Employment Roles

Caretakers are an integral part of the HWDSB community by contributing to the well-being of students and staff through creating a well maintained, pleasant and welcoming environments in our schools and administrative spaces. Working in a team environment, caretakers ensure the cleanliness and security of the building and grounds they work at. As a caretaker at HWDSB you will have the opportunity to accept work throughout the divers communities within our region including Hamilton Mountain, Hamilton Downtown, Waterdown, Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Mount Hope, Binbrook, Stoney Creek and Winona.

Caretaking Duties

Caretaking staff are provided with full training on their duties assigned. Duties include:

• Garbage collection and removal – inside and outside
• Cleaning washrooms, classrooms, hallways and offices
• Snow removal, salting and sanding as required
• Operation of mechanical equipment including vacuum cleaners, floor buffers, auto scrubbers, snow blowers, riding lawn mowers
• Assisting with set-up requirements for school and administrative activities and community rentals
• Performing minor maintenance duties eg. changing lights
• General landscaping duties including weeding, lawn cutting and grounds clean up

Position Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic English verbal and written communication skills
• Basic computer skills
• Reliable team player with a customer service attitude
• Safety conscious
• Previous commercial/industrial cleaning experience is an asset
• Satisfactory vulnerable sector records check will be required before beginning this position

A condition of employment requires that you pass HWDSB's physical testing component. Additional information will be provided through the interview process.

Reporting to the ESL/LINC Program Supervisor, candidates will be responsible to instruct English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) to adult learners, from Literacy to CLB 8.  Candidates are hired into a casual teaching pool to carry out short term casual assignments and long term occasional (LTO) assignments. Classes operate Monday-Friday with day, night and summer school options.

Qualifications 

HWDSB welcomes your application to be an English as a Second Language Instructor. When applying, please ensure to include the following:

• Submit a letter of application and resumé outlining how your qualifications, professional development and experience relate to this job opportunity
• Must have a current TESL Ontario Certificate (OCELT)
• Your knowledge and experience with the LINC Curriculum Guidelines and the Canadian Language Benchmarks
• Knowledge and/or application of Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA)
• Practice and knowledge in the principles of adult learning
• Demonstrated experience teaching online and using Learning Management Systems
• Demonstrated experience using information technology as a teaching and learning tool
• Excellent communication and cross cultural skills
• Available to work on short notice for day and evening classes.

ESL Instructors at HWDSB are a bargaining unit of OSSTF. 

As an Early Childhood Educator, you will work on call in short-term and long-term assignments at multiple schools throughout the diverse communities of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board including Hamilton Mountain, Hamilton Downtown, Waterdown, Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Mount Hope, Binbrook, Stoney Creek and Winona. 

You must registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators, or have evidence of initiating the registration process. 

Early Childhood Educator Duties

Collaborative role working in partnership with a teacher to plan and implement the Kindergarten Program (2016) including:

• Observe, monitor and assess the progress and development of children
• Provide numerous and varied opportunities for children to develop and refine their learning strategies, attitudes, skills, and knowledge
• Engage children in critical reflection and inquiry, in testing theories, and in discussing and questioning approaches in a play-based program
• Use a variety of instructional, assessment, and evaluation strategies to meet the needs of individual children, and to plan for next steps
• Engage in both formal and informal collaborative inquiry
• Create a learning environment that promotes the development of collaborative skills and critical and creative thinking skills, and support children to become thoughtful problem solvers and effective communicators
• Maintain a healthy physical, emotional, and social learning environment
• Support the transition of children to and from before and after-school programs
• Develop strategies to engage families in their children's learning

Position Requirements

• Under the additional documents section, you must submit a one page sample of pedagogical documentation using either the Kindergarten Program (2016), or the Early Learning for Every Child Today document, or How Does Learning Happen
• A condition of employment requires that you pass the Board’s physical testing component. Additional information will be provided during the interview process.

Social workers play an important role in the HWDSB school communities. They provide therapeutic interventions, guided by evidence-informed practices to enhance the overall social-emotional well-being and mental health of HWDSB students.

