Part-time Youth Worker

Old Strathcona Youth Society; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Old Strathcona Youth Society is seeking a Part-Time Youth Worker to provide front-line and outreach services to unhoused and vulnerable youth aged 14 to 24, using a harm reduction approach and trauma-informed care.

You will build trusting relationships, supervise daily drop-in activities, coordinate with community resources, and advocate for youth needs, with some evenings and weekends required.

Qualifications

• Ability to demonstrate professionalism in the conduct of all activities.
• Develop positive, effective rapport with youth through respectful communication.
• De-escalation and crisis intervention skills to support youth safety.
• Knowledge of local youth issues, trauma, poverty, homelessness and Indigenous barriers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community agencies and partners.
• Strong advocacy for youth and their needs in a supportive setting.
• Collaborative team member with a solution-focused mindset.
• Concise and effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage time and stay organized in a fast-paced environment.
• Resiliency and creative problem-solving when challenges arise.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Teams.
• Canva, Adobe Acrobat, and Monday.com are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting, supportive relationships with youth based on a strength-based model.
• Supervision of daily drop-in activities and outreach services.
• Provide program delivery support and advocacy for youth.
• Maintain a harm reduction philosophy in all interactions.
• Assess needs and connect youth to appropriate resources.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of interactions with clients.

Skills

Professionalism

Youth rapport

De-escalation

Trauma-informed

Community partnerships

Advocacy

Team player

Communication

Time management

Resilience

Flexible hours

MS Office

Canva/Adobe/Monday.com

Tools

Microsoft Office

Teams

Canva

Adobe Acrobat

Monday.com

Job description

Old Strathcona Youth Society is an equal-opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. OSYS welcomes applications from First Nation, Inuit, Métis, New Canadian, differently abled, and LGBTQ2S communities.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Old Strathcona Youth Society is a non-profit low-barrier drop-in center that supports unhoused and vulnerable youth between the ages of 14 and 24. For the past 25 years, OSYS has supported Edmonton youth by providing non-judgmental, trauma-informed access to basic needs items, services, and referrals. Taking a relationship-based approach to providing care, the OSYS team believes that healthy communities start with healthy, meaningful connections. With this in mind, OSYS is committed to ensuring that the center is a place where youth feel safe and supported.

ROLE

The Part-Time Youth Worker is responsible for providing front-line and outreach services to the youth at the OSYS as required.

CLOSING DATE

October 13, 2026

START DATE

Immediately

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build trusting, supportive relationships with the youth at OSYS based on a strength-based and client-centred model.
• Supervision of daily drop-in activities
• Provide support to youth at OSYS through program delivery and advocacy.
• Utilize a harm reduction philosophy in all youth interactions.
• Assess youths’ needs in order to provide assistance, support, and advocacy.
• Maintain a working knowledge of relevant community resources and maintain strong and positive relationships with referral sources.
• Actively create network connections within the community to build partnerships that bring clients closer to needed resources.
• Refer youth to outside service providers to ensure a social continuity of care.
• Aid youth in creating an appropriate service team to help meet their needs.
• Research and implement best practices developed by other agencies in delivering outreach services, drug awareness, and health and wellness programs.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation regarding all interactions with clients.
• Serve as a strong advocate on behalf of OSYS and its youth.
• Participate in all fundraising activities as a representative and advocate of OSYS.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Ability to demonstrate professionalism in the conduct of all activities.
• Demonstrates ability to develop positive, effective, professional rapport and relationship with youth
• Comfortable providing supportive feedback and having difficult conversations with youth
• Skilled in de-escalation and crisis intervention
• Demonstrates knowledge of local issues that pertain to youth, including trauma, poverty, homelessness, and addiction, and the unique systemic barriers Indigenous youth face
• Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with community agencies
• Strong advocacy skills
• Collaborative team member
• Concise and effective communication, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, excellent time management and organizational skills
• Resiliency and creative problem-solving
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings as required.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Suite and Teams.
• Knowledge and experience in Canva, Adobe Acrobat, and Monday.com is an asset

WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER YOU

• The opportunity to work with a non-profit youth-empowering organization
• Helping to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable youth
• Personal development
• Competitive compensation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Requires a clear Criminal & Vulnerable Sector Record Check and Child Intervention Checks (results will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
• Must have legal authorization to work in Canada on a full-time basis for anyone other than a current employer
• Must have a minimum of 18 available working hours per week. Our available hours are Tuesday to Saturday between 9:30 am and 6:00 pm.
• Must be able to provide three references, with one of the references coming from a past supervisor