HF Programs Specialist Youth

Salary Rate: $48,891 – Check out the YMCA’s total compensation package !

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Number of Vacancies: 1

Deadline to Apply: February 20, 2026

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team of Health & Fitness Specialists and help us to achieve great things in our community!

Reporting to the Health and Fitness Programs Supervisor, the Health and Fitness Program Specialist (Child, Youth & Family) provides direct leadership in our initiatives to provide a superior experience to our members. Implementing our Member Insight Strategy and using our Membership Involvement Model, the Program Specialist identifies initiatives to increase Membership on Roll, Retention, Satisfaction, and Philanthropic contributions in our Child, Youth & Family and Recreational Programs. The Specialist demonstrates leadership and provides coaching to staff and volunteers, sharing knowledge and opportunities regarding trends in child and youth development, and must provide a very practical link to all centre programs to integrate principles of Healthy Child Development, Ages and Stages, Playing to Learn and Abundant Assets into all HF programs. A minimum of 30% of the position is spent using specialized skills for program development in Recreational Sports.

In this role, you will:

• Provides direct program leadership to a variety of program areas including Child Minding, Youth Leadership, Youth Council, Teen Night, Child and Youth sports programs, and Recreational Sports for the equivalent of 80% of scheduled shifts.


• Supports department staff and volunteers in achievement of all performance indicators and standards including those related to MOR, Healthy Child Development, Playing to Learn retention and YMCA Priority Sam standards.


• Delivers programs in a manner in which the Mission, Vision, values, goals and practices, including Priority Sam Standards, of the YMCA of Greater Toronto are being met; ensures that YMCA Aquatics best practices (as outlined by Priority S.A.M.) are followed.


• Recruits, coaches and develops a team of volunteers, and participants for program areas including: Youth Sports Leadership, Teen Night, Youth Council, Youth Leader Corps, Recreational Sports, and Child, Youth and Family programs.


• Builds relationship with members and seeks opportunities to share the YMCA story; educates members and guests on the YMCA as a Charity.


• Assists with scheduling and logistics of Teen Night, Youth Leader Corps, and Youth Council courses and events; assists Manager in determining long term and short term goals for quantity, quality and type of child, youth and family programs in alignment with strategic plan.


• Provides leadership and support as a member of the Centres’ senior staff team. Acts as an effective Service Leader as required.


• Provides leadership and coaching to staff and volunteers throughout duty period. Circulates throughout program areas, building relationships with members and volunteers and ensuring excellence in program delivery.


• Demonstrates appropriate behaviours in line with our Mission, Vision and Values as reflected in our YMCA competencies; takes a member focused approach to increase their understanding of programs offered across the Association. Represents the YMCA and the Association in a professional manner.


• Understands the legal responsibilities and moral imperative to report suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services.


• Understands the importance of the volunteer staff partnership and integrates the value of philanthropy and volunteerism in dealings with members, volunteers, donors and staff.


• Other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Diploma or Degree in Recreation Leadership, Kinesiology, Physical Education, Early Childhood Education or related field preferred


• Minimum of 2 years’ experience delivering fitness programs


• Coaching certificate in Basketball, Soccer or Baseball an asset


• Good theoretical and practical knowledge of various stages of child and youth development through previous related experience


• Previous experience in development and implementation of new programs an asset


• Demonstrated leadership skills developed through progressively responsible experience; ability to encourage, motivate staff and volunteers, acknowledge and appreciate contributions


• Current Standard First Aid/CPR required


• Proficiency with computer software including Excel, Outlook, etc.


• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers


• Excellent written communication skills


• Commitment to working in a socially inclusive environment responding with sensitivity and personal awareness to the diverse needs of members including visible and non-visible dimensions of diversity


• Flexibility regarding assigned hours of work, including days, evenings and weekend


• The position requires the following Association Competencies: advanced competence in: Relationship Building and Partnering; Effective Interpersonal Communications; Ethics and Self-Management; Being Member Focused; Being Results Focused; Teamwork and Collaboration; Diversity and Social Inclusion.

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values


• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services


• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter  

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, , which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here .

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.