Youth Program Assistant 
Full-time, 8-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 2 Youth Program Assistants to join our team. Youth Program Assistants will work closely with the Youth Program Lead and Volunteer & Social Enterprise Manager to engage and supervise up to 20 youth, between the ages of 13-18 from Dartmouth North. You will excel in this position if you are passionate about working with youth, have a lot of energy and creativity, and work well in a team environment.

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 29th, 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: $18/h + 4% vacation pay
Reporting structure: Youth Program Assistants will report to the Volunteer & Social Enterprise Manager
Works closely with: 
• Youth Program Lead
• Volunteer Engagement Lead

Youth Program Assistants will:
• Support the Youth Program Lead to supervise, mentor, and meaningfully engage youth volunteers in North Grove programs and the community
• Build positive relationships with youth during the summer program 
• Co-create, organize, and facilitate creative activities and workshops for youth.
• Communicate with the Youth Program Leader to plan weekly youth volunteer schedules
• Support other program and workshop facilitators with delivering sessions for youth 
• Organize and plan lunches and snacks for youth participants 
• Assist with youth program evaluations throughout the program
• 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
• An ability to be a supportive team member
• Excellent organizational and communication skills 
• A strong desire to work in a community setting
• 1+ years of recent experience in planning and delivering youth programs 
• Understanding of the lived experience of youth in Dartmouth North 
• Experience in group presentation, facilitation and team building
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment 
• Creative problem-solving skills 
• Food Handler/Safety certification is considered an asset
• Experience working in food programming and with food security initiatives is 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.

If applying for more than one position, please indicate in your application which position you would most prefer.