Canadian SportWORKS Officer

SIRC; San Juan de Terranova; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A national sport organization is seeking a Canadian SportWORKS Officer in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The role involves fostering youth engagement through sports in newcomer communities. Applicants should have a background in Sport Management or related fields and a passion for sport development. Responsibilities include partnership development, program facilitation, and creating resources for NSSOs. This is a volunteer placement requiring a full-time commitment for 4 months with a stipend of $2000/month.

Benefits

Monthly stipend of $2000

Travel-related expenses for training

Qualifications

• Must be eligible to work in Canada.
• Full-time commitment for 4 months required.
• Passion for sport and development.

Responsibilities

• Assist with partnership development for NSSOs.
• Develop communication tools for NSSO staff.
• Facilitate newcomer consultation sessions.

Skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Administrative skills

Cultural sensitivity

Motivational skills

Education

Post secondary education in Sport Management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Application Deadline: January 12th, 2026 or when an applicant is selected

Background

A key part of CSC’s Mission is to “enhance the lives of youth across the Commonwealth”. Commonwealth Sport Canada’s (CSC) SportWORKS Program has a 30-year history of enhancing the lives of Commonwealth youth, 2 million and counting. Since 2019, using the success of the international SportWORKS program model, CSC has focused on eliminating barrier to sport participation for newcomers to 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 and for the purpose of community connection. The Program aims to build NSSO organizational capacity through placements of Canadian SportWORKS Officers (CSOs), 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 baseline results of pilot monitoring, evaluation and learning for future iterations of the program and longitudinal indicators.

Key Tasks / Projects

The CSO 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 funding opportunities

Communication

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

Programming

• Assists with the facilitation of newcomer consultation sessions for the purpose of co-design
• 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

• Accumulates and inputs data for baseline results of program monitoring, evaluation and learning for future program iterations and longitudinal indicators

Placement Location: AMAL Unite & Empower (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)

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
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive)
• Full-time commitment for 4 months
• Eligible to work in Canada

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
• Work with diverse populations including age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status
• Knowledge and understanding of working with newcomers, equity-deserving groups and their barriers
• Newcomer lived experience

CSO must provide an Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC), Vulnerable Sector Check and complete online training, including Respect in the Workplace, Respect in Sport or other provided training modules prior to beginning placement.

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 relevant experience

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.

FAQs

1. Are these placements paid positions?
CSO placements are volunteer placements, 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 multiple 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 sport background, including experience as an athlete, coach, official, administrator, volunteer, 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 S4N fit within CSC?
S4N is part of CSC’s SportWORKS Program, which sends Canadian sport leaders to host organizations in Canada and internationally to deliver sustainable sport programs and build sport system capacity. SportWORKS prides itself on “Making a Difference and Becoming Different.” S4N aims to not only support NSSOs and newcomers to Canada, but also to make a difference in the lives and careers of CSOs.

6. How can this position help further my career?
Over the past 33 years, 225 CSOs 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, for example, Commonwealth Sport, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Global Affairs Canada and Sport Canada.

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