Employment and Training Specialist

Employment and Training Specialist

About Us

The Hospitality Workers Training Centre (HWTC) is a workforce development organization with a mission to support a strong and vibrant hospitality industry. We offer high-quality training for people at all stages of their hospitality careers and help hospitality employers recruit and retain valued employees.

About the Project

Aligning directly with Employment Ontario (EO) objectives to address labour shortages and assist job seekers facing barriers, this initiative delivers short-term, tailored, sector-focused upskilling and micro-credentialing to over 400 individuals. Through a strategic partnership between HWTC and Jane and Finch Community and Family Centre (JFC), the project provides wraparound service coordination supports, accessible digital training, and industry certifications to drive sustainable workforce entry and progress. By actively engaging SME hospitality employer needs, the project bridges localized skill gaps and secures reliable employment placements, directly strengthening Ontario’s regional economy.

About the Role

• The Employment and Training Specialist contributes to all aspects of HWTC training and employment programs. You will spend your week moving across the participant journey: recruiting and enrolling new learners, delivering training, coaching participants toward job placement, and keeping employer partners engaged. This role suits someone who likes variety, is organized under pressure, and cares about helping people land a first or better job in hospitality. It is a strong fit for someone who wants broad, nonprofit and workforce development experience and a path toward program management.
• Additional beneficial qualifications include experience in employment services or workforce development, knowledge of the hospitality sector, strong organizational and time management abilities, and proficiency with common office and data management software.
• Post-secondary education in social services, human resources, adult education, or a related field, or equivalent combination of training and experience, is an asset.

Responsibilities

Participant recruitment and intake

• Run information sessions, answer inquiries, and screen and enroll applicants
• Help participants identify and work through barriers to completing training, such as scheduling, transportation, language, and documentation

Training delivery and logistics

• Support instructors with class scheduling, room and equipment setup, supplies, and procurement
• Co-facilitate workshops on customer service, working in teams, workplace professionalism, job-keeping skills, basic technology, and other topics in HWTC’s training catalogue
• Coordinate certification sessions (for example food safety or CPR), and mock interview days

Career coaching and placement

• Provide one-on-one coaching to participants/job seekers on resumes, job applications, and interview preparation
• Match participants to openings with hotel, restaurant, and venue partners, and follow up after placement to support retention

Employer and community partnerships

• Be a friendly, reliable point of contact for hospitality employers, union or industry partners, and referral agencies
• Gather employer feedback on hiring needs and participant performance to inform the curriculum

Data, reporting, and operations

• Track each participant from enrollment through training, placement, and follow-up in our database
• Prepare regular reports on attendance, completion, placement, and retention for staff, funders, and the board
• Help draft and refine program procedures, handouts, and curriculum materials
• Help with events and other tasks as the organization needs

About You

• 2+ years of experience in workforce development, hospitality, adult education, social services, or program coordination (or an equivalent mix of work and lived experience)
• Strong communication skills and comfort working with adult learners from diverse backgrounds; additional languages are a plus
• Excellent organization and follow-through, with the ability to juggle several priorities at once
• Hospitality and service sector work experience is a strong asset.
• Comfort with databases, spreadsheets, and basic reporting; willingness to learn new systems
• A collaborative, flexible, "whatever it takes" attitude
• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required

Terms and How to Apply

This is a full-time, fixed-term contract position until July 9, 2027, with a salary range of $60,000-65,000 (pro-rated), based on experience. HWTC offers a comprehensive employer benefit package. The role is hybrid, and you will attend in-person events, work in the community and attend meetings on a regular basis.

Send a resume and a letter outlining your interest, qualifications and salary expectations to claudia@hwtc.ca. Applications without a letter will not be reviewed. Applications are reviewed on receipt, and applicants are contacted on a rolling basis. Deadline to apply: October 30 by 5:00PM.

HWTC is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, and people of diverse ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Accommodation is available on request for applicants with disabilities during recruitment and assessment, and when hired.