Manager, Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater
Community Health & Social Care
Reports To
CEO, YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia
Job Purpose
The Manager, Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater implements and champions the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of Integrated Youth Services (IYS) and provides operational leadership for the Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater site staff team. They oversee the day-to-day operations of the site and program planning. The Manager ensures that the facilities and grounds are safe for youth and staff and that programming, policies, and operations enable the site to meet its goals in supporting youth towards wellness and independence.
The Manager is responsible for overseeing and administering all operations of the Anchor Youth Space in Bridgewater, including leading, hiring, and developing a team dedicated to supporting youth in identifying and achieving their goals, while fostering a safe and healthy work environment for all staff.
With support from the YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia management team, the Manager is accountable for the oversight, implementation and critical review of programming, policies, procedures, budgets, and administrative duties.
The Integrated Youth Services (IYS) model relies heavily on strong, collaborative partnerships with both formal coalition members and broader community stakeholders to ensure services are accessible and responsive to youth needs. As such, a key responsibility of the Manager is to actively lead and maintain the Integrated Services for Youth partnership table, while continuously building and strengthening strategic partnerships that support young people across Lunenburg County.
The Manager is responsible for liaising with Anchor Youth Space, Nova Scotia, ensuring that any relevant IYS model standards, global policies, training research, data collection, IYS principles and approach are implemented in accordance with the agreed upon contact.
Primary Areas of Responsibility
Leadership; Team Leadership and Culture; Site Management; Partner Relations & Communications; Service Integration; Program Development; Budget & Financial
About Anchor Youth Space, Southwest Nova Scotia
Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater is one of several Integrated Youth Services sites across Nova Scotia (IYS-NS) and is operated by the YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia in partnership and collaboration with the IWK Health Centre. IYS is a dynamic international and pan-Canadian movement that aims to transform how youth access and receive services for substance use, mental health issues, and other key challenges.
Operating within a community-led, partnership-based model, IYS-NS offers young individuals and their caregivers a range of in-person and virtual services, programs, and supports, in one convenient location. In doing so, IYS-NS sites provide a coordinated response that places youth and caregivers at the centre.
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
· Lead with compassion, integrity, and excellence
· Align leadership and decision-making with our strategic priorities
· Schedules and facilitates regular team meetings to discuss cases, address operational challenges, and promote open dialogue and shared understanding.
· Cultivates a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful work environment that supports employee well-being and encourages teamwork.
Team Leadership and Culture
· Utilizing inclusive practices, recruit, onboard, and manage a team of diverse staff by establishing performance expectations and goals, and providing regular feedback, coaching, and performance management
· Provide guidance, training, and professional development opportunities to deepen working knowledge of program staff and ensure a high level of inclusive, culturally competent service performance and client experience
· Develop tools and practices for staff’s ease of access to information and training to ensure services are current and responsive to emerging settlement patterns and changes in the environment
· Promote and support collaboration across teams to meet the needs of clients in a wrap around approach
· Address conflicts and interpersonal issues within the team in a constructive and timely manner - facilitating difficult conversations, mediating disputes, progressive discipline, and finding mutually acceptable solutions to conflicts
· Lead, or participate in, workplace investigations and conflict resolution, ensuring the environment is free from harassment, discrimination, and bullying
· Ensure team adherence to YMCA policies, procedures, and code of conduct, promoting a culture of integrity and accountability
· Model and promote inclusive leadership, creating and enhancing an inclusive, diverse, and equitable working environment and practices
· Foster a positive employee experience free from systemic barriers and harm, while consistently focusing on process improvement
Site Management
· Supervise and monitor the day-to-day activities in the space
· Ensure adherence to safety and security policies and standards
· Promote a supportive, trauma-informed environment that promotes youth empowerment
· Liaise with YMCA management for site repairs, maintenance and upgrades
Partner Relations & Communications
· Lead and maintain an active Integrated Services for Youth Partnership table and use the work of the table to guide program and service delivery
· Lead and maintain an active relationship with Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia and the other Anchor sites across the province, ensuring regular communication structures are in place and that staff are connected with their relevant communities of practice
· Engage with IWK research teams and local research resources in Lunenburg County area with a goal of furthering academic and community research relevant to serving youth in Lunenburg CAounty
· Liaise with other agencies on behalf of youth and participate in community committees, projects, or activities that advance the wellbeing of youth in Lunenburg County, as appropriate
· Guide development of the Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater’s marketing and communications for the purpose of reaching youth and their caregivers, as well as raising for the broader community the issues Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater seeks to address for young people in Lunenburg County
· Engage in and support National IYS partnerships by joining committees, conferences and community of practices.
