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APPLY by July 25, 2025 CLOSED

Youth Worker

Division: Abbey Ridge Deadline to apply: July 25, 2025, 4:00 pm Email resume to: Human Resources <hr@newdawn.ca> Schedule: 2 permanent, 2 casual positions available Salary/Wage: $21.00 hourly Openings: 4

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

Building/Facilities:

  • Fulfill cooking and cleaning responsibilities, adhering to all food safety protocols
  • Contribute to the home’s organization maintenance to ensure a therapeutic milieu
  • Identify the details of any damage/disrepair and report to Manager of Abbey Ridge
  • Follow cleaning schedules and adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies to maintain staff and client safety and security at all times

Youth/Tenants/Programming:

  • Assess and address the immediate and basic needs of the program’s youth
  • Complete and maintain logs, files and records and ensure confidentiality is protected
  • Engage youth in life skill development and goal planning that supports independent living: assist youth in developing practical skills for daily living, including budgeting, job readiness, academic planning, and time management
  • Liaise with other agencies on behalf of youth and programs and participate in community committees, projects, or activities as appropriate; build positive relationships with the families, schools, and communities of the youth
  • Form healthy relationships with youth, model healthy living and positive choices
  • Facilitate and/or source a variety of programs for youth at Abbey Ridge
  • Provide a supportive environment that centres youth empowerment and decisions
  • Ensure that a quality, effective, and client-directed program is delivered
  • Support self-administration of medications as needed
  • Transport youth on occasion

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist in training new staff and students and supervising placement students as requested
  • Participate in both New Dawn and Abbey Ridge internal/team meetings and PD sessions
  • Ensure program delivery is congruent with the ND and AR mission, vision, and philosophy
  • Contribute to a collaborative and cohesive work environment
  • Look for potential improvements and help implement solutions
  • Maintain professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity so as to portray New Dawn in a positive manner, consistent with its values and vision
  • Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, engaging in professional networks, and participating in professional organizations
  • Respond to the needs of others with effective communication, mutual respect, and consistent follow through to build trust and workplace relationships
  • Promote the mission and values of New Dawn both internally and externally
  • Other duties as required

Qualifications

  • Demonstrated high level of understanding of youth development and the issues of homelessness
  • Demonstrated exceptional level of interpersonal, communication, youth service and organizational skills
  • Experience supervising employees, and/or students, volunteers with demonstrated leadership, supervision skills and ability to develop an effective team
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and using the Internet
  • Physical ability to lift light loads, walk up and down stairs, and maintain a fairly active pace
  • Extensive knowledge of community resources, government funding, and the social service delivery system an asset
  • Strong understanding of facility management, security, and health and safety is an asset
  • Relevant education in the social service field and/or experience working with youth
  • High level of understanding of youth development and the issues of homelessness
  • Demonstrated skill using anti-oppressive practice (harm reduction, narrative practice, a client directed approach and a social justice perspective)
  • Knowledge of mental health issues, substance abuse and crisis intervention
  • Physical ability to lift light loads, walk up and down stairs and maintain a fairly active pace
  • Standard First Aid/CPR and Food Safety or commitment to secure upon hiring
  • Proficiency in documentation, email and using the Internet
  • Positive attitude and ability to work in a team environment

Work Conditions

  • Some travel may be necessary
  • Some bending and lifting is required to clean/maintain home
  • Manual dexterity is required to use desktop computers and peripherals
  • Some evening and weekend work may be required
  • Overtime as required

AIP Employer

New Dawn is proud to be a designated Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) employer. Eligible employees may be able to receive employer support for permanent residency applications through the program. Employees are responsible for confirming their eligibility under the AIP or any other immigration stream before seeking employer endorsement. 

Compensation Package

At New Dawn Enterprises, we recognize that employee well-being is fundamental to individual success, organizational excellence, and thriving communities. In addition to competitive salaries, permanent salaried employees may be eligible for the following benefits and supports. Eligibility for specific benefits may vary based on employment status, position, and length of service.

Group Health Employee Benefits

New Dawn offers eligible employees participation in group benefits which are provided by GroupHEALTH and include coverage for medical, dental, and vision care, as well as insurance coverage including long-term disability, life, and accidental death and dismemberment. New Dawn pays 50% of group benefit premiums. Long-term disability premiums are fully employee-paid, allowing any future disability benefits received to remain non-taxable.

Extended Health & Well-Being  

GroupHEALTH offers integrated wellness services through Sparrow Health, including enhanced mental health support, seamless access to virtual healthcare, and an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Services include critical incident support, 24/7 crisis assistance, substance-use management, and other wellness resources.

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Eligible employees may choose to participate in New Dawn’s Self-Directed Retirement Savings Matching Program by contributing up to 5% of their gross salary toward a registered retirement savings plan, which is deducted from their pay cheque. New Dawn matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 5% of gross salary. Eligible savings accounts include Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and eligible Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs).

