Youth Employment Coach

The Agency

The Calgary John Howard Society (CJHS) is a charity that reduces crime and makes Calgary communities safer by helping youth and adults make positive changes and move away from criminal behaviour. We do this by addressing the root causes of crime through housing, education, employment programs and support so that individuals have alternatives to breaking the law. CJHS is committed to restorative justice and an organizational environment that recognizes the dignity and worth of each person. CJHS values diversity and inclusion and welcomes qualified applicants from all walks of life.

The Program

Breakthrough is designed to intervene early with youth who are at high risk of developing long-term dependency on Income Support. It is an outreach-based employment program supporting high-risk youth aged 16–24 who have experienced homelessness, housing instability, justice involvement, disrupted education, and limited workforce attachment. The program embeds intensive employment coaching directly into youth housing settings, community locations, and employer worksites.
Breakthrough prioritizes early paid engagement, individualized coaching, and long-term retention support, recognizing that employment pathways for high-risk youth are often non-linear and require flexible, relationship-based approaches.  

The Position

The Youth Employment Coach provides intensive, one-on-one employment and life coaching to high-risk youth through an outreach-first model. Coaches maintain caseloads of approximately 13-14 youth to allow frequent contact, crisis-responsive support, and sustained engagement over time.

This role supports youth through all stages of employment readiness, job search, placement, retention, and termination recovery. Youth Employment Coaches meet youth where they are, in housing sites, community spaces, and employer worksites, and support continued progress even when participants disengage or experience setbacks.

The Coach delivers structured skill-building modules, facilitates paid engagement activities, collaborates closely with the Mental Health Therapist, Employer Engagement Support, and Caseworkers to foster long-term workforce attachment rather than short-term job placement.

The position requires flexibility with working hours to accommodate youth’s needs and will include evening and weekend hours.

Qualifications

Diploma or degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Career Development, or related field is considered an asset.

Minimum 2 years’ experience working with high-risk or marginalized youth (e.g., homelessness, justice involvement, child intervention, mental health challenges).

Experience providing employment coaching, life skills support, or case management.

Strong understanding of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care, and strengths-based practice.

Ability to work in outreach settings, including housing and community locations.

Excellent relationship-building, communication, and documentation skills.

Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel within the community.

Experience working with justice-involved youth is considered an asset.

Your past does not define your future. A criminal record will not disqualify you from employment with us; we evaluate each application individually.

Applications will be accepted until:

A suitable candidate is found.

Please submit your cover letter and resume to:

https://calgaryjohnhoward.bamboohr.com/careers/274

The Calgary John Howard Society thanks all applicants; however, only those

considered for an interview will be contacted.