Child and Youth Program Staff

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Halifax; On-site; CAD 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

YMCA Community Y in Halifax seeks a part-time Child and Youth Program Staff to deliver engaging, inclusive recreational experiences for children and youth. You will plan activities from arts and crafts to sports, lead sessions independently or with a team, and uphold YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and inclusion.

The role emphasizes supervision, safety, program planning, and positive role modeling, with a strong focus on communication with families and

Qualifications

• Highschool diploma or equivalent required.
• Post-secondary coursework in education, recreation, or child development is an asset.
• Previous experience working with children in group settings preferred.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Ability to manage groups with diverse needs and interests.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to remain calm in challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide active supervision during all activities and transitions.
• Implement YMCA safety protocols and behavior management practices.
• Conduct regular headcounts and ensure proper sign-in/sign-out procedures.
• Reportsafety concerns and incidents in a timely manner.
• Plan and lead age-appropriate activities including games, arts and crafts, sports, educational programming, and recreation.
• Promote teamwork and positive social interaction.
• Support homework completion in a positive and encouraging manner.
• Foster a respectful and inclusive environment.
• Serve as a positive role model in behavior, communication, and attitude.
• Build meaningful relationships with children to ensure they feel safe, valued, and heard.
• Support children requiring additional assistance or attention.
• Communicate effectively with children, parents, and YMCA staff.
• Provide parents with feedback on participation and progress.
• Assist with registration, attendance tracking, and documentation.
• Prepare materials and supplies for programming.
• Greet members and maintain clean program spaces.
• Ensure equipment and facilities remain in good repair and report issues promptly.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Education

Highschool diploma or equivalent

CPR and First Aid certification

Job description

Location:Community Y
Position Status:Part-Time (2–5 hours per week)
Compensation:$16.75 per hour

There is potential inside all of us – we all have it in usto shine.

Every charity exists to help solve a problem – our charityexists to help solve many. From childcare shortages and social isolation tomental health challenges and access to wellness, our YMCA is committed tomeeting urgent community needs.

With over 100 program locations across HRM and the province,we deliver mental health supports, accessible childcare, services fornewcomers, safe spaces for youth, employment support, wellness programming forall ages, and meaningful connection for older adults.

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space todiscover their inner strength. When someone knows they have unconditionalsupport in their corner, they realize they can do more than they thoughtpossible.

With us at their side, they canShine On.

About the Role

Reporting to the Community Y Director, the Child and YouthProgram Staff plays a key role in creating and delivering engaging, inclusive,and skill-building recreational experiences for children and youth.

This position involves planning and facilitating a varietyof activities — from arts and crafts to sports, games, and hands-on learningworkshops — that foster creativity, confidence, and connection.

Program staff may lead sessions independently and alsocollaborate in team settings. Above all, they ensure a safe, welcomingenvironment where participants feel encouraged to try new things, buildfriendships, and grow.

This is a front-line role ideal for individuals passionateabout child and youth development who thrive in active, creative environmentsand are committed to upholding YMCA core values:caring, honesty,respect, responsibility, and inclusion.

In This Role, You Will:

Supervision & Safety

• Provideactive supervision during all activities and transitions.
• ImplementYMCA safety protocols and behavior management practices.
• Conductregular headcounts and ensure proper sign-in/sign-out procedures.
• Reportsafety concerns and incidents in a timely manner.

Program Planning & Facilitation

• Planand lead age-appropriate activities including games, arts and crafts,sports, educational programming, and recreation.
• Promoteteamwork, positive social interaction, and healthy development.
• Supporthomework completion in a positive and encouraging manner.

Relationship Building & Role Modeling

• Fostera respectful and inclusive environment.
• Serveas a positive role model in behavior, communication, and attitude.
• Buildmeaningful relationships with children to ensure they feel safe, valued,and heard.
• Supportchildren requiring additional assistance or attention.

Communication & Administration

• Communicateeffectively with children, parents, and YMCA staff.
• Provideparents with feedback on participation and progress.
• Assistwith registration, attendance tracking, and documentation.
• Preparematerials and supplies for programming.

YMCA Standards

• Greetmembers within 5 feet and acknowledge members within 10 feet.
• Maintainclean and organized program spaces.
• Ensureequipment and facilities remain in good repair and report issues promptly.
• Performother duties as assigned.

Education & Qualifications

• Highschool diploma or equivalent required.
• Post-secondarycoursework in education, recreation, or child development is an asset.
• Previousexperience working with children in group settings (e.g., daycare, camp,school) preferred.
• CPRand First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire).
• Strongcommunication and interpersonal skills.
• Abilityto work collaboratively within a team.
• Abilityto manage groups with diverse needs and interests.
• Demonstratedleadership and ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
• Genuinepassion for working with children and fostering inclusive environments.

Successful Candidates Must Provide:

• CriminalRecord Check
• VulnerableSector Check
• ChildAbuse Registry Check (issued within 6 months, if 18+)
• Completionof Child Safeguarding Training upon hire
• ValidFirst Aid & CPR certification

Background checks are reviewed individually. Offenses, ifany, are assessed in relation to the role and safeguarding requirements and maynot automatically disqualify candidates.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

The YMCA is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, andequitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, andempowered to bring their authentic self to work.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds,including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse individuals,2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with disabilities,members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, andveterans.

If you require accommodation during the hiring process,please inform us in advance so we can arrange reasonable and appropriatesupport.