Employment Opportunity: Dari/Pashtu Speaking Career Advisor – Axis Employment Program for Visible Minority Women Survivors of Violence (1 position available)

Status: Grant Part-Time, (21 hours / week), until March 31, 2026; Applicant must be a resident of Victoria, BC / (Vancouver Island) surrounding area

Location: a combination of in-person and virtual service delivery in designated regions; virtual services across British Columbia

Overview:
YWCA Metro Vancouver’s Axis program provides employment services for immigrant or newcomer women who are survivors of violence, trauma or abuse. Axis offers participants with supportive, one-to-one pre-employment services in a first language to prepare them to enter into the labour market and build readiness to further employment or training services such as WorkBC. The staff team will be situated in regions across BC (e.g., Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Northern BC, Central Okanagan) and will deliver virtual services across the Province and offer in-person services as appropriate. Under the general supervision of the Axis Program Manager, the Career Advisor will work mainly in a virtual environment, with a small team of six Career Advisors across BC.

Responsibilities:

• Career Advisors of the YWCA’s Axis program provide specialized employment services following an individual service-based model to support participants who identify as visible minority women Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse and Trauma survivors
• Ensure safety plan and basic needs are in place and work with participants to refer to counselling, community resources and other referrals as appropriate
• In a trauma-informed practice, support participants with different needs, backgrounds, learning styles and employment goals
• Develop Individualized Client Training Plans and provide key resources to support client goals
• Facilitate soft skills training, employment readiness, essential skills (e.g., developing skills in building healthy boundaries, time management, confidence, resilience and coping)
• Provide job search coaching; assist participants in identifying and overcoming employment barriers, setting realistic career goals, and creating and following action plans
• Assist participants with resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, and labour market information and trend research
• Work collaboratively within the community and YWCA to create resource partnerships addressing issues related to violence, abuse, trauma
• Conduct specialized outreach in the community to recruit participants to engage in services
• Work collaboratively within the wider YWCA ecosystem to ensure optimization of cross referrals
• Assist participants to participate in the Single Parents Employment Initiative and wider WorkBC services where eligible
• Participate in weekly Case Conferencing with program staff to discuss participant and employer issues, and placement opportunities.
• Maintain accurate participant records and confidentiality, as per CARF standards
• Report program outcomes to Program Manager and stakeholders (e.g., program researchers, YWCA leadership)
• Liaise with other community and external stakeholders to promote and engage issues specific to immigrant women who are survivors of violence.
• Recruit employers for work experience engagement and activities, job openings through internal resources, cold calls & emails, and screen potential employee referrals for employers
• Meet with employers to create training plans and complete paperwork
• Participate in events / roundtables
• Other duties as assigned

 
Qualifications:

• Proficiency in English and Dari/Pashtu languages
• Experience in employment/career counselling, social work, job development and/or working with visible minority communities
• CCDP certification is an asset
• Either a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or a combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations and delivering a trauma-informed approach
• Keen understanding of issues and barriers faced by immigrant women, and survivors of gender-based violence
• Understanding of community resources and wraparound supports available to program participants
• Proven experience to work independently and part of a team to deliver exemplary service
• Excellent computer skills (all Microsoft Applications), SharePoint and OneDrive
• Ability to coordinate and deliver meetings on Zoom videoconferencing platform
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• A demonstrated positive attitude towards change, and the ability to collaborate and liaison with internal and external partners
• A criminal record clearance working with the vulnerable sector will be required

 
Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an inclusive and rewarding workplace. Candidates are invited to send cover letters and resumes by March 31,2023 to:
 
Devi Sharma, Program Manager Axis email: dsharma@ywcavan.org
 
We thank all who apply, but only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. For more information about this and other YWCA Metro Vancouver career opportunities, please visit ywcavan.org.