Active Living Coordinator (MPAL)

Town of Bridgewater; Town of Bridgewater; On-site; CAD 53,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Bridgewater is seeking an Active Living Coordinator (MPAL) to lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Town’s physical activity strategy. Reporting to the Manager of Recreation and Culture, you will collaborate with multiple partners to increase community movement and reduce sedentary behavior.

Requirements include a post-secondary degree or diploma, two years of related experience, strong communication and leadership skills, and knowledge of municipal operations.

Qualifications

• Post secondary degree or diploma in a related field.
• Two years of experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of facilitating physical activity at the population level and barriers to activity.
• Understanding of municipal government operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and implement initiatives, projects, and policies encouraging physical activity in alignment with PAS and MPAL priorities.
• Prepare annual MPAL work plans and reporting/funding applications with Grants Coordinator.
• Research trends and best practices and communicate results to inform policy.
• Oversee annual initiatives like Story Book Trail, Bridgewater Borrows, Play Boxes, Bike Loan, Bike Repair Stations.
• Collaborate with staff, other municipalities, provincial partners, and community groups to increase unstructured activity opportunities.

Skills

Communication skills

Group leadership

Community engagement

Team collaboration

Education

Post-secondary degree or diploma in a related field

Job description

The Town of Bridgewater is currently seeking a Active Living Coordinator (MPAL) to join our team.

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada is a town of approximately 9,000 residents, nestled in the heart of the LaHave River Valley on the province's South Shore. Located within an hour of Halifax, Bridgewater’s reputation as the Main Street of the South Shore is well-deserved – the community is the service centre for more than 60,000 residents within a 30-minute drive in Lunenburg and Queens counties.

The Town of Bridgewater is committed to offering equal employment opportunities based on qualifications and performance, and free from discrimination because of age, race or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, family status, gender identity, or other protected characteristics, in accordance with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. At the Town of Bridgewater, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 902-543-4651.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Active Living Coordinator (MPAL) will facilitate improvements in community physical activity rates and enable a culture of movement among residents. This position is responsible to lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Town’s comprehensive physical activity strategy (2022). Reporting to the Manager of Recreation and Culture, this position works in collaboration with internal departments, surrounding municipalities, community groups, and provincial partners to increase opportunities for residents to be more physically active, and less sedentary, as part of their daily lives.

ABOUT YOU

You are comfortable leading group activities and active living type programs. Using your excellent communication skills you have the ability to speak and write in clear, accessible language to a variety of audiences. You enjoy working as part of a team, while also having the ability to work without supervision. You have a passion for innovation in community engagement and program development. Do you see yourself in this description? We want to hear from you!

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing initiatives, projects, and policies that encourage physical activity in alignment with the Physical Activity Strategy (PAS) and MPAL priorities.
• Responsible for the preparation of annual MPAL work plans and corresponding annual reporting and funding applications in collaboration with the Grants Coordinator.
• Researches new initiatives, trends, statistics, and best practices, across policy, infrastructure and social environments, and communicates these results effectively to the public and partners to inform policy.
• Responsible for annual implementation, inspection, and maintenance of ongoing initiatives including, but not limited to, the Story Book Trail, Bridgewater Borrows, Play Boxes, Bike Loan, and Bike Repair Stations.
• Consults, collaborates, and supports ongoing work that is happening within the Town that helps to achieve the goals of the MPAL work and PAS.
• Collaborates with Municipal staff, Council and other decision-makers on policy development and operational opportunities related to low-barrier unstructured physical activity for residents.
• Collaborates with internal departments, surrounding municipalities, provincial partners, community groups, businesses, and other organizations to increase opportunities for unstructured physical activity in Bridgewater.
• Partners with community organizations to increase physical activity among low-active and equity deserving populations.
• Builds collaborative relationships with local, regional, provincial, and national recreation agencies and leverages their resources for local efforts.
• Responds to public, staff, and elected officials’ inquiries as they relate to recreation and programming. Escalate complex issues to the Manager of Recreation & Culture.
• Participates in provincially sponsored physical activity training and networking events and other relevant professional development opportunities, subject to Manager’s approval.
• Gathers data for budget and performance measures to meet program objectives, including participation rates, financial targets, and participant satisfaction.
• Facilitates and implements opportunities for community engagement. Occasionally presents elements of the MPAL workplan or other items relevant to the PAS at Council, Committees of Council, or with community groups.
• All other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Post Secondary degree or diploma in a related field
• Suitable combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience:

• Two (2)years of experience in a related field
• Knowledge and/or training in facilitating physical activity at the population level and barriers to physical activity and behaviour change
• Understanding of physical activity and recreation delivery systems
• General knowledge of municipal government operations

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Term to March 31, 2031, full-time, non-union position.
• Salary (Grade 2): $53,006- $68,150, commensurate with experience.
• Competitive group benefits and group insurance package.
• Regular hours - Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (35 hours per week).
• Position operates out of the Town’s Administration Department (60 Pleasant Street).

Please submit your application no later than November 18 , 2026 @ 11:59 p.m.

About Us

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada is a town of approximately 9,000 residents, nestled in the heart of the LaHave River Valley on the province's South Shore.

Located within an hour of Halifax, Bridgewater’s reputation as the Main Street of the South Shore is well-deserved – the community is the service centre for more than 60,000 residents within a 30-minute drive in Lunenburg and Queens counties.

Bridgewater boasts all the service you would expect from a modern location and couples it with the charm and feel of a tightly knit community, the kind where neighbours know each other and everyone greets you with a smile.