Jobs at Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (Now Hiring) — 5 open

Location: Ottawa, Ontario  

Reports to: Coordinator, Employment Services

Employment Status: Full time temporary (March 31, 2028)

Bargaining Unit Status: Included

Annual Salary: $64,646.40 - $77,604.80

Language requirements: English is essential, French is an asset

Bona Fide occupational requirement (BFOR): N/A

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, some evenings and weekends

Competition Number: 26-066

Closing Date: August 21, 2026

Vacancy: No

Posting Stage: Internal and Internal

Job Summary:

Founded in 1960, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit agencies in Ottawa and a registered charity. It provides mental health services, employment programs, emergency shelter, community, health and housing services, and justice programs to youth in the Ottawa area, serving between 2,500 and 3,000 at‑risk individuals aged 12+ and their families every month. YSB employs 400 caring professionals in a unionized environment in over 22 locations across Ottawa.

This position supports Youth Services Bureau's (YSB) involvement as a demonstration site for the Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), funded through the Government of Canada. The EC will play a pivotal role in strengthening the evidence base for the Family and Natural Supports (FNS) model, enhancing connections between youth, their families, and natural supports to improve employment outcomes.

Under the general direction of the Director of Employment Services and immediate supervision of the Employment Services Coordinator, the Employment Counsellor (EC) is responsible for developing and delivering comprehensive, person-centered pre-employment training and employment support to youth aged 15–29 who experience multiple and complex barriers to employment. The EC will actively engage youth by recruiting suitable employers, facilitating meaningful employment opportunities, monitoring placements, and supporting transitions to education, training, or sustainable employment. Work will adhere strictly to YESS (Youth Employment Skills Strategy) guidelines and YSB policies and procedures, with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed practices.

Principal Duties:

• Conduct assessments to determine eligibility and suitability of youth participants; coordinate referrals to additional internal and external services as necessary.
• Provide individualized support, helping youth establish employment goals and create tailored Employment Service (ES) plans for 35 youth participants annually.
• Monitor and document youth progress; adjust ES plans based on evolving participant needs.
• Administer flexible funding, monitor budgets- extensive documentation/reporting requirements
• Regular travel throughout the city to meet youth/families in accessible community locations 
• Respond to crisis – coordinating service across multiple systems
• Develop and deliver targeted pre-employment workshops and training sessions, covering job readiness skills, career exploration, personal management/life skills, job search strategies, and job retention techniques.
• Engage in active employer recruitment, assessment, and relationship management to identify supportive employment opportunities.
• Facilitate successful job placements by matching youth to appropriate employment opportunities and negotiating placement incentives with employers.
• Provide direct, ongoing support to both youth and employers to identify and resolve challenges impacting successful employment outcomes.
• Conduct regular on-site job visits to ensure placement suitability, monitor progress, and support long-term retention.
• Collaborate closely with YSB’s Housing and Homelessness, Mental Health, and Youth Justice Programs, leveraging cross-departmental expertise to provide holistic support.
• Proactively engage with community organizations, agencies, and stakeholders to raise awareness about YSB’s employment services and recruit eligible youth.
• Facilitate networking and mentorship opportunities to support participants’ transition to employment or further education.
• Participate actively in job fairs, employer meet-and-greets, and other outreach events.
• Provide expert guidance to employers regarding employment-related legislation such as WSIB, Human Rights, and Employment Standards.
• Ensure all employer workplaces meet recognized safety standards.
• Actively contribute to program development, evaluation, and reporting, ensuring accurate and timely data entry, case management documentation, and record maintenance.
• Engage fully in mandatory components of the YESS initiative, Staff will include one Employment Worker, with Coordinator support and one supervisor/manager to support knowledge mobilization across the agency.
• Participate actively in reflective practice, Community of Practice meetings, and research and evaluation activities associated with the Making the Shift initiative.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in social services, or relevant field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum two years’ experience in employment or training settings, particularly with youth facing complex barriers.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to accommodate program activities and participant needs.
• Proven track record in engaging and supporting at-risk youth populations, including racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, Newcomer, Persons with disabilities, and Francophone youth.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and facilitating pre-employment and life-skills workshops. Strong group facilitation and individualized coaching skills.
• Knowledge of career development strategies, local labor market trends, and employment-related legislation.
• Exceptional communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work within multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and comfort working within digital data management systems.

Additional Qualifications: 

• Successful applicants will be required to provide a clear Vulnerable Sector Check obtained within the past six (6) months, as a condition of employment with YSB.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle access required.
• To confirm language proficiency required for this position, successful candidates may be requested to undergo an oral and written assessment conducted by a third-party provider, arranged by YSB. Candidates must meet the minimum required linguistic profile before their employment start date. 

What we offer:

• An opportunity to join a vibrant team and be part of truly meaningful and rewarding work; 
• 15 days of annual vacation + 2 personal days;
• 100% YSB-paid group health benefits for eligible employees; 
• A team where you get to be yourself everyday and where you have the freedom to innovate;
• Holiday pay, as determined by YSB polices and the Collective Agreement in place

Join us!

If you think this vacancy is a good fit, we would love to hear from you. Please visit the career section of our website to submit your resume and one-page cover letter. Don’t just tell us what we want to hear, tell us your story and why you would make a great addition to our team.

 We know applying to a job takes time and thank all candidates for their interest. While we are not able to get back to every candidate, we will ensure shortlisted applicants are aware of their status and will do our best to provide feedback if that can be helpful. Please be advised that although ADP has embedded AI functions YSB does not use this AI function to make hiring decisions. All recruitment decisions including the screening of applications are made by our hiring team, who review each application with care and consideration. We value the individuality and potential of each applicant and strive to create an inclusive hiring experience. If you have any questions about our recruitment practices, we encourage you to reach out to our Talent Acquisition Coordinator.

 At YSB, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ community and/or people with intersectional identities. Accommodation will be made available for applicants with a disability throughout the hiring process, kindly make your needs known in advance. 

 All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. In the event a qualified candidate is not found, candidates that do not meet the qualifications indicated on the posting may be considered. Qualified candidates may be contacted at any time throughout the application window, upon the closing date.