Social Work Duties

Providing consultation, brief service, treatment intervention and crisis support to children and youth between 4-18 years old presenting with:

• Mental health concerns, such as anxiety or low mood
• School avoidance and non-attendance
• Personal and behavioural challenges such as peer relationship stress, substance use, adverse childhood experiences.
• Family stressors that impact on the student's functioning at school.
• Experiencing systemic oppression and discrimination (racism, poverty, colonialization, homophobia/biphobia/transphobia, poverty etc.)
• Urgent mental health crisis that places the child/youth at risk or poses a risk to others.

Brief Service includes:

• Focusing on client strengths, are culturally inclusive and safe, and promote shared decision-making with the client.
• Provision of “quick access” therapeutic encounters to address the immediate or presenting needs of a child or youth.
• Provision of a timely response to requests for service, maximizing the child or youth and family’s readiness for change and diverting children, youth and families from waitlists whenever possible.
• Facilitating referrals to appropriate alternate or additional services, both within the Board as well as the larger community.

Treatment Intervention includes:

• A series of planned, interrelated interventions based on an assessment of the child, youth and family’s multiple risks, needs and strengths. A range of modalities such as individual, group and family
• Using an evidence-informed approach that is strength-based, and culturally responsive to diverse populations, centered on the individual, considering the individual child/youth within their whole context, respecting their needs and preferences.
• The intervention/treatment process involves clients and uses shared decision-making so that all parties understand the goals and desired outcomes.
• The intervention/treatment plan is reviewed and recorded on a regular basis, and results are used to modify the intervention/treatment plan, if necessary.

Crisis Support Services include:

• Implementing a triage protocol inclusive of prioritization criteria, type of contact and corresponding response time targets.
• Referral to appropriate community agencies and services to support the student in developing and implementing a safety plan.
• Supporting system wide initiatives that enhance or establish universal conditions for student wellbeing and inclusion

Position Requirements

• A Masters in Social Work and be eligible for registration in the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Work.
• Strong commitment to social work values, anti-oppressive/anti-racist practice, culturally safe and inclusive approaches to service delivery.
• Knowledge and awareness of the issues that impact upon children and youth and their school experience.
• Knowledge and experience in the application of evidence informed therapeutic interventions with children and families, and how to apply this within a school setting. Experience in the provision of therapeutic treatment groups and an understanding of group modalities, dynamics and techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of child development, social, environmental and structural influences, cultural diversity, family systems and age-appropriate change strategies.
• Demonstrated ability in working both within a multi-disciplinary team and/or a singular discipline team, and the ability to promote the transference knowledge across the team.
• Experience and comfort in working independently in a fast paced environment.
• Knowledge and experience in working with community agencies and partners to ensure seamless and integrated service delivery for children, youth and their families.
• Strong documentation skills in accordance with OCSWSSW standards, coupled with solid organizational, administrative and computer skills.

At HWDSB, we have a mission: to provide the right education so each student grows into a lifelong learner who contributes to a changing, diverse world. We have more than 7,000 employees and every one of them contributes to our student achievement in their own way.

We are proud of our staff and we celebrate their work as well as their outside accomplishments. HWDSB is looking for staff who want to grow as professionals and as leaders. Our Human Resources Department offers tremendous supports such as training, in-services and mentoring. HWDSB also believes in a healthy workplace, and is always looking for ways to create a positive, supportive workplace.

Click here to watch HWDSB's Teaching in Ontario video.

Qualifications 

• Candidates must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers (in good standing). New graduates pending OCT certification are welcome to apply!  
• Professional skills and attitudes including lived experiences, skill sets, backgrounds and varied work experience that may be considered valuable to the position 
• Ability to speak multiple languages in addition to English in French is considered an asset
• Working with diverse communities locally or abroad 
• Ability to lead a school band, theatre arts, lead extracurricular activities, etc. as needed 
• Professional experience outside of the classroom 
• Additional qualifications and experience  
• Additional requirements that are outside of the regular OCT qualifications
• Consideration of early career educators

What You Need to Apply

When applying to HWDSB through www.applytoeducation.com, your application package must include:

• Cover Letter
• Resumé
• Practicum Assessments or Principal Evaluations
• Copy of Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification (where possible).

