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SUMMER WORK STUDENT EXCHANGE

Join our Team!

Rewarding jobs for post-secondary students

Become a SWSE coordinator and bring the program to life in your community!

Why Work for SWSE

As a Local or Support Coordinator, you are an integral part of the SWSE program. You act as the primary contact point person for youth participants. You develop and run activities, liaise with community partners, and are ambassador for the program in regions across the country.

When you work with SWSE you have the opportunity to develop a variety of job skills such as conflict resolution, administration and team work. You also gain an awareness of the local community where you are working. 

As a SWSE Coordinator you are part of a national network of post-secondary students. You will also have the opportunity to shape the experience and lives of a group of 16– and 17-year-olds

If this sounds like you, apply!

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Job Openings

Local Coordinator

Seasonal employment: Part-time March to June, Full time June to August
Location: 

  • London, ON
  • Toronto, ON
  • Trois-Rivieres QC
  • Drummondville, QC
  • Chicoutimi, QC
  • Saint John, NB

Closing date: April 19, 2024
For French go here.

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.
Local Coordinators (LCs) act as the primary connection between youth and community members and the SWSE program. This includes the pre-program period where Local Coordinators promote the program to youth and community groups, conduct the interview and selection process for participants and prepare youth and families for the program.
Once the exchange starts, Local Coordinators act as adult mentors, delivering a full program of activities and support youth in navigating their new environments.
Local 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

  • Promote the program in communities and support the selection of youth participants, host families and employment partners.
  • Interview and select youth participants and families/hosts and, with support, conduct a pre-departure information session.
  • Plan local activities aligned with program objectives and manage an activity budget.
  • Build positive relationships with youth exchange participants, host families, employers, and other local partners; visit program sites and respond to conflict and emergencies as they arise.
  • Support participant travel between provinces, including travelling with participants to their host community or providing logistical support at departure points.
  • Write a comprehensive report at the end of the summer summarizing the program’s results.
  • Fulfill administrative duties in a timely manner including promotional tracking, case noting, incident reporting, expense claim tracking, file documentation and more.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Mandatory Training
Two mandatory training sessions will take place. The first will take place over a weekend in early March and the second in late April/early May. Exact dates will be confirmed at the time of hiring.
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 Local Coordinators are also required to work full-time during business hours the first week of June, and are required to be available on June 29 and August 10 during travel days.

Location, Period of Employment, and Salary
Positions are available throughout Canada. Local Coordinators must live within the community to which they are assigned. Local Coordinators will work 15 hours/week from early March to April 22, increasing to 24 hours/week from April 22 to June 1, and then 37.5 hours/week (full-time) from June 2 to August 18. The starting salary is $18.65 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 17th.
  • Have internet access for the duration of employment
  • Have 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 2 mandatory paid trainings in 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

  • Experience working with children or youth in a community setting
  • 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
  • Strong administrative skills including budget management, reporting and tracking using spreadsheets.
  • Ability to work independently in a remote setting

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: April 19, 2024

Apply

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.
Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like 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 2020–2025 strategic plan, Ignite the Light, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.
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. (French: ici)
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.

"Knowing how SWSE could change entire families’ lives, I decided to apply as a local coordinator. Three years later, I can honestly say it has been the most rewarding job I have ever had. I met some of my closest friends through SWSE and I feel like this program and the people I met through it shaped who I am today. I learned to be more confident in myself, to take chances, and most importantly, to be open to new experiences and challenges."