About Progressive Life Centre
Progressive Life Centre (PLC) is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering individuals with autism and developmental disabilities through innovative programs that promote independence, wellness, employment, and community inclusion. Through support from Ontario's Skills Development Fund, PLC is expanding its Cleaning Crew social enterprise to create meaningful paid employment opportunities while providing high-quality commercial cleaning services throughout Durham Region.
Position Summary
The Job Coach provides direct training, supervision, performance feedback, quality assurance, and workplace support to participants in PLC employment training initiatives. The primary focus of this role is the PLC Cleaning Crew; however, the Job Coach may also support other PLC employment and social enterprise initiatives.
The Job Coach helps participants build independence, develop workplace skills, and successfully transition from internal PLC training opportunities to community-based employment or contract work. The role requires strong coaching skills, practical problem solving, and the ability to use evidence-based instructional strategies to support adults with autism and developmental disabilities in real work environments.
Key Responsibilities
Participant Training and Support
- Deliver workplace readiness and job-specific training using evidence-based teaching strategies, including task analysis, prompting, reinforcement, shaping, modelling, feedback, and skill generalization.
- Teach commercial cleaning skills, workplace safety procedures, quality standards, and customer-service expectations.
- Support participants in developing communication, teamwork, problem-solving, self-advocacy, and feedback-acceptance skills.
- Conduct competency assessments and monitor participant progress toward independent work performance.
- Provide ongoing coaching and gradually fade support so participants can rely on natural workplace supports, including crew members, supervisors, checklists, schedules, and visual systems.
Employment and Workplace Support
- Supervise participants during internal PLC work activities and external employment or contract sites.
- Support participants in transitioning from internal PLC work sites to external contracts once skills are mastered and safety expectations are met.
- Develop and implement individualized workplace accommodations and support strategies.
- Promote participant safety and ensure compliance with workplace policies, procedures, and health and safety expectations.
- Support other PLC employment training initiatives as needed, including WeCandle or other social enterprise programs, if applicable.
Quality Assurance and Service Delivery
- Conduct quality assurance checks on completed work and ensure services meet PLC standards and client expectations.
- Provide feedback to participants and crew members to improve service quality and consistency.
- Assist with developing cleaning checklists, task analyses, quality-control tools, and service standards.
- Identify barriers to participant independence and recommend training or environmental changes to improve performance.
- Support customer service processes and contribute to positive relationships with external contract clients.
Employer, Contract, and Community Relations
- Represent PLC professionally at employer and community contract sites.
- Support communication with external cleaning clients, employers, families, staff, and community partners.
- Participate in site assessments and provide input on participant readiness, required accommodations, and staffing support needs.
- Support contract development, employer relationship building, and ongoing service improvement in collaboration with the Relationship Development Coordinator and Project Coordinator.
- Collect feedback from employers and contract clients to support continuous quality improvement and participant success.
Data Collection and Reporting
- Track participant attendance, skill acquisition, employment outcomes, support needs, and performance measures.
- Maintain accurate documentation related to participant goals, training progress, coaching provided, and quality assurance checks.
- Assist with project evaluation, outcome reporting, and SDF-related documentation requirements.
- Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and program improvement planning.
Qualifications
- Diploma or degree in Behaviour Analysis, Developmental Services, Social Services, Psychology, Education, Rehabilitation, Human Services, or a related field.
- Minimum 2 years of experience supporting individuals with autism and/or developmental disabilities.
- Experience teaching vocational, life, employment, or independent living skills.
- Strong interpersonal, coaching, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Comfort working in practical, hands-on employment environments, including cleaning, production, retail, hospitality, facilities, or social enterprise settings.
- Valid Ontario Driver’s Licence and access to reliable transportation.
- Ability to obtain a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
Preferred Qualifications
- Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA), BCBA, BCaBA, DSW, SSW, job coach, vocational rehabilitation, or related designation/experience.
- Experience supervising adults with developmental disabilities in employment, volunteer, training, or community-based work settings.
- Experience with supported employment, social enterprise, vocational rehabilitation, or employment-readiness programs.
- Knowledge of evidence-based instructional strategies, including task analysis, prompting, reinforcement, modelling, performance feedback, and skill generalization.
- Experience with quality assurance, customer service, and service delivery standards.
- Experience in commercial cleaning, custodial services, hospitality, facilities maintenance, production, retail, or small business operations is an asset.
What Success Looks Like
- Participants gain meaningful paid employment and build confidence in their work abilities.
- Participants increase independence and complete job tasks using natural workplace supports rather than ongoing direct Job Coach assistance.
- Participants successfully transition from internal PLC training environments to external contracts or employment opportunities when appropriate.
- PLC maintains strong service quality, positive employer relationships, and consistent customer satisfaction.
- PLC employment training initiatives continue to grow as sustainable social enterprise opportunities.
Why Join PLC?
This role is an opportunity to help create meaningful employment pathways for adults with autism and developmental disabilities while contributing to the growth of innovative PLC social enterprises. The successful candidate will be part of a collaborative, mission-driven team focused on independence, dignity, skill development, and community inclusion.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: Commensurate with experience.
- Bonus: Performance-based incentives tied to fundraising and operational goals.
- Schedule: Full-time, hybrid work environment (Ajax-based office).
- Opportunities: Professional growth and meaningful impact in a dynamic nonprofit setting.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your experience and why you’re passionate about working with Progressive Life Centre.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $57,600.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ajax, ON L1S 2E9
