Employment Specialist

Open Door Group (ODG), a mission‑driven non‑profit organization serving communities across Canada, is looking for an Employment Specialist to join our team.

Wage: $32.04 to $33.83 per hour, Grid 31 Health Sciences Association Community Bargaining Agreement

Status: Permanent

Schedule: This position will have flex‑time scheduling. This means that the staff will work 72 hours over a two week period. Employees are expected to provide availability to work evenings or weekends as needed to best meet the needs of their clients.

Location: A combination of Community Outreach in the Lower Mainland area and working out of our Thrive location at 300‑1338 West Broadway. A valid BC Driver's License and access to a reliable vehicle is required.

Internal Posting closing date: July 14, 2026

As an Employment Specialist
, you will support participants in pursuing meaningful employment, volunteer, training, and career development opportunities as part of their individual recovery journey, helping to build confidence, independence, social inclusion, and community connection.

This unique IPS‑informed role combines employment services and leisure, wellness, and employment programming to support individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges. Approximately 3 days per week will focus on individualized employment support, while 2 days will be dedicated to designing and facilitating engaging group programs, such as cooking, walking, wellness, life skills, and recreation and leisure‑based workshops that build confidence, skills, community connection, and pathways to employment.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll support participants in identifying and pursuing employment, volunteer, education, and career goals through individualized employment planning, job search support, employer engagement, and job retention services. Working collaboratively with Recreation Therapists, you will also design and facilitate therapeutic recreation and life‑skills programming that supports recovery, skill development, community connection, and employment readiness.

You will participate in integrated service planning and deliver services in community, workplace, educational, and group settings. With a smaller caseload of approximately 20 participants, this role allows for intensive individualized support, meaningful employer engagement, and the integration of IPS‑informed employment services with therapeutic recreation programming.

Unlike traditional Employment Specialist roles, this position maintains a smaller active caseload, allowing for more intensive individualized support, community‑based service delivery, program development and facilitation, integrated planning with interdisciplinary teams, and meaningful employer engagement. This unique role combines IPS‑informed employment services with therapeutic recreation programming to support recovery, community inclusion, and sustainable employment outcomes.

Please see the full job description for a detailed description of the responsibilities included in this position. Full posting and job description are available here:
Careers at Open Door Group

Champion of Great Workplaces: ODG proudly holds the title of one of Canada’s Certified Great Places to Work, fostering a culture of compassion and authenticity. Join a team that values your unique contribution and believes in the boundless potential of every individual.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits: As a Certified Living Wage Employer, ODG is committed to offering more than just a job. Enjoy a comprehensive 100% employer‑paid benefits package and enrollment in the Municipal Pension Plan. Your well‑being matters, and we provide an Employee and Family Assistance program to support you.

Community Impact: Be part of an organization that goes beyond the conventional, providing tailored employment services to build strong workforce ecosystems and thriving communities. Your work will directly contribute to the social and economic well‑being of the community.

If you meet most of the qualifications and are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to apply. We recognize that there are…