HF Programs Specialist Sports

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The Sports Specialist provides leadership in planning, coordinating, and delivering Child and Youth programs and Adult Sports programs and Leagues that promote community connection, active living, and member engagement. The role supports the day-to-day operation and administration of Leagues, Tournaments, Clinics, and Instructional Programs, ensuring safe, inclusive, and high-quality experiences aligned with YMCA standards and the Y Way service framework. Through direct program delivery, coaching, and mentoring, the Specialist fosters program excellence and a positive team culture. The position actively engages members, monitors program performance, and builds relationships with community partners to expand participation and strengthen retention.

In this role you will:

• Provide direct program leadership to a variety of program areas, including Child, Youth, and Family programs, and Adult Recreational Sports.
• Provide leadership and coaching to YMCA Leagues, ensuring quality indicators are met.
• Provide leadership and support as a member of the Centres' senior staff team, acting as an effective Service Leader as required.
• Coach and develop participants and teams to ensure personal and team growth and success.
• Build relationships with members and seek opportunities to share the YMCA story, educating members and guests on the YMCA as a charity.
• Manage program area to ensure appropriate allocation of space for each group.
• Manage League administrative responsibilities as assigned.
• Assist with scheduling and logistics of Adult Recreational Sports and Child, Youth, and Family program courses and events, and assist the Manager in determining long-term and short-term goals for the quantity, quality, and type of programs in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Continuously build positive relationships with children, parents, staff, and volunteers during shifts, addressing concerns as they arise.
• Ensure child safety and protection procedures are followed at all times to maintain a safe program environment.
• Ensure all regulatory and YMCA standards are met throughout the period and respond immediately to rectify any safety or emergency concerns.
• Provide leadership and coaching to staff and volunteers throughout the duty period, circulating throughout program areas, building relationships with members and volunteers, and ensuring excellence in program delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Post-secondary education in Recreation Leadership, kinesiology, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification OR Intermediate First Aid and CPR level C certification issued by a WSIB approved provider prior to the first day of work is required
• Sports Coach Certification is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of experience coaching children in a sports setting.
• Demonstrated experience in effective coaching and development skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with members, staff, and volunteers.
• Flexibility regarding assigned shifts.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging.

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.