Gap Year Resident Leader

Reports To - Ministry Director
Location - Camp IAWAH — 304 IAWAH Road, Godfrey, Ontario K0H 1T0
Position Type - Seasonal, Live-In
Compensation - $500 weekly stipend plus room and board 
Term - 9-months, August 9th, 2027 to April 29th, 2028 (optional 4-month spring/summer extension)

Primary Objective

The Gap Year Resident Leader lives alongside the Gap Year cohort as a resident mentor and works directly under the Gap Year Program Director to support the daily operations of the program. This role blends a Resident Assistant function — overseeing the living community, participant wellbeing, and day-to-day house life — with hands-on responsibility for helping deliver specific program elements, including discipleship sessions, outdoor programming, and logistics. The Resident Leader acts as a consistent, approachable, in-house presence who reinforces the physical, emotional, and spiritual safe “Third Space” that defines IAWAH’s Gap Year Program.

Core Responsibilities & Expectations

1. Residential Life & Dorm Management

• Live on-site in staff housing adjacent to the participant accommodations and serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day residential matters.
• Maintain a visible, approachable presence in the accommodations, including regular evening and weekend check-ins with residents.
• Uphold and reinforce house expectations: quiet hours, chore rotations, curfews, and shared-space cleanliness.
• Mediate roommate and community conflicts early, escalating to the Director when needed.
• Conduct routine room and facility walkthroughs for safety, cleanliness, and maintenance issues.
• Coordinate move-in, move-out, and room configuration logistics alongside the Director.
• Respond to after-hours participant needs or incidents as part of an on-call rotation.

2. Program Delivery & Facilitation Support

• Assist the Director in running curriculum elements such as small group discussions, spiritual formation sessions, teaching sessions and community reflection times.
• Help plan, prep, and run out-trips and outdoor programming (canoeing, hiking, wilderness tripping, team-building initiatives).
• Support logistics and preparation for the international outreach trip.
• Lead or co-lead sessions and activities independently when the Director is unavailable.
• Help maintain and inspect program and outdoor equipment to IAWAH’s safety standards.
• Assist in scheduling participants' practicum time, where they work with IAWAH groups to help facilitate experiences. 

3. Mentorship & Discipleship

• Serve as a near-peer mentor and mature Christian role model in daily interactions with participants.
• Be available for informal, one-on-one check-ins, encouragement, and be a pastoral presence.
• Support participants working through personal or spiritual struggles, referring to the Director or appropriate support as needed.
• Participate in team devotions, prayer, and staff spiritual formation alongside the wider IAWAH staff community.
• Meet weekly with the Ministry Director to discuss program process, plans, participant well-being, etc.

4. Administrative & Operational Support

• Track attendance, house logs, and basic incident reporting for the residential program.
• Assist with scheduling participants for paid call-in shifts and summer work opportunities.
• Support the Director with general program administration, communication, and calendar coordination.
• Assist with site-wide operational needs (hospitality, logistics, clean-up) as required.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Post-secondary education (completed or in progress) preferred, particularly in Education, Youth Ministry, Outdoor Recreation, or Social Sciences.
• Experience: Prior experience in a Christian camp, residential life, or youth ministry setting is highly valued.
• Faith & Alignment: Must willingly sign and model IAWAH’s Statement of Faith, Core Beliefs, and Values.
• Certifications: Remote First Aid & CPR-C or Wilderness First Responder (WFA/WFR) required. 
• Level 1 and 2 Challenge Course Facilitator Certs are an asset. 
• Valid Canadian G Licence. 
• Age & Maturity: Sufficient maturity and life experience to live in close community with, and provide mentorship to, recent high school graduates.
• Spanish as a second (or first) language is an asset, particularly for the International trip support.

At IAWAH, we prioritize character over education and a willingness to learn above all else. We look for candidates who display a teachable spirit, a servant’s heart, and the resilience needed for the long hours and relational demands of live-in camp ministry.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Must be comfortable living communally in staff housing for the duration of the term.
• Must be comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions (rain, heat, cold).
• Ability to lift program equipment (up to 50 lbs) and participate in physically active outdoor programming.
• Availability for evening, weekend, and on-call responsibilities as part of the residential rotation.