· Liaise with other YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia management on communications, media needs and inquiries
Service Integration
· Ensure Anchor Youth Space, Bridgewater continues to be actively guided by the advice of the Youth and Caregiver Advisory committees
· Lead service integration working with data systems, site processes, and partner relationships to continually coordinate care for youth accessing the site; reducing the barriers they face to access care
· Advocate to reduce barriers to integrated care at the systems level (government entities and community partners); such as improved access to mental health, addiction and other supports
· Guide staff in data collection and use the reports from the IWK Research Coordinator to make appropriate updates to service operations
· Remain current on evidence and best practices for both service integration and serving young people
Program Development
· Develop overall programming that enables Anchor Youth Space to achieve its goals
· Support staff to develop programming that builds youth resilience and prevents further occurrences of toxic stress and adversity to occur
· Guide program development that builds youth skills and abilities and provide structured, safe opportunities to engage in youth leadership and development
· Guide staff towards using evidence-based program design and if needed, work with local researchers to assess effectiveness of interventions
· Revise, update, disseminate, and coordinate program implementation
· Ensure program delivery aligns with IYS Guiding Principles and the YMCA‘s mission, vision, and philosophy
Budget & Financial
· Plan for annual operations, budget, program improvements/innovations, and outcomes
· Manage record of program budget including expenditures, staffing funds, and capital repairs
· Adhere to, and ensure adherence to, YMCA financial policies and procedures, including tracking expenses, claims, and receipts
· Maintain positive and productive relationship with government and other funders
· Liaise with other YMCA management on fundraising and fund development
Other Duties & Responsibilities
· Respond to complaints and/or concerns through investigation, communication, preventative, and remedial actions, follow up and monitoring with organizational leadership to protect staff, volunteers, youth and caregivers, visitors, the organization, and others
· Participate in internal YMCA (staff, management, etc.) meetings as required
· Look for potential improvements and help implement solutions
· Maintain professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity to portray the YMCA in a positive manner, consistent with its values and vision
· Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, engaging in professional networks, and participating in professional organizations
· Respond to the needs of others with effective communication, mutual respect, and consistent follow through to build trust and workplace relationships
· Promote the mission and values of the YMCA both internally and externally
· Maintain safety, privacy, and confidentiality of employees, clients, and volunteers
· Other duties as required
Core Competencies
· Servant leadership
· Ethics and integrity
· Client and community-focused
· Initiative and problem solving
· Accountability and dependability
· Strong oral and written communication
· Teamwork and collaboration
· Detail orientation
· Adaptability
Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Social Services Administration or a related field of study; Masters level preferred
· Minimum three (3) years’ experience leading a multi-disciplinary team to offer coordinated or integrated care to vulnerable populations
· Experience in mental health and addictions with youth, an asset
· Trained in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Brain Story Certification and/or Mental Health First Aid
· Valid, up-to-date and clear Criminal Records Check including vulnerable sector search, required due to the sensitive nature of our work with youth
· Valid and up-to-date Child Abuse Registry Check, required due to the sensitive nature of our work with youth
· Valid and up-to-date First Aid/CPR & AED Certification
· Demonstrated understanding and familiarity at a high level with youth development (ages 12-25) and how trauma and early adversity impacts the developing brain
· Demonstrated understanding and familiarity at a high level with application of the science of resilience to affect positive outcomes for young people
· Demonstrated experience using anti-oppressive practice (harm reduction, narrative practice, a client directed approach and a social justice perspective)
· Demonstrated knowledge of mental health issues, substance abuse and crisis intervention
· Compassion, empathy, diplomacy, and problem solving
· Experience working with and advocating for vulnerable populations
· Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and with guidance
· Exceptional attention to detail and verbal and written communication skills
· Ability to work effectively with others and lead others towards a shared goal
· Highly organized and ability to work well under pressure
· Proficiency with Microsoft suite of programs and applications
· High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
· Understands servant leadership and community-centricity
Work Conditions
· Travel may be required
· Physical ability to lift up to twenty-five pounds (25 lbs.)
· Physical ability to walk up and down stairs and maintain a fairly active pace
· Manual dexterity is required to use desktop computers and peripherals
· Overtime may be required; working evenings/weekends as needed
· Interacts with employees, management, and the public at large
· Environment can be busy and/or noisy at times
Salary Range
$75,666 - $99,395/year
Pay: $75,666.00-$99,395.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Paid time off
- Wellness program
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Bridgewater, NS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Work Location: In person
