Port of Entry (POE) Program Staff

YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A local charity is seeking Port of Entry Program Staff at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. This casual on-call position requires providing essential support to refugees during their arrival, ensuring a smooth transition and delivering trauma-informed care. The ideal candidate has strong crisis response and interpersonal skills, can work under pressure, and is available for flexible shifts including evenings and weekends. Experience in social services or airport operations is preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of refugee and immigrant experiences.
• Ability to manage evolving situations with professionalism.
• Previous experience in refugee resettlement preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-site support to refugees at the airport.
• Liaise with transport and resettlement organizations.
• Respond effectively to emergencies during arrivals.
• Assist in documentation and transportation arrangements.

Skills

Crisis response skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Flexibility

Verbal communication

Written communication

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Teams

Zoom

Job description

Title: Port of Entry (POE) Program Staff

Location: Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Position Status: Casual; On call, as needed

Compensation: $27.00 per hour

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

Every charity exists to help solve a problem – our charity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, social isolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more. Today, our network is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports, accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safe spaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labour market, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community for isolated older adults.

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space to discover inner strength. When they know someone’s in their corner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than they thought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps people ignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant and healthy communities.

With us at their side, they can Shine On.

About The Role

The On-call POE Program Staff plays a vital role in the planning, implementation, and delivery of services that support and empower refugee arrivals during their initial reception at the airport. This position is responsible for the seamless delivery of essential arrival services in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including federal and local government agencies, airport authorities, transportation providers, hotels and resettlement organizations.

Under the direction of the POE Program Coordinator, the staff provides direct, on-site support to refugee individuals and families during their arrival process. Responsibilities include assessing immediate needs, offering logistical assistance, facilitating emergency responses when necessary, and ensuring thorough documentation and communication. Whether clients are resettling locally or traveling onward, this role plays a critical part in ensuring a safe, smooth transition and delivering a trauma‑informed, welcoming, and culturally sensitive reception experience.

In This Role, You Will

• Liaise with government agencies, airport staff, transportation providers, and resettlement organizations to support arrivals
• Provide immediate, on-site support to refugees during their airport transition, including logistical assistance, basic needs support, and navigation guidance
• Respond promptly and effectively to emergencies or unexpected challenges that arise during the arrival process
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure a seamless hand‑off to local or regional resettlement teams
• Assist with documentation, transportation arrangements (i.e. ground, flights), interpretation, hotels and other logistical requirements as needed
• Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and trauma‑informed environment for all arriving individuals and families
• Maintain accurate records and timely communicate relevant arrival details with the coordinator and other stakeholders
• Exhibit flexibility in scheduling and task management, given the variable nature of arrival times and volumes

Qualifications

• Previous experience in refugee resettlement, crisis response, social services, airport operations, or a related field is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure, and multicultural environment
• Problem‑solving skills, resourcefulness, and sound judgment in responding to emergencies or evolving circumstances
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Availability for flexible, on‑call shifts, including evenings and weekends, based on flight schedules
• Strong interpersonal skills and robust understanding of refugee and immigrant experiences, trauma‑informed care principles, and settlement services
• Familiarity with federal immigration processes and airport logistics an asset
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; additional languages (e.g. Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Kiswahili) highly desirable
• Proven ability to remain calm under pressure and manage rapidly evolving situations with professionalism and discretion
• Proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint applications, Teams, and Zoom and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies required for excellent service delivery
• Ability to lift up to 30‑40 lbs and support clients with mobility or special needs
• Must be legally eligible to work in Canada and able to obtain necessary airport clearance
• Must have access to reliable transportation to accommodate varying work hours, including early morning, evenings, and late nights based on flight schedule and departure support

Working Conditions

Must be flexible and available to work irregular, on‑call shifts — including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays — based on needs of arrivals. Hours are variable and not guaranteed.

To Apply

Please apply online at https://ymcahfx.ca/workwithus/.

Please note that all successful candidates are required to provide:

• Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, and Child Abuse Registry Check (less than 6 months old), if 18 years of age or older
• Attend Child Safeguarding Training upon hire

At the YMCA, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We believe that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our organization, enabling us to better serve our community and achieve our mission. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender‑diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign‑born residents, and veterans to apply.

If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.