Child & Youth Lead

YWCA Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee assistance plan

3 weeks paid vacation

6 personal days

12 sick days

Birthday day off

Job summary

YWCA Calgary is seeking a Child & Youth Lead to oversee the licensed child support, after-school program, and youth activities within the crisis shelter and Taylor Family Home. This role emphasizes trauma-informed, culturally responsive care for children and youth who have experienced violence and trauma.

The 1-year contract is on-site with a schedule of day and evening shifts, requiring flexibility for emergent staffing needs and licensing requirements.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Child & Youth Care, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related field.
• Alberta Childcare Certification level 2 or higher (preferred).
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR level C is required.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience supporting children and youth in trauma-informed settings; domestic violence services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing team guidance and operational oversight for licensed child programs including after-school activities.
• Deliver trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care for children and youth aged 0–17.
• Ensure daily programming meets emotional, social, developmental, and recreational needs.
• Oversee staffing schedules, daily operations, and regulatory-compliant service delivery.
• Collaborate with case managers to coordinate continuity of care from shelter to community housing.
• Maintain communications with mothers/caregivers regarding progress, safety, and supports.
• Co-design and evaluate comprehensive programming aligned with trauma-informed care practices.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for Child & Youth workers.

Skills

Leadership

Trauma-informed care

Cultural sensitivity

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Child & Youth Care

Early Childhood Education

Social Work

Alberta childcare certification level 2+

Job description

Reporting to the Manager, the Child & Youth Lead provides day-to-day oversight for the licensed Child Support program, including the After School Program and youth programming within the crisis shelter and YWCA’s affordable housing, Taylor Family Home. Centered in trauma-informed, culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate practice, this role ensures that children and youth who have experienced violence, instability and trauma receive coordinated support that strengthens resilience, fosters safety, and promotes healthy development.

The Lead champions an environment where children and youth can heal, learn, grow, and importantly experience joy and connection. This work is a key contributor to YWCA’s holistic and innovative model of shelter care, ensuring integrated pathways of support for children and youth during and after their shelter stay, and strengthening outcomes across the full shelter and housing continuum.

This is a 1-year contract position based on-site at the YWCA Crisis Shelter. The schedule consists of three day shifts and two evening shifts per week, with one weekend day shift per month, flexed in consultation with the Manager. Flexibility is required to respond to emergent situations and operational staffing needs, including occasional early morning shifts.

What We Offer

• Truly rewarding work; contribute to lasting, positive change for individuals and our community
• A supportive team environment and opportunities for professional development
• Comprehensive benefits including an employee assistance plan
• Paid time off (for eligible roles; prorated based on start date and FTE) includes:
  • 3 weeks of paid vacation
  • 6 personal days
  • 12 sick days
  • A paid day off to celebrate your birthday

What You’ll Do

• Provide ongoing team guidance and operational oversight for the licensed child support program, including the after-school program, ensuring compliance with licensing standards, safety protocols, and organizational policies and procedures
• Deliver and model trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate care for children and youth aged 0 – 17.
• Ensuring daily programming meets emotional, social, developmental and recreational needs while allowing space for fun, creativity, and age-appropriate play
• Oversee staffing schedules, daily operations, and ratios to ensure consistent, safe, and regulatory-compliant service delivery
• Participate directly in service delivery as needed to support licensing requirements in child support and actively facilitating youth programming alongside youth programming staff
• Maintain strong communication with mothers/caregivers regarding their child’s progress, needs, safety considerations, and available supports
• Partner closely with the Outreach Child and Youth Case Managers to coordinate continuity of care for children and youth transitioning from the shelter to community or housing programs
• In collaboration with the Manager design, implement and evaluate a comprehensive programming slate for children and youth in shelter and affordable housing, aligned with best practices in trauma-informed care, child development, positive youth engagement and the outcomes of the holistic shelter model
• Co-create individualized plans or support for children and youth with more complex needs in consultation with shelter staff, outreach case managers, partners and caregivers
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, mentoring and guidance to Child & Youth workers to support high-quality, trauma-informed programming
• Lead team meetings, reflective practice sessions, and ongoing professional learning opportunities to foster a cohesive and capable team culture
• Identify and communicate any concerns related to staff performance, conduct, or policy adherence to the Manager in a timely manner. The Lead does not carry responsibility for performance management; all performance management actions will be in collaboration with the Manager
• Act as the primary liaison between the Manager and child and youth staff, ensuring timely communication, follow-up and issue resolution.
• Maintain high-quality documentation, records, attendance logs, licensing reports, and program evaluations
• Ensure all licensing documentation is up-to-date and collaborate with Facilities and Maintenance team in a timely manner prior to inspection dates
• Track program metrics, outcomes, and participation for reporting to funders, leadership and evaluation team
• Support grant-writing initiatives by providing program data, stories, outcomes and future development needs

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Child & Youth Care, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related field
• Alberta Childcare Certification level 2 or higher, preferred
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR level C is required
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience supporting children and youth in trauma-informed settings; experience in domestic violence services preferred

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in gender-based violence, housing, or related sector, including experience in a leadership or team support role
• Experience working with diverse populations, including Indigenous families, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, and others who face systemic barriers
• Knowledge of child development, attachment, sensory regulation, and impacts of trauma
• Emotional resilience, the ability to regulate under pressure, and consistent use of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches
• Strong communication, collaboration, coaching and problem-solving skills

YWCA Calgary is committed to providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees, volunteers and clients feel valued and respected, whatever their race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, ancestry, or place of origin.