Manager, Youth Programs

Manager, Youth Programs

Full-Time, Regular | On-site & Community-Based – Edmonton

Lead. Empower. Shape Futures.

You are a thoughtful, people-centered leader who believes in the power and potential of young people. You bring clarity, care, and direction to complex work, supporting teams to deliver meaningful, high-quality programs. You lead with curiosity, accountability, and heart, helping youth and the staff who support them thrive.

About the Role

The Manager, Youth Programs provides strategic and operational leadership to youth-focused programs at the Newcomer Centre. The role ensures programs are high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, supporting newcomer and equity-seeking youth to build skills, confidence, connection, and pathways to education, employment, and community belonging.

Balancing people leadership, program oversight, and partnership development, the Manager leads teams through coaching, collaboration, and accountability. The role ensures programs align with organizational priorities, funder expectations, and most importantly youth voice and lived experience.

This is a community-facing leadership role. Work takes place on-site and in the community and may include occasional evenings or weekends. This is not a work-from-home position.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and support Youth Program Coordinators and staff to deliver high-quality, youth-centered programming.


• Provide supervision, feedback, and guidance, supporting staff through complex situations using reflective and trauma-informed approaches.


• Ensure programs align with funder agreements, organizational priorities, and best practices.


• Champion equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive, youth-centered practice across all programs.


• Strengthen program quality through planning, continuous improvement, and data-informed decision-making.


• Oversee program coordination, schedules, staffing plans, and resource use.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, schools, funders, and youth-serving organizations.


• Represent Youth Programs internally and externally, supporting cross-department collaboration.


• Support accurate documentation, reporting, and compliance with funder and organizational requirements.


• Contribute to organizational learning, planning, and committees such as JHSC, Employee Engagement, or Policy Review.


• Model adaptability, accountability, and solution-focused leadership in a dynamic environment.

What It Takes

• A people-centered leadership approach that builds trust, accountability, and psychological safety.


• Confidence leading teams and supporting staff growth in fast-paced, community-based settings.


• Strong communication skills and sound judgment when navigating complexity and change.


• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational detail.


• Commitment to equity, youth voice, and trauma-informed practice.


• Strong collaboration skills across teams, partners, and systems.


• Comfort communicating in English in a professional environment; additional languages are an asset.

What You Bring

We recognize that leadership skills develop through education, experience, and lived practice.

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in youth programming, community services, or related environments.


• At least two (2) years of people leadership or supervisory experience.


• Post-secondary education in youth work, social work, education, community development, human services, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Experience supporting newcomer, immigrant, refugee, or equity-seeking youth.


• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed, equity-informed, and youth-centered practice.


• Experience managing funded programs and accountability requirements.


• A clear Police Information Check (PIC), required as a condition of employment.

Preferred / Asset Qualifications

• Experience leading teams through change, growth, or service redesign.


• Experience working within complex systems or multi-partner environments.


• Training in leadership development, coaching, or conflict resolution.


• Experience working with schools, training providers, or youth-serving networks.

About the Newcomer Centre

Since 1981, the Newcomer Centre has supported thousands of newcomers in building meaningful lives in Edmonton and across Alberta. Our programs help people learn English, find work, and connect with their community. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.

Learn more at www.newcomercentre.com

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone belongs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including newcomers, refugees, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other equity-seeking communities.

Skills and leadership capacity can be developed in many ways. If your experience looks different from what’s listed and you feel aligned with the purpose of this role, we encourage you to apply.