Interview Method

Currently all panel interviews are conducted via Microsoft Teams.

At HWDSB, we have a mission: to provide the right education so each student grows into a lifelong learner who contributes to a changing, diverse world. We have more than 7,000 employees and every one of them contributes to our student achievement in their own way.

We are proud of our staff and we celebrate their work as well as their outside accomplishments. HWDSB is looking for staff who want to grow as professionals and as leaders. Our Human Resources Department offers tremendous supports such as training, in-services and mentoring. HWDSB also believes in a healthy workplace, and is always looking for ways to create a positive, supportive workplace.

Click here to watch HWDSB's Teaching in Ontario video.

Qualifications 

• Ministry Requirements as outlined in the Education Act
• Candidates must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers (in good standing). New graduates pending OCT certification are welcome to apply!  
• Professional skills and attitudes including lived experiences, skill sets, backgrounds and varied work experience that may be considered valuable to the position 
• Ability to speak multiple languages in addition to English in French is considered an asset
• Working with diverse communities locally or abroad 
• Ability to lead a school band, theatre arts, lead extracurricular activities, etc. as needed 
• Professional experience outside of the classroom 
• Additional qualifications and experience  
• Additional requirements that are outside of the regular OCT qualifications
• Consideration of early career educators

What You Need to Apply

When applying to HWDSB through www.applytoeducation.com, your application package must include:

• Cover Letter
• Resumé
• Practicum Assessments or Principal Evaluations
• Copy of Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification (where possible).

Interview Method

A traditional question and answer interview will be conducted through Microsoft Teams with a panel of Secondary and/or System Principals.

At HWDSB, we have a mission: to empower students to learn and grow to their full potential in a diverse world. We have more than 5,000 staff and each one contributes in their own way to student learning and achievement.

How to Apply

Why Teach French at HWDSB?

We are proud of our staff and it shows as we celebrate their work and their outside accomplishments. We encourage staff to grow as professionals and as leaders. Our Human Resources Department offers tremendous supports such as training, in-services and mentoring. HWDSB makes positive culture a top priority and is always looking for ways to foster a healthy and supportive workplace.

HWDSB is an anglophone school board that offers two French programs. Our Core French program begins in Grade 4, with approximately 40 minutes of instruction per class per day. Our French Immersion program begins in Grade 1, with students receiving a minimum of approximately 85 per cent of instruction in French. Our FI program continues into secondary at two sites, we offer a wide range of courses including Math, Science, Geography and History. The FI program at HWDSB is a growing program with sites across the district.

Find more information about our French as a Second Language program.

Click here to watch HWDSB's Teaching in Ontario video.

Online Information Sessions

We offer online sessions on a regular basis to answer questions candidates may have about the hiring process. We encourage candidates to familiarize themselves with the sections on this web page. 

Session Details

• Online Application Process
• French Language Assessment
• The Interview and Selection of French Candidates
• Professional Learning and Resources

At HWDSB we welcome a wide variety of professional and administrative staff opportunities. These roles are part of, but not limited to, the following divisions:

• Business Services
• Human Resource Services
• Information & Instructional Technology 
• Research and Analytics
• Human Rights Office
• Facilities Operations
• Indigenous Education
• Specialized Services

We encourage all interested candidates to learn more about our professional and administrative opportunities through our job postings on Apply to Education.

As a member of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, HWDSB is looking for candidates who will provide a range of supportive interventions for students who exhibit self-regulation, social, emotional, physical, and/or medical needs.  

Your diploma as an Educational Assistant, Child and Youth Worker, Developmental Services Worker, or Social Service Worker is supported by cultural and ability sensitivity, related experience supporting individuals with special needs, and the ability to perform physical tasks including dressing, feeding, lifting/re-positioning, transfers, toileting, and diapering.  You also have training in one or more of the following areas:  Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Autism Spectrum Disorder, assistive technology, sign language, First Aid and CPR.

