Job Posting

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is inviting applications for the permanent, full-time position of Youth Advocate Worker (Indigenous Community) with the Youth Advocate Program with Parks & Recreation.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous/Aboriginal People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

The Youth Advocate Worker (Indigenous Community) supports an assigned caseload of indigenous youth and advocates for better outcomes for youth at risk of, or who are involved in, criminal or gang-related activity. The Youth Advocate Worker researches and connects youth to culturally responsive services and supports, guides, coaches, mentors, and assists youth and their families in overcoming their unique challenges and barriers. The Youth Advocate Worker must work from an indigenous lens and remain progressive and solution-focused in the delivery of this program. The Youth Advocate Worker is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the indigenous community and culturally responsive service providers and will be an expert in advocating for the unique needs of indigenous youth in the criminal justice system.

In the event that there are no qualified NSGEU 222 candidates, preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

More information on the Youth Advocate Program can be found here: www.halifax.ca/yap

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Champions and implements the principles of the Youth Advocate Program’s community-based Wrap Around model and adapts approaches to be culturally responsive.
• Led by youth and family, develops action plans, assesses and interprets progress/lack of progress and adjusts action plans accordingly using an indigenous lens.
• Responsible for monitoring, intervening and documenting the daily performance of indigenous youth.
• Tracks and provides data on the progress of indigenous youth and their families.
• Works on policy and Diversity & Inclusion initiatives for the Municipality to improve programs and services for indigenous youth and families.
• Ensures that the emphasis of the advocacy and case management work results in services and supports that build resiliency, promote risk prevention/mitigation, and increase the protective factors, strategies and supports.
• Uses extensive knowledge of youth-focused and culturally responsive community services and supports to connect youth and families with leisure opportunities, job readiness resources, and counselling and therapeutic supports. Identifies and builds relationships with culturally appropriate service providers to increase the success of indigenous youth in the program.
• Establishes strong links and positive relationships within the indigenous community and external groups, including organizations and government agencies.
• Identifies and acts on issues that may negatively impact or harm program youth.
• Ensures, through case conferencing and case management, that services and supports for each youth are coordinated, and are delivered most efficiently and effectively for the youth and their family.
• Part of the intake, orientation & exit processes.
• Demonstrates leadership and professionalism, while maintaining positive working relationships with youth & families, the public, with internal & external key partners and with management. Advocates for improved service delivery, access to services and service modification with, and at times on behalf of, program youth.
• Ability to manage risk and adhere to safety and crisis protocols and policies using an indigenous lens.
• Provides short-term crisis support to indigenous youth across the Municipality.
• Works across Municipal business units to provide support to indigenous communities within the municipality
• Identifies and implements progressive, culturally responsive, and high-quality programming strategies to enhance the perspective, self-view, and self-talk of indigenous participants that remove barriers to self-actualization.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates programs tailored to the needs and aspirations of indigenous youth, including leadership development, education, and skill-building initiatives
• Resolves conflict with indigenous youth and families and particularly helps youth navigate interpersonal, familial, or systemic conflicts in a way that promotes restorative outcomes and community cohesion.
• Works to advocate for indigenous youth within the justice system and navigates justice processes from a culturally responsive lens.
• Works independently while managing a caseload, creating treatment plan goals, completing documentation, conducting evaluations, scheduling meetings, participating in team projects, and liaising with service providers and key partners.
• Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education & Experience:

• Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, counselling, recreation management, recreation therapy (CTRS) or other social science or health-related discipline.
• One year of work or volunteer experience in a social service environment working with at-risk Indigenous youth and their families within HRM;
• Experience working with youth who have experienced trauma, particularly racial trauma, and utilizing trauma-informed approaches to foster safety, healing, and resilience.
• Experience leading anti-racism initiatives, social justice movements, or equity-focused projects that challenge systemic barriers and promote racial equity and inclusion.
• Class 5 driver’s license and access to a vehicle is required
• An equivalent combination of education and lived experience, particularly knowledge gained through personal or community connection to Indigenous culture, traditions, and youth experiences, will be considered.

Technical / Job-Specific Knowledge and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of indigenous history and indigenous communities, indigenous cultural ways of being, issues which remain critical to ensuring inclusive and equitable opportunities for indigenous youth, and culturally responsive frameworks.
• Ability to provide an atmosphere of respect by applying the principles of Race Relations, Cross-Cultural Understandings, and Human Rights for Nova Scotian youth.
• Ability to monitor, assess, evaluate, and report on the progress of Indigenous youth and families.
• Ability to monitor, assess, evaluate, and report on the progress of indigenous participants and to develop and evaluate the effectiveness and the delivery and implementation of an Action Plan for Indigenous youth.
• Thorough Knowledge of the principles of the Wrap Around model. Understanding of restorative practices as applicable to indigenous youth and families.
• Experience working with indigenous youth aged 10 – 15 who are criminally involved, at risk of becoming criminally involved, or who are susceptible to associated risk factors. Knowledge of the impact that race plays in navigating the criminal justice system in Nova Scotia.
• Thorough knowledge of working in an Indigenous community setting with families living in unsafe, high-risk situations.
• Ability and skills related to advocacy, building cooperation, networking, achieving consensus, solution-oriented problem solving and decision making.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with completing Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCA).
• Knowledge of culturally responsive resources, supports, organizations and opportunities across HRM available to youth and their families.
• Knowledge of the youth criminal justice system, child welfare systems, municipal recreation, health care and education systems and how these systems function for the indigenous communities.
• Working knowledge of computer applications and related software (ie: Microsoft Word & Excel).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

**Security Clearance Requirements:**Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note– Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job-specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

**COMPETENCIES:**Decision making, communication, conflict resolution, networking/relationship building, risk management, teamwork & cooperation, values & ethics, valuing diversity

**WORK STATUS:**Permanent, full-time

HOURS OF WORK: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 35 hours per week. Some evenings and weekends may be required.

SALARY:$37.22 per hour; Level 7 as per the collective agreement between NSGEU Local 222 and HRM.

**WORK LOCATION:**Cole Harbour Place (In the recreation offices). Work location may be changed according to operational requirements.

CLOSING DATE:Applications will be received up to11:59 pmonSunday, March 29th, 2026.

This is a bargaining unit position. External applicants will only be considered if there are no qualified bargaining unit candidates.

**Please note:**We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted. To ensure a fair & equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews, independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the Talent Acquisition Advisor when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please click on the link: Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax.

(position #78640540)