the role focuses on empowering newcomers to achieve self-sufficiency and contribute to Ontario's diverse workforce and thriving communities.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLIENT ASSESSMENT, INFORMATION AND ORIENTATION
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments to determine clients’ immediate and long-term settlement and employment goals, considering their personal, educational, and professional backgrounds.
• Assist clients in developing personalized settlement and career plans tailored to their unique needs and goals.
• Provide information, orientation, and referrals to federal, provincial, and community services, including employment rights, housing, healthcare, language training, and financial literacy.
• Deliver group and one-on-one orientation sessions on key aspects of life in Canada, such as workplace culture, job search strategies, social services, and foreign qualification recognition.
• Facilitate access to language training programs and provide language support to clients with limited English/French proficiency.
• Support clients with documentation, form-filling, and interpretation/translation to navigate settlement and employment services effectively.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to access necessary government programs and professional licensing pathways.

CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY
• Develop individualized action plans based on client assessments, guiding them through the settlement and employment process.
• Provide case management support, ensuring clients are connected to appropriate services and resources.
• Offer crisis intervention and immediate support for urgent issues such as housing instability, health concerns, or legal matters, referring clients to emergency services when needed.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to access government and community services, including healthcare, mental health support, legal aid, employment, and training opportunities.
• Conduct regular check-ins and follow-up assessments to monitor progress, re-evaluate needs, and adjust action plans accordingly.
• Provide guidance on career planning, job search strategies, and licensing requirements for regulated professions, helping clients identify transferable skills and connect with professional networks.
• Coordinate with federal, provincial, and community service providers to ensure timely and effective support.
• Collaborate with community partners to enhance program offerings and ensure seamless service referrals.
• De-escalate client concerns and conflicts professionally, working toward satisfactory resolutions.

ADMINISTRATION AND DATA MANAGEMENT
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records, including assessments, service plans, case notes, referrals, and progress updates, in compliance with organizational protocols and privacy regulations.
• Ensure secure and confidential documentation of all client data, following established accuracy and completeness standards.
• Track and monitor client progress, program outcomes, and service delivery through data management systems, conducting regular follow-ups as needed.
• Organize and manage physical client files, ensuring all documentation is properly maintained and accessible in accordance with agency policies.
• Prepare reports for funders and program partners, summarizing client engagement, services provided, program outcomes, challenges, and success stories.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Post-secondary Degree or Diploma in a related discipline

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with vulnerable clients and marginalized individuals with complex needs
• Possess knowledge and experience in Motivational Interviewing techniques to effectively engage clients
• Solid organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders, emphasizing reflective listening and thoughtful responses.
• In-depth understanding of settlement and job search practices, tools, and trends
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and make sound decisions.
• Knowledge of de-escalation tools and techniques
• Awareness of and sensitivity to persons with disabilities
• Awareness of and respect for cultural diversity, with effective interpersonal and intercultural communication techniques
• Ability to design and facilitate orientation workshops to clients
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 Workspace and Adobe Reader (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PDF, etc.); ability to learn other programs as needed
• Demonstrated capacity to work both independently and on a team
• Proven adaptability to dynamic situations with a calm and professional demeanour.
• Possess a strong commitment to privacy and confidentiality.
• Proven ability to work productively in a team environment, fostering a positive and respectful atmosphere
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting team members when needed, promoting a cohesive and collaborative work culture

OTHER
• Demonstrated passion for providing an exceptional client experience for newcomers
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Check
• Valid Ontario Class G driver’s license and clean driving record
• Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are to submit their resume and cover letter as one PDF document by email no later than Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EDT, with the subject line: NEWCOMER EMPLOYMENT ANND SETTLEMENT COUNSELLOR APPLICATION to: [email protected]

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Sault Community Career Centre is an inclusive employer committed to an application and interview process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier-free. Accommodation is available in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code/AODA. Applicants need to make any accommodation requests for the application or interview process known in advance by contacting the Director of Resources at (705) 759-0909 ext. 4261.