Consultancy to Develop and Deliver HIRES Industry and Job Readiness Training

Terms of Reference

Consultancy to Develop and Deliver HIRES Industry and Job Readiness Training

1. Introduction

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian international development and refugee sponsoring non-profit organization. Present in over 25 countries, we improve education, employment, and empowerment opportunities for young people around the world. We work with a unique and powerful network of post-secondary institutions, private sectors  partners, and volunteers to fulfill our mission and  vision of creating a world where all young people can grow up in safe, secure, and supportive environments; where they can learn, work, and play a vital role in their country’s development.

A central component of WUSC’s strategic plan is to expand durable solutions for refugees. 

For decades, WUSC has connected non-traditional actors, such as postsecondary institutions, students, staff and faculty, with opportunities to sponsor refugees and support their inclusion in Canadian communities. In 2019, WUSC launched HIRES, a pilot that has resettled, trained and placed refugees directly into vacant entry level jobs in Canada. Currently, HIRES is focused on selecting program participants (refugees) based in Kenya and engaging employers in the Hospitality and Tourism industry in British Columbia. Through HIRES, WUSC engages staff at Canadian workplaces in the private sponsorship of refugees, and refugee  youth (24 to 30 years old) who are selected for the program are offered an immigration pathway to Canada and full-time employment in the  Hospitality and Tourism sector in British Columbia.  Two cohorts of refugee youth and workplaces in the Hospitality and Tourism sector in British Columbia have completed the program and WUSC is welcoming the third cohort in 2023.

WUSC is seeking a qualified consultant to develop and deliver Hospitality and Tourism industry and soft-skills training to the HIRES participants customized to the industry context. The proposed training will support the HIRES participants to be equipped for their entry into their new jobs in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. 

2. Background of Project

For decades, WUSC has connected non-traditional actors, such as postsecondary institutions, students, staff and faculty, with opportunities to sponsor refugees and support their inclusion in Canadian communities. In 2019, WUSC launched HIRES, a pilot that has resettled, trained and placed refugees directly into vacant entry level jobs in Canada. Currently, HIRES is focused on selecting program participants (refugees) based in Kenya. Through HIRES, WUSC engages staff at Canadian workplaces and others in their community in the private sponsorship of refugees, and refugee youth (24 to 30 years old) who are selected for the program are  offered an immigration pathway to Canada, training and full-time employment in the hospitality sector in British Columbia.  

3. Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will contribute training expertise and capacity to enable the HIRES program to develop and deliver industry-informed short-term, quality training that will prepare HIRES participants to enter the workplace with foundational knowledge and skills for their new work placements/jobs.   

4. Purpose and Objective of the HIRES Industry and Soft-skills Training

The objective of the training that will be developed and delivered will be to: 

• Identify the skills and knowledge necessary to build confidence of HIRES participants to take on their new roles, and safely perform their duties in a new working context
• Expose HIRES participants to workplace norms, professional expectations, and industry culture and terminology relevant to their transition to anticipated new jobs
• Support HIRES participants to develop soft skills that will enable them to thrive in their first job in Canada

5. Scope of this Consultancy

The HIRES Industry and Soft-skills Training consultancy is based on a maximum budget of $21,000. The consultancy will include a number of days of development, as well as the 10 full-day in-person training delivery days, over 2 consecutive weeks, delivered in early May 2023 and repeated again in August/September 2023. Additional funds are available should the consultant wish to coordinate the provision of lunch to training participants (i.e. in-house or on industry visits).

6. Key Activities and Deliverables 

The selected Consultant will have overall responsibility of working in collaboration with WUSC staff to ensure the above mentioned consultancy objectives are achieved and the quality of all deliverables. 

The key activities and deliverables expected from the Consultant(s) for this assignment are as follows:

• Participate in a planning meeting: to clarify expectations of the mandate and provide contextual information necessary to produce and advice on the training material.
• Develop process: to engage existing HIRES partners and alumni and collaboratively work with WUSC as project leads, to develop and deliver training.
• Identify and secure training venue: Victoria is the intended training location, though WUSC is open to proposals based in Tofino (and possibly Kelowna).
• Review, collaborate, and refine training material: review existing training material of both parties (WUSC and consultant) and ideas of WUSC staff or other experts, as a starting point to build on. 
• Training products
  • Develop training approach that is responsive to the industry context, that can be delivered over 2 consecutive weeks in spring and late summer/fall of 2023
  • Develop content that is mindful of unique context of refugee newcomers as well as visible and cultural minorities in the workplace
  • Incorporate hands-on learning in a range of industry roles  
• Training delivery: deliver 10 full day in-person training over 2 consecutive weeks to 2 groups of HIRES participants (first group of up to 33 participants in May 2023 and second group of up to 20 participants in August/September 2023). The intended training location in British Columbia is Victoria though WUSC is open to proposals based in Tofino and possibly Kelowna.

7. Time Frame 

The contract is expected to commence from March 15th 2023; onboarding and training development to take place between mid-March to mid-April 2023; and the first training delivery to take place over 2 consecutive weeks, in early May (target arrival date to be discussed, some flexibility is required) and the second training delivery to take place over 2 consecutive weeks in August or September 2023. The timeframe of the training delivery will be aligned with the immigration arrivals to Canada of the HIRES participants.

8. Qualifications of Consultant(s) 

• Minimum of 5 years experience in the design and delivery of professional training. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in diversity and inclusion concepts and training approaches.
• Lived experience as a racialized newcomer and/or extensive knowledge of the barriers and challenges facing newcomers in a Canadian employment context.
• Ability to work effectively with and understand the training needs of the tourism and hospitality sector in British Columbia.
• Knowledge and experience with refugee resettlement in Canada is an asset.
• Ability to produce high quality work under tight and fluid timeframes.

9. Application Packages and Procedures

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following: 

• Letter of interest 
• Curriculum Vitae(s) outlining relevant experience
• A proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including the following:
  • Description of the capacity and qualifications of the consultant or consulting firm, including previous relevant experience and qualifications 
  • Summarized, description of the proposed approach and methodology, including customized delivery approach to the industry, as well as the integration of any ethical standards or gender equality considerations
  • A basic financial proposal that does not exceed $21,000 with a breakdown of itemized costs for the development and delivery components of the training
• Names and contact information of two references that can be contacted regarding relevant experience or training feedback.

Complete applications should be submitted electronically to:

WUSC, c/o Ashley Korn at [email protected] with the subject line of:  ‘HIRES Training’Closing date for submission of the application package is the end of business day on Feb 22, 2023.