Karate Instructor

Salary Rate: $20.50 – Check out the YMCA's total compensation package

Location: West End YMCA Health & Fitness Centre

Work Hours: 4-8 hours per week

Employment Type: Contract Part Time Hourly (12 Months)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: January 5, 2026

Deadline to Apply: December 24, 2025 at 5:00pm

Be the Spark Join our passionate team of Health & Fitness Instructors and help us to achieve great things in our community

The Karate Instructor delivers programming, develops short term lesson plans incorporating physical literacy guidelines and ensuring the unique needs of the participants are met. Instructors maintain a safe environment at all times.

In this role, you will:

• Instruct participants in the YMCA Karate Program
• Develop and implement sequential weekly lesson plans based on the YMCA program syllabus
• Assist the Lead Instructor with Gradings
• Recognize participant learning styles and deliver content accordingly
• Coach and develop participants for success
• Communicate (verbally and in writing) each child's progress to parents and Supervisor
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date weekly progress sheets and records for participants
• Take attendance, ensuring participants are signed into and out of the program
• Take down equipment as required, simultaneously checking that equipment is safe and in good repair (report immediately all malfunctions and remove the damaged equipment immediately from circulation)
• Build relationships with members and seek opportunities to share the YMCA story and educate members and guests about the YMCA as a Charity
• Ensure qualifications and certifications as required by the YMCA and regulatory standards are current at all times
• Actively participate in scheduled programs, meetings, and special events
• Collaborate with individual program members, program volunteers, and YMCA program staff, assisting and encouraging program members to access additional appropriate programs offered at this location
• Perform other duties as assigned

You bring:

• Current Standard First Aid & CPR level C is an asset
• Minimum 1 year of active Karate training
• Experience teaching Youth Leadership an asset
• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility regarding schedule, including days, evenings and weekends
• 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.