Youth Centre Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: Quinte West Youth Centre, 2 Wooler Road, Trenton, ON

Compensation: Salary $60,000 - $65,000, full-time (40 hours per week). Three weeks of paid vacation, and time off in lieu arrangement.

Proposed Start: January 19, 2026

Hours: During the school year, weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with one or two weekdays 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM to have exposure to drop-in programming. Occasional weekends may be needed for events. Summer hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM as drop in is during the day. Hybrid work arrangement available.

Overview of QWYC

The Quinte West Youth Centre (QWYC) is a youth-led drop-in space for ages 10–18 where young people can connect, belong, try new things, and thrive. Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment that empowers youth, supports their growth, and gives them a home away from home. We're open year-round, four nights a week during the school year, and four days during the summer months with seasonal events and opportunities for day trips. Our core activities include mentorship, leadership development, creative outlets, sports, recreation, tutoring, and a LGBTQ2+ club. At QWYC, the focus is on relationships and community. Every youth who walks through our doors matters, and together we create a space alive with hope, support, and possibility.

Position Summary

The Youth Centre Director provides leadership, coordination, and sustainability for the Youth Centre. This role balances relationship-based leadership inside and outside the centre, organizational oversight, and hands-on presence in the life of the centre. This is a leadership role within a small nonprofit organization, requiring adaptability, collaboration, and creative strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizational Leadership & Administration
• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Youth Centre
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors on governance and strategy
• Maintain policies, procedures, and basic operational systems

• Ensure compliance with charitable, legal, and reporting requirements

• Staffing and Supervision

• Supervise part-time staff, placement students, and volunteers
• Schedule, hire, onboard and support staff for drop-in programming
• Provide mentorship, feedback, and oversight to ensure safe, consistent programming
• Work within a shared leadership model with the Board to ensure sustainable workloads and organization health

• Participate periodically in drop-in programming to remain connected to staff and youth

• Program & Youth Engagement

• Oversee the quality and consistency of drop-in programming
• Build relationships with youth and community partners

• Support program development within realistic staffing and budget constraints, ensuring resources are used efficiently within the budget set by the Board of Directors

• Fundraising & Sustainability

• Lead grant writing and funding applications
• Maintain relationships with funders and community partners
• Execute fundraising events during the year independently or with community partners

• Collaborate with the Board on fundraising strategy and sustainability planning

• Community & Stakeholder Relationships

• Act as a key liaison with the City of Quinte West, funders, community partners, stakeholders and the general public
• Represent the Youth Centre in meetings, events, and collaborations
• Support positive public presence and communication

Other duties as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Post-secondary education in Non-profit Management, Youth Work, Community Development, Recreation, Social Services, or related field and/or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in community-based, nonprofit, or youth-serving environments, including leadership, coordination, or supervisory responsibilities. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience supervising staff, placement students, and/or volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and steward one's time effectively.
• Experience with grant writing, fundraising, or donor relations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable engaging with diverse audiences including youth, funders, board members, and community partners
• Working knowledge of trauma-informed, inclusive, and youth-centred practice.
• Familiarity with tools such as Canva, Meta Suite, or Google Workspace is an asset.
• Standard First Aid/CPR and vulnerable-sector check (or willingness to obtain).

We Are Seeking Someone Who Is:

• Relational, grounded, and community-oriented
• Comfortable working in a small, evolving organization
• Highly organized, dependable, and proactive.
• Creative problem-solver who balances heart and detail.
• Can balance leadership with collaboration and communicates clearly
• Passionate about youth empowerment and community connection.

How To Apply / Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Even if you don't think you meet the listed requirements, we still encourage you to apply Research shows that women, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, 2SLGHBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and others from historically underrepresented communities often only apply when they meet 100% of the criteria. If you believe you bring the skills, lived experience, and heart for this role, we want to hear from you.

QWYC is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and accessible workplace. Please let us know if you require accommodations at any stage of the application process.

If you have any questions please email Nahanni Ranes, Interim Director at or Maria Morris, Board Member at .

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter to both Maria and Nahanni by email and write "YC Director Applicant" in the subject line.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00-$65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Discounted or free food
• On-site parking
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person