Community Development encompasses careers such as youth work, Early Childhood Education, and even seniors centre assistants. Community Developers are often focused on specific populations (youth, children, immigrants, seniors etc.) and they ensure that the needs of the community are being met in terms of overall health and well-being.

Job titles may vary by organizations.

Activity Coordinator (Recreation)

Activity Coordinators primary responsibilities including organizing, implementing and actively participating in arts, cultural, educational and sports-orientated recreation programming for members of the community; stimulating active participation in programs; initiating, organizing and leading regular trips and special events; preparing and distributing materials to promote activities; providing information and referrals to patrons regarding community services and resources; helping ensure that the facility and equipment are maintained; dealing effectively with problem situations, which may include administering first aid and liaising with emergency medical services personnel.

Common Job Titles:

  • Activity Leader
  • Youth Activity Coordinator
  • Senior Activity Coordinator

Typical Job Responsibilities

  • Plan, develop, implement and evaluate recreational and social activities designed based on the interests of the applicable clients/members, and promotes client/member independence and autonomy.
  • Monitor and record expenditures, purchase supplies and equipment as required for programs and events, provide input into budget needs and and may provide input on larger purchases for the site.
  • Provide orientation and supervision to volunteers as needed and reports volunteer statistics.
  • Liaise with community recreation/social agencies to create awareness of client/member social/recreational needs in the community and to promote client/member participation in community activities.
  • Provide encouragement to promote client/member participation in activities by preparing bulletins and posters, developing the monthly calendar of events and activities and communicates events and meeting with clients to advise them of upcoming programs/events.
  • Facilitate client/member meetings and fosters a pleasant/stimulating environment.
  • Daily duties include:
    • planning and leading recreation programs;
    • preparing promotional material and engaging community members in participation;
    • supporting volunteers in a mentorship relationship;
    • supporting special event planning and facilitation;
    • carrying out daily facility management tasks;
    • attending to emergencies and first aid situations as required.

Source: 2020 Vancouver Coastal Health Job Posting

Salary Range

Hourly salary range: $24.29 – $28.55 per hour (2020 rate)

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education & Experience

  • Completion of Grade 10, supplemented by post-secondary education in the field of recreation, arts, education, social work, or related discipline; and/or a Diploma in Recreation with focus on Therapeutic Recreation principles and two (2) years recent, related experience delivering recreation programming to a seniors population or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
  • Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate, First Aid and Food Safe Certificate.

Skills

  • Knowledge of various recreational and leisure activities.
  • Ability to develop, organize, coordinate, deliver and evaluate individual and group activities
  • Ability to supervise.
  • Ability to instruct.
  • Ability to analyze and resolve problems
  • Knowledge of adult learning techniques
  • Knowledge of gerontology, aging, and other disabling conditions.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to establish and maintain rapport with members, observe and recognize changes.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Ability to operate related equipment.
  • Basic computer literacy including word processing, basic knowledge of Excel, Internet and e-mail.
  • Physical ability to carry out the duties of the job.

Source: 2020 Vancouver Coastal Health Job Posting

Community Communications Manager

The Community Engagement Manager is responsible to develop, implement and monitor the city-wide community engagement program and research program that will be delivered by all city staff, and utilized by consultants and the development community. The position will also oversee the implementation of all communications for operational departments and communications strategies to mitigate risk to the organization and oversee the delivery of high risk projects . Provide strategic advice and counsel to senior management and City Council.

Source: City of Kelowna Job Posting

Typical Job Responsibilities

  • Develops and implements communications plans to support key Arts, Culture and Community Services initiatives, particularly projects to improve access to supports, education and legal advocacy for Vancouver renters.
  • Develops or oversees development of a wide variety of publicity and informational materials including advertising, news releases, newsletters, notices, pamphlets and brochures, speeches, video, displays etc.
  • Tracks the communications budgets for assigned projects
  • Serves as the primary liaison to the media, coordinates media responses and spokespeople as appropriate, develops backgrounders and fact sheets, and acts as media spokesperson as appropriate or required
  • Manages media events involving multiple stakeholders including handling all logistics, preparing and briefing spokespeople, and media management
  • Directs the development and maintenance of web pages related to key initiatives
  • Liaises with related agencies and organizations (BC Housing; provincial government; health authorities; justice departments; police) to ensure effective and timely coordination of information to the public
  • Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Salary Range

Annual salary range: $90,500 to $100,500

Source: 2020 City of Kelowna Job Posting

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education & Experience

  • Communications or related post-secondary degree
  • At least 5 years’ experience leading, planning and delivering communications services

Knowledge: Highly developed and applied knowledge of communications and engagement principles and theories. Strong understanding of research marketing. Strong strategic, project management, collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution and leadership skills required. Strong writing skills are essential, along with an understanding of news writing style and adherence to Canadian Press and City style guides. A post-secondary degree in Communications or or equivilant education, plus 5 years experience. A masters in communications or professional accreditation would be considered an asset.

Skills & Abilities: The candidate must have progressive experience in communications and strategic planning, with demonstrated strengths in team management and change leadership. Ability to build relationships and credibility while managing issues and leading staff, communications skills, consulting, client service and collaboration, sound judgement and critical thinking skills.