Flexible Work Arrangements

In recognition of the benefits of greater work-life balance and the value of flexibility and autonomy for human well-being, New Dawn makes every effort to offer flexible work schedules. Divisions across New Dawn are structured differently and may offer varying levels of flexibility while continuing to meet operational requirements. Depending on the role, flexible arrangements may include self-scheduling (regular schedule and/or time off coverage), flexible start and end times, remote work, and other accommodations.

Reduced Hours Work Week

Full-time salaried employees are eligible to participate in a 32-hour reduced-hours work week while maintaining full-time employment status and compensation. These hours can be worked over four 8-hour days, or five 6.5-hour days, with the chosen schedule identified at the beginning of employment and at the start of each year.

Paid Vacation 

Full-time, salaried employees are entitled to 120 hours (equivalent to 15 days) of paid vacation annually. Part-time, salaried employees are entitled to paid annual vacation hours prorated to their FTE status.

Paid Mental & Physical Wellness Days 

Full-time, salaried employees are entitled to 56 hours (7 days) of paid mental and physical wellness leave annually. Part-time, salaried employees are entitled to paid annual leave for mental and physical health prorated to their FTE status. These hours can be used to take time off work for physical and/or mental wellness/illness, and to attend appointments for the employee and/or their dependents.

Paid Holidays 

New Dawn observes the following thirteen (13) public holidays annually, exceeding current statutory minimums. These include: New Year’s Day, Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Subject to operational requirements, New Dawn may provide eligible employees an additional paid office closure between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day annually, allowing employees additional time with family and loved ones without using vacation entitlement.

Rewards & Recognition 

New Dawn celebrates employee contributions through service awards, milestone recognition, and ongoing appreciation programs that acknowledge achievements and significant personal and professional milestones.

Paid Required Education Renewals

When certifications, training, licenses, or credentials are required for a position, New Dawn covers renewal costs. Support for professional designations and licensing fees may also be provided based on role requirements and divisional budgets.

Professional Development

New Dawn is committed to supporting employees in developing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and pursuing lifelong learning opportunities. Development of new position-relevant skills and perspectives creates a stronger, more informed, and modern organization. Employees are encouraged to explore professional development opportunities in collaboration with their manager.

Café Marie Discount

Employees are entitled to a staff discount at Café Marie, located in the Eltuek Arts Centre.

Corporate YMCA Membership Program

To support employee health and wellness, New Dawn offers a corporate membership in partnership with the Cape Breton YMCA. The corporate membership provides staff with a 12% discount on the cost of individual membership, and New Dawn covers 50% of the discounted individual membership cost.

New Dawn

New Dawn is Canada’s oldest Community Development Corporation. Since 1976, we’ve been working to create a more just, healthy, and self-determined community by responding to local needs and driving long-term, systems-level change. Today, New Dawn continues to focus on self-reliance, resilience, and community-led transformation. Every day, we engage thousands of community members and employ over 150 Cape Bretoners through programs and services that are practical, creative, and grounded in care. Our work spans health and social care, housing, the arts, youth, immigration, and community development. Some of these services generate revenue, which we reinvest into our organization — fueling sustainability and deepening community impact.

Abbey Ridge

The Abbey Ridge Supportive Living Program provides a safe, supervised, and supportive transitional housing option for youth who are between the ages of 16 and 24. Abbey Ridge has two locations in Glace Bay and will open a new location in Sydney in the fall of 2026.

The youth in the supportive living program are at high risk of negative life outcomes due to a lack of resources and support. The program aims to overcome this barrier by assisting youth in identifying and reaching their own personal goals through support, empowerment, and advocacy. The program offers a supportive environment that fosters the development of life skills and independence.

Posted July 14, 2025 by New Dawn
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Get in touch

New Dawn Enterprises
37 Nepean St, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6A7
newdawn@newdawn.ca
902-539-9560

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Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki

Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki, newte’jk l’uiknek te’sikl Mi’kmawe’l maqamikall mna’q iknmuetumittl. Ula maqamikew wiaqi-wikasik Wantaqo’tie’l aqq I’lamatultimkewe’l Ankukamkewe’l Mi’kmaq aqq Eleke’wuti kisa’matultisnik 1726ek.

We are in Unama’ki, one of the seven traditional and unceded ancestral territories of the people of Mi’kma’ki. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq first signed with the British Crown in 1726.

Ketu’-keknuite’tmek aqq kepmite’tmek ula tela’matultimkip wjit maqamikew ta’n etekl mtmo’taqne’l. Ula tett, ula maqamikek, etl-lukutiek l’tunen aqq apoqntmnen apoqnmasimk aqq weliknamk Unama’ki.

We wish to recognize and honour this understanding of the lands on which we reside. It is from here, on these lands, that we work to create and support a culture of self-reliance and vibrancy.