Community Development Worker - Youth Focus

Position Title: Community Development Worker – Youth Focus

Start Date: November 2025

Annual Salary: $46,501- $51, 321

Reports To: Manager, Community Development

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours/week 

Location: 255 Ranee Avenue, 540 Finch Ave West, and various locations across North York

Who We Are

North York Community House (NYCH) is a dynamic community agency that has been working with residents of under-resourced and low-income neighbourhoods in northwest Toronto for over 30 years. We are committed to helping people move out of poverty to build strong, vibrant communities. We support new Canadians, children, youth and their families, seniors, and local residents in becoming active and engaged citizens who can thrive and become leaders in their own lives and communities.

At NYCH, we pride ourselves on working collaboratively and creating a supportive environment. We recognize the work we need to do to improve and are constantly striving to do so. Our team has shown incredible adaptability, strength, creativity, and dedication in serving our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we continue to learn and grow, and innovate while dealing with the challenges of this new reality.

Position Summary

As a member of Community Development team, the Community Development Worker – Youth Focus will work with diverse youth across North York to build leadership, civic engagement, and community development skills. This role emphasizes empowering youth through the design, delivery, and evaluation of youth-led and youth-informed leadership programs, advocacy initiatives, and civic engagement opportunities that create collective and transformative change at individual, community, and systemic levels. A key focus of this position will be establishing and supporting Youth Councils in Lawrence Heights, Bathurst-Finch, Weston-Mount Dennis, and other neighbourhoods that NYCH serves, to strengthen local youth leadership and advocacy. 

In addition, the Community Development Worker –Youth Focus will contribute to implementing all pillars of NYCH’s Community Development Framework, with an emphasis on supporting resident leadership initiatives. This includes providing administrative and coordination support for resident-led projects and grants - with a particular focus on youth-led initiatives while also supporting broader resident-driven activities that contribute to building strong, healthy, and connected communities.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and launch Youth Councils in neighbourhoods NYCH serves, supporting youth in identifying and shaping community priorities, leading local initiatives, and engaging in advocacy. 
• Conduct outreach to youth in under-resourced, priority, and revitalization neighbourhoods, including newcomer and racialized youth. 
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with youth and develop a deep understanding of the issues affecting them and their communities. 
• Design, deliver and evaluate programs, workshops and trainings that strengthen critical thinking, civic literacy, leadership, and community engagement skills, as well as cross-cultural connections, volunteer and system change opportunities.
• Prepare youth to contribute to their communities through volunteer opportunities, mentorship, community forums, and collective action initiatives and other opportunities throughout Toronto. 
• Facilitate connections to networks, campaigns, grants, and other opportunities that foster youth leadership and civic participation. 
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with partner organizations, schools, and community groups. 
• Support youth in accessing resources, building networks, and strengthening capacity for long-term leadership. 
• Collaborate with residents on resident-led events and initiatives, ensuring that both youth and residents work together to strengthen healthy, vibrant neighbourhoods. 
• Provide administrative support to resident-led projects including Local Leadership Grants, with special attention to youth-led or youth-impacted initiatives. 
• Enter and maintain client information into database system and complete and submit program timesheets, program expenses and receipts, and other administrative forms on a timely basi
• Coordinate logistics for meetings and events, including scheduling, note-taking, and follow-up communications
• Maintain organized filing systems (digital and physical) to track communications, proposals, and reporting deadlines
• Support financial processes for resident-led groups (e.g., reimbursements, invoices). 
• Collect and input data into appropriate forms, reports and databases, track program outcomes, and produce accurate monthly reports, input for NYCH’s annual reporting to funder as well as to support program evaluation and ongoing development. 
• Participate in workshops, training sessions, and professional development opportunities. 
• Collaborate with colleagues across NYCH and contribute to organization-wide initiatives.  

Education

• A community college diploma/degree in social work, social sciences, community development or related fields is preferred, an equivalent combination of education, paid/volunteer experience, and lived experience will also be considered.
• Minimum 1 year of experience engaging and working with youth, particularly in under-resourced, priority, or revitalization neighbourhoods, as well as newcomer and racialized youth. 

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 1 year of experience engaging and working with youth, particularly in under-resourced, priority, or revitalization neighbourhoods, as well as newcomer and racialized youth. 
• Strong skills in program design, delivery and
  evaluation, group facilitation, and applying youth-friendly approaches to adult education. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining effective relationship with youth
• Demonstrated experience in community development, civic engagement, and youth leadership training. 
• Deep Knowledge of issues facing youth in North York, particularly racialized and newcomer youth. 
• Experience supporting program administration and financial processes (budgets, expense tracking, reimbursements). 
• Strong administrative, documentation, and reporting skills, with the ability to maintain accurate records and prepare clear reports. 
• Ability to support youth in building critical thinking, civic participation, and advocacy skills. 
• Experience in partnership development and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships. 
• Proficiency with MS Office and social media platforms for outreach and communication. 
• Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills. 
• Understanding of anti-oppressive frameworks and inclusive practices.

Other Requirements: 

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Willingness to travel with North York and northwest Toronto
• A successful criminal record check may be required