The Pathways to Employment Project

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is hiring 8 Sustainable Livelihoods Coaches, as part of  its new “Pathways to Employment” project, in partnership with Canada Post and other non-profits in the accessibility sector. The project is funded by the federal government's “Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity program”, and focuses on:

• Guiding people with disabilities to move into fulfilling employment.
• Supporting candidates to obtain a wide variety of jobs, ranging from management to semi-skilled manual worker positions.
• Identifying opportunities and best practices for accessible employment in the field of postal and courier services.

The project will take an innovative approach to mentor candidates in building skills, capabilities, and accommodations for employment readiness and for their successful transition into employment. 

NEADS will develop a best practices toolkit in partnership with Canada Post and will work with the non-profit organization Sustainable Livelihoods Canada to create a team of Sustainable Livelihoods certified coaches, who will guide people with disabilities in their transition to full employment.

Sustainable Livelihoods Coaching Practice:

This Sustainable Livelihoods coaching practice uses 1-on-1, in-depth relationship building to empower people with disabilities to self directedly navigate systems and develop action plans to obtain and retain meaningful employment.

The coaching practice will offer participants:

• Solution-focused coaching and problem solving, listening and discussion.
• A strengths-based asset mapping and self-assessment approach.
• Referrals to help with basic needs and accommodations in preparation for employment.
• Techniques to cope with gaps in services and strategies to strengthen their connections to community supports.
• Connections to the Job Developer and access to onward employment opportunities at Canada Post and other employers.
• Action planning for steps towards employment.
• Monitoring and follow up to achieve goals and support job retention.

Sustainable Livelihoods Coach Role:

• Work with a team of coaches and Job Developer to co-design and roll out the coaching practice.
• Participate in Motivational Interviewing (MI)-informed Sustainable Livelihoods Coach training (professional development training for the team of new coaches, comprising fourteen 3-hour sessions plus ongoing monthly training and mentoring sessions).
• Provide up to 10, individual, 2-hour sessions per participant. These sessions will focus on future employment in the postal industry, and potentially other sectors.
• Promote access to employment opportunities and job retention, through pre-employment and transition-to-work activities.
• Communicate regularly with the Job Developer to ensure a coordinated approach to job coaching and support.
• Participate in community outreach, referrals, and promotion of the initiative.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of job coaching activities.
• Stay informed on economic and labour market conditions and trends, as well as government policies and social justice initiatives.

Preferred skills and/or abilities:

• Fluency in English and/or French – additional languages an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in areas such as Human Resources, Social Work or Business Administration.
• 2 to 3 years’ experience in a counselling role. (E.g. human resources, job placement, or related field.)
• Proficiency in employment readiness and capacity-building methods.
• Ability to identify systemic and personal constraints and barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing employment.
• Familiarity with referral networks, programs, and resources, social assistance, and social housing policies.
• Knowledge of economic and labour market conditions and trends.
• Demonstrated commitment to disability justice and knowledge of Accessible Canada Act implementation.
• Commitment to working within an Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppressive and gender-plus framework.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook; familiarity with working online/on communications platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

What to expect:

• Part-time hours with wages at $22.46/hour plus MERCS for up to 20 hours/week in year 1 and up to 12.5 hours/week in years 2 and 3. Project ends February 2026.
• You’ll be using Zoom to do one-to-one coaching with people remotely.
• Remote work from home is likely with hybrid work possible in select regions.
• Regularly scheduled weekly team meetings.
• Potential for self-employment approach.
• Intensive, up-front training in Motivational Interviewing and Sustainable Livelihoods Coaching Practices plus ongoing mentorship and training.

Job Application Instructions

Our program participants, staff and partners come from all different backgrounds. If you’re passionate about what you could accomplish here, we’d love to hear from you. Interested individuals should send their resume and cover letter to katja.newman@neads.ca by July 14th, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

NEADS is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace and recruitment processes. We encourage applications from marginalized groups (e.g. persons with disabilities, racialized persons, those with various gender identities and sexual orientations, and Indigenous Peoples). All qualified candidates will be considered however preference will be given to people with disabilities. Please advise of any accommodations required.

NEADS has the mandate to support full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada.

WORBE is a program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The projects funded under this program will help break down employment barriers experienced by women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups. These multi-year projects will help federally regulated private-sector employers make their workplaces more fair, diverse, and inclusive.

Partners the “Pathways to Employment” project include the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the Manitoba League of People with Disabilities and the Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Post-Secondary Education

NEADS has the mandate to support full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada.

WORBE is a program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The projects funded under this program will help break down employment barriers experienced by women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups. These multi-year projects will help federally regulated private-sector employers make their workplaces more fair, diverse, and inclusive.

Partners the “Pathways to Employment” project include the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the Manitoba League of People with Disabilities and the Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Post-Secondary Education.

National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
Rm. 514 Unicentre, Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6