About PACT and the LPC Program

PACT Urban Peace Program is a Toronto charity with over 25 years of experience working alongside high-needs youth facing barriers to school engagement, stability, and community belonging. Our LifePlan Coaching (LPC) program delivers trauma-informed, relationship-based coaching to youth, ages 12 to 21, across two streams: early intervention in under-resourced middle schools, and one-to-one coaching for justice-involved youth navigating probation, custody transitions, and reintegration.

At the heart of LPC are the Leadership Lunch Clubs: weekly small-group sessions delivered inside partner middle schools in Lawrence Heights and Scarborough. These sessions build social-emotional skills, emotional regulation, and peer connection for vulnerable young people. Group programming creates a trusted, consistent environment where youth can grow, take risks, and see themselves differently.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on, direct engagement role for someone who is energized by youth work and ready to show up for young people in a meaningful way. You will work directly alongside our team of professional PACT Life Coaches, primarily delivering and co-facilitating our group-based Leadership Lunch Clubs at partner middle schools. This is where the majority of your time will be spent, and it is where your facilitation skills and your ability to connect with young people will matter most. Secondary responsibilities include supporting individual coaches and their clients in the community, extending the work done in weekly one-to-one coaching sessions through practical, in-person accompaniment and advocacy.

This is a part-time contract role with genuine potential to grow: as PACT expands its school partnerships, the right candidate will move into increased hours and broader responsibilities. It's a strong fit for students and emerging professionals in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Youth Justice, Education, Community Development, or related fields who are looking for entry-level, direct experience with an established, high-impact grassroots charity.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership Lunch Club Facilitation

Lunch Club youth facilitators collaborate with PACT Life Coaches to deliver weekly Leadership Lunch Club sessions at partner middle schools. These sessions engage groups of Grade 7 and 8 students in structured, activity-based programming designed to build social-emotional skills, emotional regulation, and positive peer relationships. Specific responsibilities include:

• Co-facilitating weekly Lunch Club sessions using a trauma-informed, strength-based, and Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach
• Leading and supporting activities, including mindfulness exercises, circle-sharing, breathing and grounding techniques, movement activities, and creative team-building
• Utilizing tools such as vision boards and group reflection activities to build self-awareness, confidence, and capacity in participants
• Supporting lunch delivery, completion certificates, and pre/post self-efficacy surveys
• Working with PACT coaches to address participant risk factors, reduce antisocial behaviour, reinforce positive peer and adult interactions, and support referrals to additional resources as required
• Documenting group activities, attendance, and participant observations in a secure database

Additional Responsibilities

Individual Client Support

In a supporting role, you will collaborate with PACT's professional Life Coaches to extend the impact of their one-to-one coaching work with individual clients. Responsibilities include:

• Meeting clients in the community to build upon and reinforce goals and action plans developed in coaching sessions
• Empowering youth to self-advocate and navigate youth-serving systems, including health and wellness supports, employment, education, and recreational programs
• Supporting clients with practical tasks such as obtaining personal identification, opening bank accounts, and connecting with community resources
  Building trust and rapport with youth clients and family members to support their broader goals
• Attending and documenting periodic wraparound check-in meetings with clients, coaches, and support teams, including parents, school staff, and probation officers
• Assisting coaches in developing and supporting longer-term aftercare plans as clients transition out of the LPC program

General Responsibilities

• Participate in monthly coach team meetings and periodic professional development activities
• Travel within Toronto to meet clients and attend school-based sessions as required
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in PACT's secure client database
• Adhere to all PACT policies and procedures, including those related to confidential client information

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Post-secondary education in Child and Youth Work, Child and Youth Care, Community Support Work, Social Work, Criminology, or a closely related field (completed or near completion)
• Demonstrated experience delivering group programming for high-needs youth ages 12 to 16, including facilitation of structured activities in school, community, or residential settings
• Direct frontline experience supporting vulnerable, high-needs young people (and families) facing barriers such as poverty, trauma, justice involvement, family instability, or school disengagement
• Strong, demonstrated ability to build healthy trust-based relationships with youth while maintaining clear professional boundaries

Skills and Competencies

• Deep commitment to trauma-informed, strength-based, and Positive Youth Development principles
• Confident, calm, and consistent presence with youth in group settings, including those presenting with challenging behaviours
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect authentically with young people from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders effectively, respectfully and with minimal supervision
• Genuine empathy, cultural humility, and respect for the lived experiences of the youth and families PACT serves
• Organized, responsible, and self-directed, with the ability to manage documentation and follow-through consistently

Requirements

• The successful candidate(s) will be required to complete PACT's 4-day LPC coach training course, Advanced Trauma-Informed Coaching for High-Needs Youth, provided by PACT at no cost (valued at $2,000).
• Successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check (required before start)
• Mental Health First Aid certification (PACT will cover the cost)
• Valid full G Class Ontario driver's licence, insurance, and access to a vehicle are a strong asset
• Flexibility to maintain a schedule aligned with school hours, with occasional evening availability
• First Aid and CPR certification is a strong asset
• This role includes active facilitation of movement-based group activities and regular travel within Toronto

A Note on Gender-Specific Facilitation (Special Program)

PACT delivers separate boys' and girls' cohorts within our Leadership Lunch Clubs. Many of the boys we serve have experienced limited access to consistent, positive male role models and mentors. Based on our experience and program outcomes, the presence of male facilitators has been shown to significantly strengthen engagement, relationship-building, and outcomes within these groups.

To address this underrepresentation and better meet the needs of participants in our boys' cohorts, PACT is implementing a Special Program under Section 14 of the Ontario Human Rights Code. While we welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, preference may be given to qualified male applicants for positions facilitating boys' groups.

Why PACT

This role offers something rare for an entry-level position: meaningful, direct engagement with youth who need it most, inside a small, experienced team that takes its work seriously. You'll learn from certified professional coaches, contribute to a program with a strong and growing evidence base, and build the facilitation experience that forms the foundation of a career in youth work.

Equity and Accommodation

PACT is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and persons with disabilities. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process and during employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to:

Ben Marshall | Director of Program Development, PACT Urban Peace Program

Email:

Phone: 416-656-8824

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.