SWSE support coordinator

Description:

The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange is a national exchange program coordinated by the YMCA and funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. For six weeks over the summer, 16- and 17-year-old Canadian youth travel to another province where they stay with a local host, hold a paid job, practice their second official language, and participate in weekly program activities.

Support Coordinators act as Team Leads for the program in their region. This includes the pre-program period where Support Coordinators assist in the staff hiring process for Local Coordinators, promote the program to youth, support the interview and selection process for participants, and connect with community partners for job placements. Once the exchange starts, Support Coordinators lead their local team to support youth in navigating their new environment and deliver a program of activities.

Support Coordinators must be full-time post-secondary students. Successful candidates will have had previous experience working with youth and/or experiential education programs, possess strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills, and be highly reliable individuals. They will have insight into Canada’s diversity and value an active approach to social inclusion.

In this role you will:

1. Support the hiring and training process for Local Coordinators and provide ongoing leadership to the local team.
2. Promote the program in communities and support the selection of youth participants, host families, and employment partners.
3. Support Local Coordinators to safely plan and deliver program activities in line with program objectives, including managing activity budgets.
4. Act as a bridge between the Regional Coordinator and the Local Coordinators, including monitoring compliance with program policies and objectives.
5. Build positive relationships with youth exchange participants, host families, employers, and other local community partners; visit program sites during the exchange period and respond to conflict and emergencies as they arise.
6. Support participant travel between provinces, including traveling with participants to their host community or providing logistical support at departure points.
7. Write a comprehensive report at the end of the summer summarizing the program’s results.
8. Fulfill administrative duties in a timely manner including promotional tracking, case noting, incident reporting, expense claim tracking, file documentation, and more.

Mandatory Training:

Three mandatory training sessions will take place. The first will occur in mid-January. The second session will take place over a weekend in early March and the third in late April/early May. Exact dates will be confirmed at the time of interviewing. Trainings are held in-person and may require travel within Canada for two to four days, all costs related to travel and training are paid for by the YMCA.

All Support Coordinators are also required to work full-time during business hours the first week of June and are required to be available on June 28 and August 9 during travel days.

Location, Period of Employment, and Salary:

Positions are available throughout Canada. Support Coordinators must live within their assigned region. Support Coordinators will work 15 hours/week from January 12 to April 26, increasing to 24 hours/week from April 27 to May 31, and then 37.5 hours/week (full-time) from June 1 until August 16. The starting salary is $21.10 per hour.

Eligibility:

• Currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program.
• Available days, evenings, and weekends – must be willing to make the Local Coordinator position your primary professional commitment from June 1st to August 16th.
• Have internet access for the duration of employment.
• Have a valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle; willing to provide a driver’s abstract.
• Have valid Emergency First Aid/CPR certification before the start of the exchange.
• Able to attend the 3 mandatory paid trainings in January, March, and April/May.
• Be available to work full-time the first week of June and on travel days.
• Willingness to travel within Canada.

What you need to succeed:

• At least one year of experience working with youth in a community program context.
• Experience in a leadership role, either professionally or in student leadership.
• Experience working in a role requiring interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Experience in problem-solving and conflict resolution in a professional context.
• Strong administrative skills including budget management, reporting, and tracking using spreadsheets.
• Ability to work independently in a remote setting.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and building a sense of belonging.

Assets:

• Preference will be given to candidates able to communicate in both French and English.
• Prior participation in the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange program.
• Prior training in mental health support and suicide intervention (e.g., MHFA, ASIST, etc.).
• Experience in training and facilitation.
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ-positive, critical disability, harm reduction, and strengths-based principles into practice.

Application deadline: November 3, 2024

For more information and to apply visit: https://swse.ymcagta.org/work-for-us

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Fixed-term contract

Pay: From $21.10 per hour

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-11-03
Expected start date: 2025-02-28