Organization: African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)
Employment Type: Term Contract until March 31, 2027, with possible extension based on funding
Compensation: $43 per hour
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
About ACAO:
The African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO) is a community-based organization committed to advancing the well-being, inclusion, leadership, and civic participation of African, Caribbean, and Black communities in Ottawa. Through programs, partnerships, advocacy, and community engagement, ACAO works to create meaningful opportunities for children, youth, families, and community members.
Position Summary:
ACAO is seeking a skilled, organized, and community-minded Youth Programs Manager to lead the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of youth-focused programs. The successful candidate will work closely with youth, families, staff, volunteers, schools, community partners, funders, and stakeholders to ensure programs are delivered in a safe, inclusive, culturally responsive, and youth-centered manner.
The Youth Programs Manager will provide leadership in program implementation, youth engagement, staff and volunteer coordination, partnership development, budget monitoring, risk management, reporting, outreach, and continuous program improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
Youth Program Planning and Delivery· Lead the planning, development, coordination, and delivery of youth programs that align with ACAO’s strategic goals and respond to the needs of youth and families in the community.
- Develop program workplans, schedules, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to support effective implementation.
- Ensure youth program activities, including volunteer placements, training sessions, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and community events, are delivered efficiently and effectively.
- Collaborate with ACAO departments, schools, youth-serving organizations, community partners, and stakeholders to ensure smooth program delivery.
- Coordinate staff, volunteers, facilitators, materials, venues, and other resources to ensure programs operate smoothly and remain on track.
Youth Engagement, Stakeholder Relations, and Partnership Development· Build and maintain strong relationships with youth participants, families, community organizations, schools, youth groups, government agencies, funders, and local businesses.
- Serve as the primary contact for youth program partners and external stakeholders, ensuring expectations, commitments, and program needs are clearly communicated and met.
- Engage youth participants to understand their goals, interests, barriers, and strengths, and provide mentorship, guidance, and referrals throughout their program experience.
- Facilitate regular meetings, workshops, and feedback sessions with youth and stakeholders to monitor progress, share updates, identify needs, and improve program quality.
- Promote youth programs and engage new participants and partners through outreach strategies that highlight program benefits, leadership opportunities, and community impact.
Team Leadership, Staff Supervision, and Volunteer Coordination· Supervise, support, and mentor program staff, facilitators, placement students, and volunteers involved in youth programming.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, youth-centered, and high-performing team environment where all team members are aligned with program goals, policies, and expectations.
- Facilitate regular team meetings to ensure open communication, coordinate activities, identify challenges, and implement practical solutions.
- Provide coaching, supervision, performance feedback, and professional development support to staff and volunteers to strengthen program delivery and participant outcomes.
Program Budget and Financial Management· Develop, manage, and oversee youth program budgets, ensuring expenditures align with program objectives, organizational policies, and funder requirements.
- Track financial records, monitor expenditures, and support timely processing of program-related expenses, invoices, and reimbursements.
- Prepare regular budget updates and reports, identify financial risks, and recommend corrective actions to support program sustainability and compliance.
- Ensure compliance with all funding guidelines, including any specific reporting and accountability requirements.
Risk Management, Safeguarding, and Problem Resolution· Identify potential risks, barriers, and challenges affecting youth participation, program delivery, safety, timelines, quality, or budget, and develop strategies to address them.
- Proactively resolve issues related to staffing, volunteers, youth participation, partners, logistics, program quality, or resource availability.
- Develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges and ensure continuity of youth programs and services.
- Ensure programs are delivered in a safe, inclusive, culturally responsive, and youth-centered manner while meeting organizational and stakeholder expectations.
Program Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting· Oversee the collection of program data, participant feedback, attendance records, outcomes, and other information required for monitoring and evaluation.
- Ensure program progress, participant outcomes, milestones, deliverables, and success stories are documented regularly and accurately.
- Prepare and present reports on youth program outcomes to stakeholders, including progress updates, participant impact, budget reviews, and final evaluations.
- Analyze program performance data and make evidence-informed recommendations to improve outcomes, participant engagement, processes, and overall impact.
- Work closely with ACAO’s evaluation team to assess program effectiveness in achieving youth empowerment, leadership development, volunteer placement, and community engagement goals.
Communication, Outreach, and Youth Recruitment· Develop and implement communication strategies to promote youth programs, participant achievements, upcoming activities, and program successes through newsletters, websites, social media, and community channels.
- Represent ACAO youth programs at community meetings, networking events, schools, youth forums, and outreach opportunities to raise awareness and encourage participation.
- Ensure regular, transparent, and accessible communication with youth, families, staff, volunteers, partners, funders, and other stakeholders.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Post-secondary education in social work, community development, education, youth work, public administration, project management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in youth programming, community engagement, project coordination, and staff or volunteer supervision.
- Strong understanding of youth development, culturally responsive programming, anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and the needs of African, Caribbean, and Black youth and families.
- Strong organizational, communication, facilitation, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience developing workplans, tracking deliverables, managing budgets, preparing reports, and working with funder requirements.
- Ability to build respectful relationships with youth, families, staff, volunteers, community partners, schools, and funders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital communication tools.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, based on program needs.
Additional Requirements:
- Successful candidates may be required to provide a satisfactory vulnerable sector check.
- Access to reliable transportation is an asset.
- Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.
- PMP Certification is an asset.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and interest in the position. Please include “Youth Programs Manager” in the subject line.
Application deadline: August 7, 2026
Equity Statement:
ACAO is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We encourage applications from African, Caribbean, and Black communities and individuals with diverse lived experiences. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.
