Summer Program Coordinator

Promisevancouver; Mission; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established nonprofit organization is seeking passionate Summer Program Coordinators to empower youth as they develop into confident leaders. In this full-time, seasonal role, you will mentor high school students, guiding them through a structured empowerment plan while overseeing engaging summer programs for children. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community, fostering relationships with youth and families. If you are organized, community-oriented, and thrive in collaborative environments, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience managing or leading youth staff or volunteers.
• Strong background in youth work, education, or social services.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor Young Leaders staff through structured programs.
• Oversee the design and implementation of summer programs for children.

Skills

Mentoring

Youth Leadership

Communication

Organizational Skills

Team Collaboration

Education

Experience in Youth Work

Education in Social Services

ECE Certification

Job description

Do you have a passion to walk alongside youth as they grow into confident leaders? Are you energized by mentoring and equipping teens to make a meaningful impact in their communities? Promise Vancouver is hiring two Summer Program Coordinators to lead the charge in empowering our Young Leaders to coordinate summer programs for children.

What We Offer

This is a full-time, seasonal position from June 16 to August 15, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm (with the possibility of beginning in a part-time capacity in May/June). Compensation is $24 to $28 per hour, depending on experience (ECE Certification is preferred but not required).

Employment at Promise Vancouver is a unique opportunity to engage in impactful work that aligns with your values and beliefs. It is a chance to cultivate meaningful relationships with youth, families, and the wider DTES community, including other workers, schools, and organizations. It is also an opportunity to invest your time, energy, and talents into a life-giving work alongside a team of people who value trust, vulnerability, cohesion, and growth.

About Promise

Promise Vancouver’s guiding principle is that every child is valuable and loved – it is our mission to help children and youth find security and wholeness in this knowledge. We are a Christian faith-based nonprofit organization operating in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (and an independently operating member of UrbanPromise International ). The Promise approach is “Reach a Child, Raise a Leader, Restore Community”, which we put into practice through long-term relationships and intentional programs.

In summer, we offer two main programs: for children in grades 1 to 4 (Primary) and 5 to 7 (Preteen), we have Promise Vancouver Summer Programs , where we help children know they are valuable and loved, and overcome systemic barriers by increasing their competencies in literacy, social connection, and mental health. Then for youth in grades 8 to 12, we have the Young Leaders Program , a paid employment opportunity where teens learn to lead and mentor their younger peers, receive mentorship, and gain valuable life skills.

The Role: Empowering Young Leaders

As Summer Program Coordinator, you will play a key role in shaping the next generation of leaders. A primary focus of your job is to manage and mentor our Young Leaders staff – high school students employed to serve as role models and leaders. You will guide them through our Empowerment Plan which includes skill-building, leadership practice, and intentional reflection. You will provide regular feedback and guidance as they plan and implement summer programs, and you will help them develop confidence and clarity in who they are as leaders.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Youth Empowerment and Leadership Development

• Manage and mentor Young Leader staff, guiding them through our structured, multi-phase Empowerment Plan
• Lead feedback meetings and one-on-one check-ins with Young Leaders to discuss strengths and growth areas
• Oversee leadership development components (activities, facilitation, self-assessments, and peer mentorship)
• Encourage, support, correct, and celebrate teens as they grow in character and skill

Program Leadership and Coordination

• Oversee the Young Leaders as they design and implement six weeks of programming for children
• Facilitate the creation of detailed, day-to-day program plans
• Lead morning and afternoon staff meetings
• Ensure safety and quality across all camp activities, outings, and field trips
• Cultivate relationships with families and caregivers as you connect with them about their children’s progress

Team Building and Administration

• Co-lead the training and planning week for summer staff, with a focus on team culture and youth empowerment
• Complete key administrative tasks, such as program registration, health and safety documentation, incident reports, and attendance tracking
• Communicate with program partners, vendors, venues, and service providers
• Represent Promise with professionalism, acting as a relational leader and trusted point person for families and community members

Who You Are

• Youth-focused Mentor: You come alive when you are supporting teens as they grow into who they are meant to be. You balance challenge and encouragement, holding high expectations while offering grace.
• Organized and Mission-Driven: You bring both heart and structure to your work. You are excited to use your planning, administrative, and coordination skills to support a mission that matters.
• Strong Communicator and Team Player: You are clear, warm, and dependable. You thrive in collaborative environments and help others succeed.
• Relational Leader: You connect naturally with children and teens, meet them where they are, and build trust.
• Community-Oriented: You are sensitive to the unique dynamics of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and approach complexity with compassion.

Preferred Background

• Managing or leading teen staff or volunteers
• Youth work, education, social services, or recreation
• Experience working with vulnerable or underserved communities
• ECE Certification is an asset but not required

What you’ll bring to the table

• You have a passion for mentoring and developing young people. You will have the opportunity to work with a team to impact the lives of youth, their families, and the wider community. You understand what it means to lead safely and humbly and you put this into practice.
• You’re organized. You have more than just heart: you come prepared to take on operational, administrative, and strategic responsibilities to ensure the program functions smoothly and sustainably.
• You thrive in complex environments. The Downtown Eastside is known for its strong sense of community and also for its complex challenges. You’re able to approach complicated situations with calm, sensitivity and nuance.
• You’re charismatic and relational. You’re great at finding common ground to relate with children and teens. You’re comfortable being a day-to-day face of Promise to the children, teens, families, and community partners.
• You’re experienced. You’ve developed a unique set of life skills and experiences that will bring value to our small-but-mighty core team. Your background might be in education, child and youth care, social services, recreation, or a different relevant field!
• You’re a team player. You enjoy working with others to achieve meaningful goals and deliver excellent results. You model great teamwork skills and know what it takes to build an effective team.
• You strive for excellence. These kids are important, so it’s our priority to deliver programs that are first-rate. You recognize that details matter, you listen attentively to what children are saying, and you take action to ensure that they are getting a top quality program.

The following words describe our team members:

• Loving – genuine compassion to all, a trait we believe is reflective of God’s heart
• Humble – teachable and open
• Servant Leader – willing to work hard and do any job
• Relational – values relationships with children and staff
• Role Model – leads in a healthy way through actions and words
• Empowering – wants to help others grow

Send your cover letter and resume to [e-mail] by May 4, 2025 and our team will follow up with you. All applicants will receive a response and qualified candidates will be asked to interview for this position.