Program Lead, Career and Employment at Canadian National Institute for the Blind – New Westminster, British Columbia

Position Title: Program Lead, Career and Employment

Reports to: Team Lead, Come to Work

I. Scope and Summary of Primary Responsibilities

The Program Lead, Career & Employment will work with and empower integrated teams of staff and volunteers to deliver programs and services that change the lives of Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. In particular, the Program Lead, Career & Employment will engage with the Come to Work Talent Pool members who are youths entering into the world of work by consulting, planning and implementing programs that are catered to their needs.

The position entails, but is not limited to the following general responsibilities:

• Create and lead the Youth Pod in BC.
• Promote CNIB’s commitment to volunteer engagement at every opportunity and developing the active volunteer base needed to support local operations.
• Collaborate with staff to create and maintain volunteer positions in order to promote skill-building volunteer experiences to program participants.
• Research and consult with youth Talent Pool members and identify gaps in transition support.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate one on one and group talent pool cultivation training and support for youths in Come to Work Program in the province.
• Seek opportunities to improve service delivery metrics and participant outcomes, leveraging available evaluation data.
• Implement plans to maximize the success of CNIB programs in your local market including the growth of existing programs working within national and provincial service delivery standards and program curricula.
• Chamption CNIB's high standards of client and customer service, ensuring they are universally understood by staff and volunteers, and continuously upheld across all aspects of local operations.
• Provide guidance and support to program participants through their job readiness journey and transition to the world of work.
• Encourage program participants to take advantage of other CNIB programs and services that may benefit them, offering them opportunities to gain confidence and independence, and expand their support network and deepen their community engagement.
• Perform administrative duties including but not limited to coordinating internal referral, service tracking, benchmarking, report writing, etc.
• Engage in outreach efforts by identifying, developing and stewarding strong and effective relationships and partnerships with schools, community organizations, social and vocational agencies that are aligned to and/or can help further our mission.
• Act as a local ambassador for CNIB, representing and promoting the organization at all relevant external events.
• Advocate for and promote an understanding and awareness of sight loss through public education and in-house training.
• Additional Duties as assigned.

III. Qualifications

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Strong time management and organizational abilities; adaptable to changing priorities, deadlines, and procedures.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); working knowledge of Salesforce is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong customer service orientation with well-developed interpersonal skills.
• Experience with regional or federal government programs or administrative projects is an asset.
• Professional, results-oriented, self-motivated, and flexible approach to work.
• Demonstrates emotional maturity, sensitivity, and stability when supporting individuals with sight loss or other functional challenges.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.[MW1]
• A track record of successful people skills encompassing establishing, developing and maintaining positive relationships with individuals seeking services, partnerships with organizations, and team of volunteers.
• Knowledge and experience working with individuals with youths with sight loss and/or disabilities in general.
• Knowledge of accessibility and other societal issues that create employment barriers for the sight loss community is considered an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills, with the ability to plan and deliver clear communications to a dispersed audience.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and Outlook
• Proficient in Salesforce, Microsoft Teams and Zoom is considered an asset.
• Proven time management, planning, coordinating and organization skills; proactive in initiating multiple projects on an ongoing basis.
• Effectively demonstrates understanding and championing of diversity, inclusion and accessibility issues
• Professional attitude, results oriented, strategic and flexible
• Excellent analytical, problem definition and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

Experience and Education

• Post-secondary degree in relevant field
• Minimum 2 years of work experience in a social service, non-profit or other relevant sector
• Personal or professional experience relating to blindness is considered an asset.
• Personal or professional experience using sight loss related assistive technology is considered an asset

Work Environment

• Willingness to work flexible hours
• Willingness to work from different locations
• Moderate travel will be required

CNIB is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.