Full job description

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST

Employment Type: Full Time – One Year Term Contract (35 hrs/week)

Location: Halton Region

Salary Range: $53,000 -$55,000

Start Date: January 2026

The Organization:

STRIDE Employment Services is a specialized mental health and addiction agency serving Halton, Peel and surrounding areas. We provide a comprehensive range of employment support options, which are responsive to individual needs.

· STRIDE offers flexible work hours with a focus on work-life balance

· STRIDE offers continuous training and professional development opportunities

· STRIDE is committed to Psychological Health and Safety & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Position:

STRIDE’s Youth Employment Program has offices located in both North and South Halton. This program targets Youth 16-29 years of age living with mental illness and addiction. The Youth Employment Specialist focuses on and promotes community employment, with the goal of enhancing the clients’ quality of life and ability to gain and maintain successful employment in their community of choice.

STRIDE offers:

· Ability to work remotely and in person

· Paid vacation & sick time entitlements

Position Requirements:

To succeed in this role, you must have the ability to effectively work with individuals living with mental illness and addiction and/or justice involvement to conduct appropriate assessments and interventions related to each person’s changing identified needs and/or employment needs.

· Work collaboratively with the other STRIDE programs to contribute to the client’s employment action plan focusing on each person’s strengths, identified needs, hopes, desires and personal recovery goals with a clear emphasis on successfully achieving their employment goals

· Work with individuals, 16-29 years of age, who have mental health and addiction needs. Providing them with the information needed to prepare for employment/career, as well as with their families and other service providers as needed

· Facilitate and support client readiness for employment, job search skills and assist clients in developing skills related to creating effective self-marketing materials

· Consult, advocate, network with community resources and/or other supports (when appropriate) while providing an appropriate level of support to enable each client to successfully achieve their short-term and long-term goals

· Provide interview support and job coaching, offering guidance, support, training and education to support the client and the employer, where appropriate, at each stage of the training process

· Maintain client documentation using the Client Record Management System (CRMS) and FedCapCares to enter necessary data and maintain up-to-date files for clients assigned to caseload

· Demonstrate communication, organizational, time management and instructional skills, strong team work skills and strong computer skills. Ability to facilitate trainings and presentations in the community to promote and educate regarding STRIDE’s services and supports.

· Bachelor’s Degree or community college diploma in a mental health discipline or social work

· Several years case management experience in the community working with youth with mental health issues or psychiatric disorders, and addiction issues

· Two to three years of program facilitation experience

· Must have or be willing to complete, a current Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check

· Must have a valid driver’s license and a car and be willing to travel as needed throughout the region and be able to work flexible hours to meet program, client or customers production needs.

At Stride, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that values and prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We believe in the power of a diverse and inclusive team to drive innovation and provide culturally responsive employment services within the mental health and addiction sector. We welcome and will support individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to join us in our mission to create a more equitable and compassionate mental health and addiction support system for all.

Equity in our Recruitment Process

Because we know simply promoting diversity and inclusion is not enough, we are committed to understanding, identifying, and correcting potential biases and systems of oppression within our recruitment process. Accordingly, during each recruitment process, the following equity measures will be available to all candidates:

· All interview questions, along with the associated job description will be provided to candidates who have been selected for an interview.

· All best efforts will be made to accommodate candidates with disabilities, be they physical, cognitive, or mental health related. Alternative interview and assessment approaches can be considered for individuals who may not be able to successfully navigate traditional interview processes. This may include providing assistive technologies, extended time, sign language interpreters or real time captioning, accessible locations or virtual interviews, alternative formats of printed materials, allowances for breaks and flexible scheduling.

· All interviewees are welcome to approach either the Hiring Manager or Human Resources representative to co-develop an interview process that both meets our strict commitment to excellence while understanding the barriers some individuals may face. These conversations will not affect the outcome of the recruitment process.

Stride seeks candidates from First Nations, Métis and Inuit, racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women, and people with disabilities (including people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges).

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Applicants should direct their resume and covering letter to the attention of Bonnie Trimble, Manager, Specialized Employment Services.

Please note only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This posting expires January 9, 2026 however it will be removed prior if a suitable candidate has been selected.

Job Type: Fixed term contract

Contract length: 12 months

Pay: $53,000.00-$55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events
Paid time off
Wellness program

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Milton, ON L9T 2M3

Stride

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Youth Employment Specialist