Competencies: Accountability, service excellence, solutions oriented, communication excellence, relationship building and people management, leadership and strategic thinking.

Source: City of Kelowna Job Posting

Community Development Coordinator

A community development coordinator facilitates, promotes and negotiates community planning and development projects. They plan and monitor empowerment programs necessary to secure and examine community development opportunities. The community development coordinator works at the community level and has to ensure that community development personnel reach out to the public as required.

Source: Career Trend

Typical Job Responsibilities

  • Facilitates the organization and development of associations and related partnership groups, and provides direction to groups and individuals in organizing, developing and implementing programs and plans that are consistent with association objectives and MVRD policy.
  • Establishes and maintains liaison with a wide variety of associations, organizations, groups and individuals to build community involvement.
  • Assists in developing, coordinating, implementing and maintaining a wide variety of programs; assesses suitability of same to policy, staff work regimes, and resources required; estimates program costs, recommends cost mitigation initiatives, develops related work plans; prepares funding proposals and applications, administers same and completes reports as required.
  • Participates in and occasionally convenes meetings of representatives of related agencies and organizations.
  • Coordinates the creation and production of educational and public interest material that promotes participation in association and partnership group activities, and increases public awareness of programs.
  • Develops, recommends and conducts a variety of workshops related to topics such as community engagement and group decision making.
  • Prepares a variety of records and reports related to the work.
  • Performs related work as required.

Salary Range

Annual salary range: $55,000 to $65,000 (2019 rate)

Stories

Community Health and Wellness Coordinator – Shawna Lum-Thompson – City of Richmond

Q: Tell me a little bit about how you came to this profession

A: I didn’t know that I was going to pursue a career in recreation. As a kid, I participated in recreation activities at my local community centre. From there I volunteered at after school programs and summer day camps and things snowballed from there. In university, I studied kinesiology with a focus on health promotion and worked as a Summer Camp Leader, Group Fitness Instructor and Peer Health Educator with co-op terms in workplace wellness and seniors recreation. I always enjoyed the people I worked with and the difference I was able to make, which kept me coming back. After graduation I worked in a number or fitness, wellness, and recreation roles that ultimately led me to becoming the Community Health and Wellness Coordinator for the City of Richmond and an instructor for Sport and Recreation at Vancouver Community College.

Q: What would a day in your life look like? 

A: Every day is super different… Right now, we’re opening a new fitness facility. So we’re determining what programs we’re going to offer, hiring staff, setting up equipment, sorting out storage, and working with marketing. I might also work on some ‘big picture’ items with respect to projects and systems to improve wellbeing for those who live, work and play in Richmond. Day to day, this could be developing a workshop, reading some research, and connecting with community stakeholders to bring them into the conversation. 

Q: In what areas do you feel like you have seen improvement in the overall health and wellness of the community?

A: I work with my team to deliver fitness programs and services, as well as the other fitness coordinators across the City of Richmond. We provide a variety of opportunities for people to get out and be active. But it’s not just about people moving their bodies. A huge part of what we do is creating opportunities for social connection. For example, in our Heart and Diabetes Wellness program the participants bond through shared experiences and go out for coffee together and celebrate birthdays. There’s a huge sense of camaraderie and community that we’re really proud to be a part of. 

Q: What was your favorite initiative/program launched?

A: Something I’m really excited about is Richmond’s Community Wellness Strategy. It’s a 5-year plan that was developed in partnership between the City of Richmond, Vancouver Coastal Health-Richmond and the Richmond School District. It looks at wellness broadly, including physical activity, healthy eating, mental wellbeing, social connectedness, equity, healthy environments, and wellness literacy. I think it’s progressive, it’s innovative. I love that we have organizations committed to working together to move the needle on things like physical activity and mental wellbeing. We can do so much more together when we align our assets and work collaborative towards improved wellbeing for people in Richmond.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a community health and wellness coordinator?

A: I get to help make a positive difference in people’s lives. I really like that it’s proactive. Recreation plays a huge part in not only keeping us physically healthy, but living a vibrant, fulfilling life!

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter this role in the future?

A: Get involved. Participate in programs, talk to the staff, find opportunities to volunteer or to get in and instruct different programs yourself. I also recommend looking at the different post-secondary opportunities. More and more I’m starting to see a shift in the industry where employers are looking for people who have an educational background in recreation.

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education

  • Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences, business administration, planning or communication
  • Bachelor’s degree in community planning, public administration or economics

Skills:

  • A community development coordinator has good listening and communication skills since the job calls for frequent interaction with people. Consequently,
  • Good interpersonal skills as well as the capacity to work in a multicultural setting.
  • Creative and flexible so as to accommodate diverse community development initiatives.
  • Many employers prefer individuals with previous work experience in community development.
  • The community development coordinator also shows proficiency in computer application skills since he has to use computerized word processing programs to create various documents.

Source: Career Trend

Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

Early childhood educators plan, engage, organize and carry out programs for children ranging from infancy to the age of 12. They have strong relationships with children and families.

