Location: YMCA Centre for Immigrant Programs
Position Status: Full -Time
Compensation: $77,000-$92,000
There is potential inside all of us – we all have it in us to shine.
Every charity exists to help solve a problem – our charity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, social isolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more.
Today, our network is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports, accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safe spaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labour market, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community for isolated older adults.
We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space to discover their inner strength. When they know someone’s in their corner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than they thought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps people ignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant and healthy communities.
With us at their side, they can Shine On.
As part of your total compensation:
- Complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
- Access to Y at Home, where you can participate in fitness programs from your own home
- Three (3) weeks’ vacation entitlement and paid wellness days
- Comprehensive benefits package and pension
- Complimentary wellbeing and counselling services
About the Role
The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader to provide strategic, operational, and people leadership for our YMCA Immigrant Services (YIS) team, which provides a dynamic and evolving portfolio of settlement programs and services.
This senior leadership role is responsible for advancing the growth, sustainability, quality, and impact of YIS through integrated leadership of program strategy, operational excellence, partnership development, evaluation, and organizational capacity building.
As a member of the YMCA’s Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will lead transformative initiatives that strengthen service delivery for newcomer communities across Nova Scotia while fostering a culture grounded in equity, inclusion, innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
This role requires a strategic systems thinker who can translate vision into action, balance organizational leadership with operational execution, and build strong relationships across communities, government funders, and internal teams.
The role oversees strategic program development and implementation, organizational planning, development of a funding and resource diversification strategy, impact evaluation, staff and leadership development, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure responsive, accessible, and high-quality settlement services that meet the evolving needs of newcomers and communities.
In This Role, You Will:
- Provide visionary leadership for the strategic direction, growth, and long-term sustainability of YMCA Immigrant Services, including leading the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans aligned with YMCA priorities, community needs, sector trends, and funder expectations.
- Provide strategic leadership, mentorship, coaching, and support to a diverse team of leaders and staff with a focus on fostering a positive, inclusive, trauma-informed, and psychologically safe workplace culture that supports employee wellbeing, belonging, engagement, and professional growth.
- Lead and participate in initiatives that cross YMCA program areas, including collaboration with senior leadership across the organization.
- Provide strategic oversight for the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of programs and services across the Immigrant Services’ portfolio, including the responsiveness of programs to newcomer needs and funder requirements and the development of tools, processes, and operational resources that support effective and sustainable program implementation.
- Oversee operational excellence across the Immigrant Services team, including infrastructure, systems, policy development, risk management, and resource allocation, with a focus on oversight of financial reporting and forecasting and compliance with relevant policies, legislation, and standards.
- Build and sustain strategic relationships with government, community organizations, funders, educational institutions, and sector partners, and position YMCA Immigrant Services as a leader within the settlement and newcomer-serving sector.
- Develop a funding diversification strategy as well as identify and pursue funding opportunities, grants, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives that support innovation and sustainable growth for the purposes of improving supports to newcomers.
- Lead the development and implementation of organizational evaluation frameworks, performance metrics, and impact measurement strategies that are relevant to Immigrant Services while fitting within the larger context of the YMCA.
Education and Skills Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or college diploma in a relevant field such as Public Administration, Social Sciences, Community Development, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related discipline; graduate-level education is considered an asset.
- Minimum 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience within the settlement, community, nonprofit, social services, or related sectors; experience with the settlement sector specifically is a significant asset.
- Demonstrated success leading complex programs and operations, including strategic planning, organizational development, and change management – multi-site programming experience is an asset.
- Strong understanding of the newcomer settlement sector, immigration trends, community development, and culturally responsive service delivery.
- Demonstrated expertise integrating equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, anti-racism, and GBA+ principles into organizational leadership, policy, and program design.
- Proven experience leading teams, developing leaders, and fostering high-performing, collaborative workplace cultures.
- Experience with financial oversight, budget management, funding development, grant writing, and stakeholder relations.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate vision into operational action.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, relationship-building, and partnership development skills.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate complexity, manage competing priorities, and lead effectively through change.
- Knowledge of program evaluation frameworks, data analysis, reporting tools, and performance measurement practices is an asset.
- Lived newcomer experience and/or multilingual capacity are considered strong assets.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and organizational data systems.
To Apply
Please apply online at:
https://ymcahfx.ca/workwithus/
Application Deadline: June 26, 2026
Please note that all successful candidates are required to provide:
- A Criminal Record Check
- Vulnerable Sector Check
- Child Abuse Register Check (less than 6 months old), if 18 years of age or older
Please note that background checks are reviewed on an individual basis – offenses, if any, are based on role and Child Safeguarding requirements and may not eliminate candidates from employment at our YMCA.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility
At the YMCA, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
We believe that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our organization, enabling us to better serve our community and achieve our mission.
As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.