As an Educational Assistant, you will work on call in short-term and long-term assignments at multiple schools throughout the diverse communities of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board including Hamilton Mountain, Hamilton Downtown, Waterdown, Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Mount Hope, Binbrook, Stoney Creek and Winona. 

Qualifications 

• Diploma as an Educational Assistant, Child and Youth Worker, Developmental Services Worker, or Social Service Worker 
• Cultural and ability sensitivity
• Related experience supporting individuals with special needs
• The ability to perform physical tasks including dressing, feeding, lifting/re-positioning, transfers, toileting, and diapering
• Training in one or more of the following areas:  Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Autism Spectrum Disorder, assistive technology, sign language, First Aid and CPR.

A condition of employment requires that you pass the Board’s physical testing component. Additional information will be provided during the interview process.  

At HWDSB there (number of positions) office, clerical and technical positions in our schools and administrative buildings. 

We have both 10 and 12 month roles to offer as part of casual, 10 month and 12 month contracts. 

As a Casual Clerical employee, you will work on call in short-term and/or long-term assignments at work sites throughout Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. On call assignments may involve working in schools or working in centralized departments such as payroll, human resource services, research, transportation, facilities and more. 

HWDSB is looking for the following from candidates:

• Flexibility, adaptability, and excellent interpersonal skills
• Post-secondary education in a related field or equivalent relevant work experience is required
• Superior written and oral communication abilities
• Computer proficiency
• Reliable transportation is essential.

Successful candidates become a member of union local OSSTF District 21 OCTU. This gives you access to internal job postings and opportunities for career advancement. OCTU permanent positions include a full benefits package, seniority and collective agreement protections.

Living Wage Employer

As part of HWDSB's commitment to pay equity, the board is commented to being a Living Wage Employer. Different from minimum wage (which is the legislated minimum all employers must pay and is set by the provincial government), the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) calculates the rate based on major expenses like rent, transportation, childcare and food, as well as things like internet service and ‘modest’ recreational activities to determine the expenses to a family with two working adults and two children. The OLWN announced Hamilton’s living wage is now $17.20 per hour.

Principal Selection Process

Now Open: We’re Looking for Our Next Leaders

The promotion process is now open, and we encourage all individuals who meet the qualifications to apply. The current opportunity, Job Number 4006233, is posted on Apply to Education (ATE).

Explore Leadership Opportunities at HWDSB

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is establishing a diverse and dynamic leadership pool of qualified candidates for future elementary and secondary principal and vice-principal positions. Successful candidates will be placed on a two-year ready list and may be appointed to leadership roles as opportunities arise.

We are seeking innovative, collaborative, and change-driven educators who are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive learning environments. At HWDSB, we value leaders who actively demonstrate a commitment to human rights and anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO) approaches to school leadership. Guided by our core values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy, we invite you to contribute your strengths and grow as a school leader within our board.

All interested internal and external candidates are encouraged to attend the initial prep session to learn more about HWDSB, our Strategic Plan (2023 – 2028), our Equity Action Plan, the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan (IECSAP) 2021-2025 and our promotion process. We look forward to welcoming you.

All applications must be submitted through ATE. We welcome applications from individuals who meet the qualifications and are interested in taking the next step in their career with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

Applications must be submitted to Apply to Education (ATE)

Application Deadline:

Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. to be considered for this round of the Principal/Vice‑Principal promotion process.

• Job Overview
• How to Apply
• About HWDSB
• Questions?

Committed to our HWDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028), an applicant for this opportunity maintains the following competencies:

• Upholding Human Rights, Safety & Well-being
• Providing Equitable Quality Education
• Collaborating with Students, Families and Communities
• Building a Sustainable Education System
• Reinforcing Indigenous Educational Wellness & Reconciliation

Interviews

Principal and Vice Principal interviews are conducted in person with a panel. If you require an accommodation for your panel interview, please let us know and we will work with you to create a plan to accommodate your needs.