Source: WorkBC – Early Childhood Education

Typical Job Responsibilities

The Early Childhood Education staff and will be responsible for:

  • Setting up and maintaining an organized stimulating play environment that encourages the development of self-esteem.
  • Creative problem solving and collaboration.
  • Social interaction and social responsibility.
  • Intercultural understanding.
  • Emergent literacy and numeracy.
  • Providing parent support, connection with schools, families and sharing community resources.
  • Developing activities that are important to the various stages of child development, including, art, literacy, fine/gross motor skills, constructive play, and using observation and documentation to create successful programs.

Salary Range

Hourly salary range: $17.50 – $23.00 per hour (2019 rate)

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education

  • College diploma in Early Childhood Education or have a bachelor’s degree
  • Completion of secondary school
  • Additional education such as infant/toddler care, special needs ECE, FOODSAFE and child safe first aid
  • Completion of at least 500 hours of satisfactory work experience and first aid training to qualify for an ECE License to Practice
  • Experience in child care

Source: WorkBC – Early Childhood Education

Skills & Training

  • Knowledge in developing and implementing child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
  • Experience in leading activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, taking children to local points of interest and providing opportunities to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music, or physical activity
  • Ability to plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
  • Experience with assessing the abilities, interests and needs of children and discuss progress or problems with parents and other staff members

Source: WorkBC – Early Childhood Education

Grants and Special Projects Manager

As the Grants and Special Projects Manager, you will identify available grant opportunities and coordinate the grant funding processes for all City Departments utilizing a Grant Management System. You will also undertake project management for specific partnership focused initiatives.

Source: City of Kelowna Job Posting

Typical Job Responsibilities

  1. Grants Funding Relationships
    • Establish and maintain contact with agencies that provide grants to local government.
    • Establish and maintain contact and effective relationships with other levels of government, including the local Member of Parliament, members of the Legislative Assembly, other political offices and government administrative representatives and agencies.
    • Advise City Manager, Divisional Directors and Council on upcoming funding opportunities from Federal and Provincial government.
  2. Grants Research
    • Using a variety of sources, identify available grant opportunities and advise applicable department personnel of grants available.
    • Prioritize grant applications against corporate priorities and capital plans
  3. Grants Administration & Monitoring
    • Administer a business process that is inclusive of all necessary divisions for completing and monitoring all grant applications.
    • Organize regular grant meetings to prioritize applications and, issues.
    • Undertake KPI monitoring and maintain a database for all received or denied applications
    • Implement a systematized grants management process to ensure accurate and efficient reporting and management of data.
  4. Grant Writing
    • Lead and assist in the writing and submitting grant proposals Prepare grant applications, proposals, correspondences and other documents for new and existing funders.
  5. Project Management
    • Undertake project management for special initiatives related to the Partnership Office, including but not limited to, partnership development, relationship management, intergovernmental affairs, policy development, business cases, and philanthropic funding.

Source: City of Kelowna Careers

Salary Range

Salary ranges from $78,750 to $87,500 (2020 rate)

Source: City of Kelowna Job Posting

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Science, or Business
  • Minimum of 5 years of related experience

Skills and Abilities:

  • Communication Excellence
  • Presentation Skills
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Research Skills
  • Project Management
  • Service Excellence
  • Problem Solving
  • Responsibility/Accountability
  • Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines

Source: City of Kelowna Job Posting

Youth Worker

Youth Workers establish ongoing influential relationships with youth (8 to 18 years of age) for the purpose of providing support and developing their leadership potential. This position includes recruiting, training and supervising auxiliary staff, temporary grant staff and volunteers. As well as schedule, promote, evaluate, and report on youth programs, services and opportunities for youth participation and engagement in the community centre, local schools, and in other outreach settings such as playgrounds and day camps.

Common Job Titles

  • Community Youth Worker
  • Recreation Worker – Child and Youth

Typical Job Responsibilities

  • This is front-line recreation work performed in support of youth programs at one or more facilities. 
  • You will assist in planning, implementing and evaluating social and recreational programs for youth;
  • provide leadership and instruction for various programs and activities; involves youth in identifying, planning, implementing and evaluating programs;
  • encourages program participants to volunteer and provide orientation of same;
  • assist in providing information and referral services. 
  • Some supervision is provided however you will be working independently and also a team environment. 

Salary Range

Hourly salary range: $19.00 – $24.00 per hour (2020 range)

Required Skills, Training and Education

Education

  • Post-secondary graduation from a recognized program in child and youth care, social services or a related discipline
  • Diploma in Child and Youth Care field considered (must have 2 or more years of full time experience working with youth and youth groups)

Skills & Training

  • First Aid Certificate
  • Working knowledge of standard case management techniques and their application to behavioral, social and family problems with an emphasis on cross cultural issues
  • Working knowledge of program leadership and recreational instruction fundamentals
  • Working knowledge of youth service agencies and related resources in the community
  • Ability to recognize and deal with behavioral, social adjustment issues, and to develop harmonious relationships with youth, their families and other recreation staff
  • Working knowledge of MS Office Suite – preferred
  • Considerable knowledge of working with youth in care, youth and addictions, and youth in the criminal justice or social welfare systems – preferred