IONS is situated in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaw people. Unceded means that the Mi’kmaq have never relinquished, sold, traded, or transferred ownership of their land to European settler colonies, yet land was taken over without their consent through various processes of settler colonialism. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik people first signed with the British Crown in 1726. These Treaties did not involve the surrendering of rights to the lands and resources they had traditionally used and occupied. We are all Treaty People.

We further acknowledge that Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada. People of African descent have shared these lands for over 400 years, and over 50 strong and resourceful African Nova Scotian communities exist here today.

We are committed to the struggle against systems of oppression that have resulted in profound inequities and the denial of self-determination rights. We are working actively to deepen our learning at an individual level, provide learning opportunities about anti-racism and decolonization, and to develop partnerships with organizations serving and led by underrepresented groups.

  • Youth Program Lead

    Dartmouth

    $20/hour + 4% vacation

    Company Website

    Youth Program Lead
    Full-time, 9-week Summer Term Position

    The North Grove strives for a staff composition that is diverse and reflective of the community of Dartmouth North. Individuals who identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, Black and/or from another group that is under-represented in workplaces are encouraged to apply and self-identify. Priority will be given to applicants from these equity-deserving groups.

    About The North Grove:

    The North Grove (www.thenorthgrove.ca) is a dynamic community hub, situated in the diverse community of Dartmouth North. We offer services, programs, and space for people to learn and connect through family support, food, and friendship. We also partner with more than 25 organizations to help improve health, reduce social isolation and strengthen connections in this community.

    The North Grove team is made up of 32 staff. We work with a dedicated Board of Directors, and more than 170 community volunteers. Collaboration, creativity, and community-centered decision making are important to us.

    Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are central to our work and as a team we have committed to a DEIB framework that includes ongoing learning opportunities, policy development, and partnership work.

    Learn more about our DEIB commitment here: https://www.thenorthgrove.ca/deib

    Our approach is rooted in strengths-based practice. This practice sees all members of our community as having resourceful and resilient qualities and strives to support individual self-determination. We seek applicants who share our commitment to working within this model.

    The Opportunity:

    We are looking for a Youth Program Lead to join our team for the summer. The Youth Program Lead will work closely with the Volunteer & Social Enterprise Manager and Youth Program Assistants to engage and supervise up to 20 youth, between the ages of 13 and 18. We’re looking for a skilled communicator and community-minded facilitator to lead the fourth year of the Summer Youth Volunteer Leadership Program. You will excel in this position if you are a strong leader who is passionate about youth engagement, has a lot of energy, is creative, and likes to take initiative.

    The North Grove’s Youth Volunteer Leadership program provides a unique environment for youth of diverse backgrounds to become more involved in the fabric of their community through volunteer service, community food programs, workshops, and having a lot of fun!

    This year we will have 2 streams of the Summer Youth Volunteer Program:

    • Community Changemakers, for youth 13-16 years who have not previously been part of the summer youth volunteer program.
    • Voices & Ventures, for youth 14-18 who have completed the summer youth volunteer program previously. This program will involve youth in our new social enterprise, Primrose Preserves, and will have them supporting sales at markets.

    Eligibility: To be eligible for this position, you must:

    • be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
    • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
    • have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada.

    Contract start date: Monday, June 22nd, 2026

    End date: Friday, August 21st, 2026

    Hours: 35 hours per week Monday to Friday, typically 8:30am-4:30pm, with some potential for work on weekends to be discussed.

    Wage: $20/hour + 4% vacation pay

    Reporting structure: The Youth Program Lead will report to the Volunteer & Social Enterprise Manager

    Works closely with:

    • Volunteer Engagement Lead
    • Youth Program Assistants

    The Youth Program Lead will:

    • Supervise, mentor, and meaningfully engage youth volunteers in North Grove programs and community
    • Build positive relationships with youth during the program
    • Support coordination of offsite trips and youth attendance at markets
    • Co-create, organize, lead and facilitate creative programming, activities, and workshops for youth
    • Communicate with Program Coordinators and Youth Program Assistants to schedule youth in different volunteer roles across the organization
    • Support other program and workshop facilitators with delivering sessions for youth.
    • Organize and plan lunches and snacks for youth participants
    • Assist Volunteer Manager with design and implementation of youth program evaluations throughout the summer
    • Plan and execute a variety of tasks related to the youth summer program
    • Support other activities at The North Grove as needed

    What you will bring:

    The North Grove is seeking to build a diverse team and values lived experience and non-traditional ways of learning. If you don’t meet all the criteria below but you are excited about the job description and believe you bring unique experience and perspective, please apply!

    • A positive, engaging and solutions-focused attitude to your role
    • Ability to be a supportive team member and leader
    • Excellent organizational and communication skills
    • A strong desire to work in a community setting
    • 2+ years of experience in planning and delivering programs for youth in this age range
    • Have a strong understanding of the lived experience of youth in Dartmouth North
    • Experience leading team projects and managing people
    • Experience in group presentation, facilitation and team building
    • Ability to document and evaluate progress on goals and strategies
    • Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment
    • Creative problem-solving skills
    • Experience working in food programming and with food security initiatives is considered an asset
    • Food Handler/Safety certification considered an asset
    • Vulnerable sector check and criminal record check are required for employees who are 18+

    The Selection Process:

    Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short initial phone screening call to go over the basics of the position, get a high-level understanding of your experience, and answer any questions you may have.

    Following the phone screening calls, a handful of candidates will be invited to an in-person interview at The North Grove, followed by a second interview if required. Candidates are encouraged to submit any accommodation requests to the email below.

    Everyone who applies for this position will receive an email update from The North Grove within one month of the application deadline.

    How to Apply:

    To apply, please send a cover letter and resume in one document by email to Naomi Samela, Operations Manager, at [email protected] under the subject line: Application for Youth Program Lead by Monday, May 11th, at 9:00 am. If applying for more than one position, please indicate in your application which position you would most prefer.

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