About this role
Youth Centre Coordinator
Job Posting: Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for one casual position of Youth Centre Coordinator in the Regional Recreation Services division of Parks & Recreation.
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.
Under the supervision of the Community Recreation Coordinator, the Youth Centre Coordinator supports the operations of Multi-Service Youth Centres. These centres provide a wide range of services and programs for youth, including recreation programs, employment and academic assistance, and provide support by informing youth of counselling and support services. The Youth Centre Coordinator plays a key role in fostering a supportive environment for staff and youth participants. This position requires flexibility and adaptability to manage various responsibilities, including planning and leading activities, providing brief intervention support for youth, connecting youth to community resources, scheduling and supervising staff, coaching team members, and overseeing daily operations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Program Coordination: • Design, implement, and oversee the delivery of daily youth centre programs, including drop-in sessions, workshops, special events, and registered recreation courses, within the established program framework. • Makes recommendations to Supervisor on yearly programming plans, schedules and outreach. • Support curriculum development for recreation courses and facilitate client registration. • Conduct youth intake, orientation, and facility tours. • Document daily shift details, including participant numbers, activities, trends, and incidents. • Gather qualitative data such as youth stories, quotes, and photographs. • Gather participant feedback, research, and analyze emerging trends and work with Community Developers to recommend improvements and partner with appropriate community and internal providers. • Follow safety and crisis protocols and identify, evaluate, and manage risks associated with programs, events, and service delivery. • Perform risk assessments and maintain awareness of physical and environmental issues affecting the community, and communicate trends to partners, colleagues, and leadership. Team Support: • Coach youth centre casual staff in creating a safe and inclusive environment for diverse populations and assign roles and tasks to meet participant and programming needs. • Develop short-term work schedules for up to 8 casual staff, track employee hours for payroll, and coordinate coverage for absences and time-off requests. • Participate in a hiring panel for centre staff. • Train and onboard new casual staff, volunteers, facilitators, and practicum students. • Mentor, and motivate casual staff, and conduct regular group and 1-on-1 meetings, encourage feedback and learning, and promote a healthy team environment. Escalates complex performance issues to the next level Supervisor. • Maintain employee files and records for youth centre casual staff and contracted program facilitators. Youth Support and Customer Service: • Maintain positive working relationships with youth and families, the public, internal and external colleagues and management. • Supervise, engage, and support up to 50 youth per day, building strong relationships through program participation and direct support. • Provide ongoing leadership opportunities for youth, including service learning and volunteering. • Coordinate services provided by community partners to ensure they align with both youth needs and HRM Recreation values, while ensuring all services incorporate youth voices with a strong emphasis on inclusion and accessibility. • Act as a front-line contact for at-risk youth experiencing conflicts/crises and assist in de-escalating volatile situations by providing brief intervention support. • Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external Key Partners and inform youth of appropriate resources to help youth manage daily stress and pressures. • Leverages internal and external Key Partnerships to enhance programming and workshops. • Ensure seamless participant registration and exemplary customer service through effective communication channels (email, phone, text, etc.). • Recommend ways to improve customer service and support for Section/HRM operations by updating policies, processes, standards, and practices. Community Outreach: • Network with youth-serving organizations and service providers, attend local events, visit schools, and engage with stakeholders to promote the youth centre in the community and explore new programming and partnership opportunities. • Develop local partnerships with community organizations and collaborate on capacity-building initiatives with the Community Developer. • Coordinate referrals and promote partner services within the centre. • Assist the Supervisor and Corporate Communications to develop and implement marketing and communications strategies to support program goals and increase youth awareness. • Promote youth centre programming through various methods of communication such as expos, social media marketing (Youth Instagram Account), Google Calendar, websites, photography, and printed material. • Deliver printed materials to community spaces and youth-serving organizations. Administration: • Perform standard administrative data processing tasks such as record keeping, budget tracking, procurement and purchasing supplies and resources, and tracking organizational assets. • Complete incident reports, and document according to HRM policies and procedures and youth specific strategies. • Support the section by performing basic research and writing tasks, contributing documentation and content for reports such as the Youth Services Plan and Youth Engagement Report. • Manage program supplies and identify, report, and address issues impacting the physical space including missing or broken equipment, items that need to be replaced from wear, and safety hazards. • Maintain and enhance a youth-friendly space by identifying and addressing barriers that hinder daily program participation (e.g., reconfiguring space, acquiring sensory aids and other necessary materials and equipment, implementing visual communication strategies, etc.). • Identify and report facility maintenance needs and safety issues. • Provide recommendations to the supervisor for future upgrades aimed at improving accessibility. • May perform other related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Education and Experience: • Completion of a college diploma program in Recreation, Community Development, Social Work, Child and Youth, Counselling, or other social science/health-related discipline. • 2 years' experience in a leadership role working or volunteering with at-risk youth. Technical / Job-Specific Knowledge and Abilities: • Ability to manage staff, including scheduling, mentoring and coaching. • Working knowledge in administration, program coordination, and group facilitation. • Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment. • Knowledge of youth engagement strategies and youth development principles. • Knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention techniques, harm reduction, and trauma-informed approaches. • Knowledge of legislation, community services, resources, policies, programs, procedures, and issues affecting the youth population across HRM. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with team members and external partners. • Ability to exercise mature and professional judgment. • Ability to problem-solve and resolve conflicts. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office software. Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.
Please note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.
COMPETENCIES: Communications, Customer Service, Decision Making, Developing Others, Organization & Planning, Risk Management, Teamwork & Cooperation, Values & Ethics, Conflict Management, Valuing Diversity.
WORK STATUS: Casual, hourly.
HOURS OF WORK: Normal work hours are based on a 35-hour week, Monday to Friday, including evenings during drop-in and program times. Some weekends will be required with advanced notice.
SALARY: $28.00 per hour (plus 4% vacation pay) (wage currently under review). This is a bargaining position under NSGEU 222.
WORK LOCATION: The Den; 636 Sackville Drive, Lower Sackville.
CLOSING DATE: Applications will be received up to 11:59 pm on September 22, 2026
Please note: We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted.
To ensure a fair and equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide proof of their qualifications, including, but not limited to, educational credentials, professional licenses, and relevant.
During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the recruiter when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please clink on the link: Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax
(position # 78640501)