Reporting to the Manager, the Child & Youth Lead provides day-to-day oversight for the licensed Child Support program, including the After School Program and youth programming within the Crisis Shelter and YW’s affordable housing, Taylor Family Home. This role ensures that children and youth who have experienced violence, instability and trauma receive coordinated support that strengthens resilience, fosters safety, and promotes healthy development. This role supports YW’s holistic and innovative model of shelter care, ensuring integrated pathways of support for children and youth during and after their shelter stay, and strengthening outcomes across the shelter and housing program continuum.

This full-time position typically works Monday to Friday, 3 day shifts from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 2 evening shifts from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and one weekend day per month. This position is based on site at the YW Crisis Shelter and requires flexibility to respond to emergent situations or staff coverage needs.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Truly rewarding work; contribute to lasting, positive change for our community
• A supportive team environment and opportunities for professional development
• Comprehensive benefits
• Fitness and childcare facilities

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Service Delivery & Program Oversight:

• Provide ongoing team guidance and operational oversight for the licensed child support program, including the after-school program, ensuring compliance with licensing standards, safety protocols, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Oversee staffing schedules, daily operations, and ratios to ensure consistent, safe, and regulatory-compliant service delivery.
• Deliver and model trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate care for children and youth aged 0 – 17.
• Ensure daily programming meets emotional, social, developmental and recreational needs while allowing space for fun, creativity, and age-appropriate play.
• Deliver child support services as needed to support licensing requirements and assist with youth programming facilitation.
• Maintain strong communication with mothers/caregivers regarding their child’s progress, needs, safety considerations, and available supports.
• Partner closely with the Outreach Child and Youth Case Managers to coordinate continuity of care for children and youth transitioning from the shelter to community or housing programs.
• Act as a liaison between child support and youth programming and other internal roles and departments to promote seamless communication and service delivery.
• Represent the organization, when requested, at sector meetings, external events or initiatives.

Integrated Child & Youth Program Development:

• In collaboration with the Manager, design, implement and evaluate comprehensive programming for children and youth in shelter and affordable housing.
• Develop and deliver structured group programs, recreational activities, school-support components, cultural activities and skill-building opportunities that promote resilience, belonging and emotional regulation.
• Co-create individualized plans or support for children and youth with more complex needs in consultation with shelter staff, outreach case managers, partners and caregivers.
• Incorporate youth voices into program planning to ensure services are relevant, meaningful, and empowering.
• Embed principes of equity, inclusion, reconciliation, and anti-oppression throughout programing.

Team Guidance:

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, mentoring and guidance to team members to support high-quality, trauma-informed programming.
• Model best practices in trauma-informed care, emotional attunement, youth engagement, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Lead team meetings, reflective practice sessions, and support ongoing professional learning opportunities.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Manager and child and youth staff, ensuring timely communication, follow-up and issue resolution.

Administration, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Maintain high-quality documentation, records, attendance logs, licensing reports, and program evaluations.
• Track program metrics, outcomes, and participation for reporting to funders, leadership and evaluation team.
• Support grant-writing initiatives by providing program data, stories, outcomes and future program needs.
• Utilize program resources responsibly, including supply management and purchasing in collaboration with the Manager.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Post secondary education in Child & Youth Care, Early Childhood Education, Social Work or a related field.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience supporting children and youth and diverse populations in a trauma-informed setting.
• Experience in a team support or lead role.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development, attachment, sensory regulation and impacts of trauma.
• Actively promotes fairness, cultural safety and anti-oppression practices in everyday work.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing situations and make thoughtful decisions under pressure, using approaches that are trauma informed.
• Communicates in a way that is respectful and clear; works well with others, maintains boundaries and professionalism, coaches others effectively and solves problems constructively.
• Leads with curiosity, empathy, clarity and accountability.
• Balances tasks while staying focused; keeps accurate and well-organized records.
• Proficient in Microsoft office and comfortable using data systems and reporting tools.
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C Certification. Candidates who do not currently hold this certification must obtain it on their own time, at their own expense within three (3) months of hire.

Assets:

• Alberta Level 2 Early Childhood Educator Certification.

• Experience in domestic violence services and housing sector.

Apply today by submitting your resume, cover letter, and salary expectations.

Deadline: January 5, 2026

**Check out our website for more information about YW Calgary:**www.ywcalgary.ca

YW Calgary is committed to providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees, volunteers and clients feel valued and respected, whatever their race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, ancestry, or place of origin.