Canadian Sportworks Officer

SIRC; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent national sport organization is seeking a Canadian SportWORKS Officer in Ottawa. This role focuses on enhancing capacities of Newcomer Service Support Organizations through training and resource development. Ideal candidates are passionate about sport, have relevant educational backgrounds, and are committed to a 4-month full-time internship. The position offers a stipend of $2000/month. This opportunity allows you to significantly impact newcomer youth in Canada while gaining valuable experience in the sport sector.

Benefits

Monthly living allowance of $2000

Coverage for travel-related expenses during training

Qualifications

• Passion for sport and sport for development.
• Flexibility, creativity, understanding, and patience required.
• Cultural sensitivity awareness essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with partnership development between NSSOs and local sport organizations.
• Develop communication tools for NSSO staff.
• Contribute to new sport program planning and delivery.

Skills

Strong attention to detail

Quality program and curriculum development skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent administrative skills

Ability to motivate others

Education

Post secondary education in Sport Management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Are you ready to make a difference through sport for newcomers to Canada, especially newcomer girls? Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your skills for a career in the Canadian sport sector?

Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is searching for an aspiring sport leader to join the SportWORKS Sport for Newcomers Program in partnership with the YMCA of the National Capital Region.

Apply today for this exciting opportunity!

Terms of Placement:

Title: Canadian SportWORKS Officer, Commonwealth Sport Canada

Reports to: Program Manager, SportWORKS, Commonwealth Sport Canada

Duration: March 2nd – June 30th, 2026

Stipend: $2000/month

Application Deadline: February 12th, 2026

Background:

A key part of CSC’s Mission is to “enhance the lives of youth across the Commonwealth”. CSC’s SportWORKS Program has a 30-year history of enhancing the lives of Commonwealth youth, 2 million and counting. Using the success of the SportWORKS program model, CSC created a program focused on newcomer youth in Canada. The Sport for Newcomers program (S4N) is designed to build and enhance the capacity of Newcomer Service Support Organizations (NSSOs) in Canada leading to increased sport frequency rates and retention of Newcomer Youth.

S4N aims to build NSSO organizational capacity through internship placements of Canadian SportWORKS Officers who assist with the transfer of knowledge and capacity building at NSSOs for staff and volunteers, by developing resources/materials, building partnerships with local sport organizations, seeking local program funding opportunities and by assisting with the accumulation of data for monitoring and evaluation, and to inform future programming and longitudinal indicators.

Key Tasks / Projects:

The Canadian SportWORKS Officer makes a 4-month, full-time commitment, assisting a host NSSO in building capacity through training, advice, guidance, mentorship, coaching and support within the areas of need identified by stakeholders.

The key tasks and projects may be focused on the areas of need listed below. Please note that key tasks and projects are listed as a guide only and are contingent upon the unique needs of each host NSSO.

Partnership Development:

• Assists with partnership development between NSSOs and local sport organizations including conducting introductory sport clinics/workshops, etc.
• Formalizes local sport organization membership referrals
• Identifies and applies for local sport funding opportunities

Communication:

• Develops communication tools and communication resources (templates, guides, etc.) for use by NSSO staff

Programming:

• Contributes to the execution and cataloging of new sport program planning and delivery adaptions
• Develops new Newcomer youth focused sport program pedagogy and curriculum
• Develops a variety of new “train the trainer” resources
• Develops resources for parents of newcomer youth

Monitoring and Evaluation:

accumulation of data for monitoring and evaluation, and to inform future programming and longitudinal indicators.

Placement Location: YMCA of the National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Post secondary education or a senior university student in the field of Sport Management, Sport Administration, Health, Physical Education, Kinesiology, Human Kinetics, Recreation or related experience
• Passion for sport and sport for development
• Flexibility, creativity, compassion, understanding and patience
• Cultural sensitivity awareness
• Eligible to work in Canada
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive)
• Full-time commitment for 4 months

Desired Skills / Experience:

• Strong attention to detail
• Quality program and curriculum development skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to interact with a wide variety of stakeholders
• Excellent administrative and report writing skills
• Ability to motivate others and to impart knowledge through 1-on-1 sessions or through group training sessions
• Ability to work unsupervised and remain self-motivated
• Working with diverse populations including age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status
• Knowledge and understanding of working with newcomers, especially girls, and their barriers
• Lived newcomer experience

Canadian SportWORKS Officers must provide an Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC), Vulnerable Sector Check and complete online training, such as Respect in the Workplace, Respect in Sport and other provided training modules prior to beginning placements.

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Cover Letter: As part of your cover letter, please address the following:
a. Why you decided to apply for the opportunity
b. Your involvement in sport (as athlete, coach, official, volunteer, administrator, etc.)
c. Other experience (work, study, travel, etc.)

2. Current Resume: Must include three (3) references including both phone and email contact information.

Only serious applicants, committed to fulfilling an 4-month volunteer internship placement need apply.

SportWORKS placements are volunteer internships, however, CSC will cover some costs by providing a modest monthly living allowance of $2000. In addition to a living allowance, CSC will cover the costs associated with travel-related expenses for training taking place in Ottawa on February 26th, 2026. Please note that any additional expenses (i.e. Student debt payments, personal travel, entertainment) are the responsibility of the CSO.

2. What time commitment is asked of me?

This placement is set to begin on March 2nd, 2026, with a placement completion date scheduled for June 30th, 2026. Applicants must be able to commit to the full 4-month placement. Placement duration is not flexible and only those who can fully commit should apply.

3. Can I choose which location I am placed in?

If more than one placement location is offered, you can identify which of the available placement opportunities you are interested in applying for.

Ultimately, however, successful candidates will be placed based on their skills/experience match with each host NSSO’s needs. Please note that applicants who apply for both locations will be viewed favourably.

4. What are you looking for in applicants?

Successful applicants in the past have had:

• a passion for sport at all levels and an interest in applying their passion and knowledge in an intercultural context;
• a diverse sport background, including experience as an athlete, coach, official, administrator, etc.;
• a flexible, easygoing, attitude with a willingness to work hard for 4 months to make the most of this unique opportunity.

5. Where does the Sport for Newcomers program fit within Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC)?

The program is part of CSC’s SportWORKS Program, which sends Canadian sport leaders to host organizations in Canada and throughout the Commonwealth to deliver sustainable sport programs and build sport system capacity. SportWORKS prides itself on “Making a Difference and Becoming Different.”

The Sport for Newcomers Program aims to not only assist NSSOs and newcomers to Canada, but also to make a difference in the lives and careers of CSOs.

6. How can this experience help me with my career advancement?

Over the past 33 years, 225 Canadian SportWORKS Officers have undertaken placements in 30 countries impacting more than 2 million youth. More than 50% of CSOs continue a career in sport, international development, education and the non-profit sector. SportWORKS alumni continue to make an impact throughout their careers at various organizations, including Commonwealth Sport, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Global Affairs Canada and Sport Canada.

For more information about CSC and the SportWORKS program, please visit www.commonwealthsport.ca.

Watch the Sport for Newcomers video here: https://commonwealthsport.ca/sportworks/sportworks-home.html

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