Workforce Guidance Counsellor
Location Greater Toronto Area, Ontario (with some travel to partner colleges and event venues)
Employment type Full time, contract through June 29, 2027, with possibility of extension subject to funding
Reports to Project Director
About AceConnex
AceConnex connects skilled talent with the employers who need them. Funded in part by the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream, we run events, industry round tables, and pathway services that bring job seekers, students, and newcomers together with employers, colleges, and training providers. We focus on Ontario manufacturing sectors such as plastics, tool & die, and aerospace. Our mission is to help people find the right next step in their careers while helping industry find the talent it needs.
About the Role
The Workforce Guidance Counsellor sits at the centre of everything AceConnex does. This is a dual facing role: you work on behalf of participants and on behalf of employers, and your value comes from understanding both sides at once. Onthe participant side, you own intake, eligibility screening, and guiding each person to the right pathway. On the employer side, you build a working understanding of what employers are hiring for, and you use that knowledge to bring the right people in and connect them to real opportunities. You are equal parts guidance counsellor and recruiter.
How we work: we are led by employer demand and inclusive by design. Your knowledge of employer needs is used to bring the right people in, never to screen vulnerable people out. Everyone who registers is routed somewhere; nobody is turned away. All screening is done with a person making the judgment, not by an automated system. This protects the people we serve and the equity commitments at the heart of our program.
What You Will Do
Working for participants (students, job seekers, and newcomers)
- Own the participant intake process from start to finish, including drafting and maintaining the intake and screening flow.
- Confirm each participant's eligibility.
- Capture clean voluntary identification information (for example, newcomer status and year of arrival) that supports program reporting and protects our equity targets.
- Guide each participant to a recommended pathway using your own judgment: Employment Ready, Upskilling, Education, or Workforce Counselling.
- Provide one to one guidance, referrals, and support, with particular care for newcomers and internationally educated participants facing barriers such as credential recognition, language, or logistics.
Working for employers (and connecting the two sides)
- Build and maintain a working understanding of hiring needs across our target sectors, including plastics, tool & die, aerospace, and automotive
- Translate the demand that surfaces at our employer round tables into targeted outreach and recruitment.
- Work backwards from employer need to source the right participants, especially for demand sensitive events such as the newcomer and international student event.
- Make sharper pathway and matching decisions because you understand both what participants bring and what employers require.
- Help design events so participants leave connected to a specific pathway, program, or employer, not simply informed.
At events and across the program
- Anchor the participant experience at our signature events across the year.
- Lead the participant facing session that helps people find their next step and the supports to get there.
- Run and manage outcome tracking after events, including interviews initiated and connections to education pathways.
Who We Are Looking For
Required
- A background in workforce development, employment counselling, career guidance, settlement services, or a closely related field.
- Experience screening, assessing, or advising job seekers, ideally including vulnerable or underrepresented populations.
- Comfort and credibility in a room with employers and hiring managers; you can hold a real conversation about what industry needs.
- Sound judgment and genuine care, with a commitment to serving people without gatekeeping.
- Strong organization and record keeping, and comfort working with intake data and reporting.
- Eligibility to work in Canada and ability to work in Ontario, with some travel to partner colleges and event venues.
Assets
- Knowledge of Ontario manufacturing or skilled trades sectors such as plastics, tool & die, aerospace, and automation.
- Experience supporting newcomers or internationally educated professionals, including familiarity with bridging and prior learning assessment routes.
- Recruitment, talent sourcing, or employer engagement experience.
- Additional languages spoken in the communities we serve.
What We Offer
- A senior role at the heart of a growing, mission driven organization.
- The chance to shape how AceConnex serves both participants and employers from the ground up.
- Direct support from admin staff and founder involvement around major events, so you are not carrying event surges alone.
- Compensation: $80,000.
Our Commitment to Equity
AceConnex is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We especially welcome applications from members of the communities we serve, including newcomers, racialized people, women in the trades, and people with disabilities. We will provide accommodation on request at any stage of the hiring process.
Pay: $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Mississauga, ON L5T 1Y2
