The Opportunity
New Leaf Enterprises, a program of Easter Seals Nova Scotia, supports adults with disabilities to build meaningful lives through recreation, wellness, community engagement, social connection, and personal growth.
New Leaf is committed to creating opportunities for individuals to pursue their interests, build relationships, contribute to their communities, and live lives of their choosing. We believe that every person has unique strengths, talents, and aspirations, and we strive to provide supports that foster independence, belonging, and meaningful participation.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, creative, and community-minded Program & Community Engagement Facilitator to join our team. The successful candidate will play a key role in designing and facilitating engaging programs that promote wellness, recreation, lifelong learning, community inclusion, and social connection.
This position combines program design, group facilitation, individualized support, and community engagement. The Program & Community Engagement Facilitator will work alongside participants to identify interests and goals, create meaningful opportunities for growth and participation, and foster connections both within New Leaf and throughout the broader community.
This position supports programming both onsite and in the community. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required as New Leaf continues to develop and expand programming opportunities.
The Program & Community Engagement Facilitator reports directly to the Manager – Program and Client Services.
Key Responsibilities
Participant Support & Individualized Planning
- Build respectful, supportive relationships with participants that promote choice, self-advocacy, and personal growth.
- Support participants in identifying and pursuing individual goals related to recreation, wellness, community engagement, social connection, and independent living.
- Develop and implement person-directed program plans that reflect participants' strengths, interests, and aspirations.
- Collaborate with participants to regularly review their goals, celebrate achievements, and adjust supports to reflect their evolving interests, and preferences.
Program Design & Facilitation
- Design, coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate engaging programs that promote recreation, wellness, creativity, lifelong learning, and community inclusion.
- Develop innovative and participant-driven programming that reflects participant interests, emerging trends, and community opportunities.
- Facilitate both group and individualized activities that are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to varying abilities and support needs.
- Plan and coordinate special events, workshops, evening programs, and seasonal initiatives.
- Maintain program schedules, materials, resources, and documentation.
- Evaluate programming outcomes and continuously seek opportunities for improvement and innovation.
Community Engagement & Inclusion
- Create opportunities for participants to build meaningful connections and relationships within their communities.
- Plan and facilitate community-based activities, outings, events, and experiences that promote inclusion and participation.
- Identify new opportunities for collaboration that enhance participant experiences and expand community engagement.
- Support participants in accessing and navigating community programs, services, and opportunities.
Teamwork & Operations
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues, participants, families, and community partners.
- Maintain accurate documentation and records in accordance with organizational standards.
- Support a safe and inclusive environment through effective risk management, conflict resolution, and positive behaviour support practices.
- Actively contribute to the promotion of New Leaf programs and services by capturing participant experiences, achievements, and community engagement activities through photos and written highlights, and sharing content with the communications team for marketing and storytelling purposes.
- Participate in team meetings, professional development opportunities, and organizational initiatives.
- Provide support across New Leaf Enterprises and Easter Seals Nova Scotia programs as required.
Skills & Competencies
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and evaluating recreation, wellness, educational, or community-based programs.
- Strong group facilitation skills and the ability to engage individuals with varying interests, abilities, and support needs.
- Ability to create innovative and meaningful programming that promotes inclusion, wellness, social connection, and personal growth.
- Strong understanding of person-directed, strengths-based, and inclusive support practices.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
- Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.
- Strong written communication and documentation skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other digital communication and record-keeping tools.
- Understanding of Nova Scotia's disability support sector and the Human Rights Remedy is considered an asset.
Qualifications
- Degree or diploma in Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, Disability Supports & Services, Human Services, Social Work, Community Studies, or a related field.
- Experience designing and facilitating recreation, wellness, leisure, or community inclusion programs.
- Experience supporting adults with disabilities is considered an asset.
- Knowledge of person-directed planning, community inclusion, and strengths-based support practices.
- Professional qualifications, core competencies, and training standards as identified by the Nova Scotia Department of Opportunities and Social Development.
- Valid Nova Scotia Driver's License and acceptable driver's abstract.
- Current First Aid/CPR certification or willingness to obtain.
- Clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check
- A passion for creating meaningful opportunities that enhance quality of life, community participation, and personal growth for Nova Scotians with disabilities.
Salary Range
$51,504 - $55,839 as determined by the Disability Support Program Wage Scale
Hours of Work
This is a full-time, permanent position.
Regular hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
As New Leaf continues to expand community-based, evening, and weekend programming opportunities, occasional evening and weekend work will be required.
Deadline to Apply – Monday June 15th, 2026
To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to Joanne Bernard at [email protected]
New Leaf Enterprises is committed to Employment Equity and Diversity and invites applications from Women, Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and members of Visible Minorities.
New Leaf is also committed to an inclusive, barrier-free selection process and work environment. If contacted in relation to this employment opportunity, please advise of any accommodations you require to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $51,504.00-$55,839.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
