Job Title

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Program Specialist DEPARTMENT: Black Community Access Program COMPANY: Skills for Change LOCATION: 65 Overlea Blvd., Suite 260, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P1 REPORTS TO: Manager, Black Community Access Program CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent full time HOURS: 35 hours per week, Hybrid (Monday- Friday, with occasional evening and/or weekend hours) PAY RATE: $28.64 START DATE: Immediately COMPANY: Located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, Skills for Change (SfC) is working towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Named Charity Villages Best Non-Profit Employer - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and winner of the 2021 Canada Volunteer Awards for Innovation, our organization is committed to reducing poverty, improve mental health, eliminating gender-based violence, building community, eradicating systemic racism, and settling and creating sustainable communities for all immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities. Start your career with SfC and join our 43-year history of creating innovative programming to build welcoming and equitable communities. With over 43 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected non-profit charity with a province wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for skilled trades, women, and youth. We have 5 locations across the GTA and serve 20,000 clients annually. We believe we are in the best position to provide thought leadership through evidence-based programming, impact stories and proactive policy advocacy using knowledge mobilization products. NATURE AND SCOPE: The Black Community Access Programming (BCAP) team envisions a Canada where Anti-Black racism is eradicated, paving the way for economic empowerment and greater Black representation across labour markets, and achieves this by investing in Black Futures by providing the training, career-enabling resources, and holistic support needed to thrive in the workforce and broader society. BCAP programs and services are designed to provide learning and development opportunities that address anti-Black racism and build community connections that improve wellbeing, inclusion, and support workforce integration. The ideal candidate has: Lived experience and self-identification as Black, which can be defined as individuals of African descent, whether born and raised in Africa or with roots and lineage tracing back to the African continent. This includes people of African descent from the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, Europe, and other regions. Knowledge about Greater Torontos Black African-diasporic communities, with a particular emphasis in supporting Black women (18+), LGBTQi2S+ community, immigrants and refugees, and the issues facing members of those communities. Knowledge of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion best practices and Anti-Black Racism frameworks. A strong commitment to maintaining high standards of culturally responsive service delivery. Familiarity with community resources and services, with an emphasis on mental health and wellness. Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters with discretion, and effective problem solving. Key Responsibilities The Program Specialist supports the delivery of BCAP programs by coordinating activities, engaging participants, and ensuring access to holistic support that promotes career success. This position plays a key role in supporting program delivery and participant success, working under the guidance of the Manager and in collaboration with internal teams. The role emphasizes program coordination, participant support, and employer engagement, while maintaining quality and compliance. Program Development & Delivery Coordinate BCAP Programming with a focus on the Tech Forward Black Women in Data Analytics program, to ensure smooth delivery of all components, including scheduling cohorts, supporting instructors, and engaging participants throughout the program lifecycle. Use project management tools to organize timelines, track deliverables, and maintain alignment with program goals. Work closely with the BCAP Manager and learning delivery partners to develop and update program content that is culturally responsive, and data driven. Incorporate client feedback and current sector trends to keep the curriculum relevant and impactful. Serve as a primary point of contact for participantsconduct intake assessments, provide career counseling, and connect them to wraparound supports that address barriers to employment and wellbeing. Monitor participant progress and implement retention strategies to achieve completion targets. Meet 100% participant intake target and ensure at least an 85% participant completion rate. Maintain high standards of program delivery through continuous evaluation, feedback collection, and improvement planning. Employer Engagement & Outreach Support efforts to build and maintain employer relationships to secure meaningful work placements and networking opportunities. Assist in developing outreach strategies to increase employer participation, including hosting engagement events, and leveraging community networks. Collaborate with employers to support job retention and career advancement beyond initial placement. Engage employers as mentors during cohorts to enhance participant learning and provide industry insights. Internal Collaboration & Wraparound Support Work closely with other Skills for Change teamsincluding Integrated Employment Services, Mental Health & Wellness, Settlement Services, and Language Trainingto ensure participants receive holistic support that addresses employment, mental health, and social integration needs. Facilitate warm referrals and joint service planning to connect participants with complementary programs and resources within the organization. Community Engagement & Advocacy Supports partnerships with community organizations to advance anti-Black racism frameworks and workforce inclusion. Share impact stories, data insights, and best practices to position BCAP as a thought leader in equity-focused programming. Facilitate sessions on workplace readiness, career planning, and anti-Black racism awareness, ensuring culturally responsive delivery. Data Management Collect and accurately record client intake information, program participation data, and survey responses in agency and funder databases (e.g., SharePoint). Ensure all data entries are current by performing timely updates and verifying accuracy across systems. Maintain strict confidentiality of client information in compliance with privacy standards and organizational policies. General Duties Attend and actively participate in agency meetings, events, and evaluation processes. Handle other tasks as required by the Manager, BCAP. Skills, Education, Attributes A post-secondary degree in data analytics, STEM disciplines (e.g., computer science, information technology, mathematics, engineering), social sciences (e.g., social work, psychology, sociology), or a related field is preferred. The organization also welcomes candidates with relevant experience or transferable skillsincluding backgrounds in community development, career counseling, or program managementwho can adapt their expertise to deliver data-driven programming and support participant success. Minimum 3 years of experience providing wrap-around supports, job coaching and counselling for women, youth, newcomers and immigrants, and individuals in receipt of social assistance required. Experienced with building relationships with employers and community partners. Knowledgably conducting facilitation via virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Blackboard, etc. Knowledge and understanding of youth and adult learning principles and facilitation skills. Knowledge of all community resources that can support marginalized women, to provide the necessary guidance and referrals. Sensitivity to, and understanding of, issues and barriers to employment faced by Black women, immigrants, youth, and other disadvantaged groups. Excellent employment counseling and facilitation skills. Excellent verbal, written communication, and customer service skill. Excellent teamwork and positive attitude towards change. Strong Critical thinking skills and organizational skills. Proficiency in Windows, MS Office, ability to deliver PowerPoint presentations. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accommodation Statement Skills for Change provides learning and training opportunities for immigrants, refugees and equityseeking groups to access and fully participate in the workplace and wider community to persons with disabilities to newcomers to Canada (including refugees) to Indigenous peoples to members of a visible minority to children or youth to women of all ages including seniors to the LGBTQ2 community. Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in an alternate format upon request. We thank all applicants for their interest in this position; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Additional Information Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure: AI technology is used at the screening stage of the hiring process, including evaluating applicants. Vacancy Status: Indicate if this is an existing vacancy. Canadian Experience: There are no requirements for Canadian work experience for this position.