Academic Excellence Program Coordinator

Organization Summary 

For Youth Initiative is a non-profit organization that has served, inspired, and advocated for thousands of teens and young adults in York South-Weston since 1995. Our multi-service agency provides year-round programs and services to local youth to meet their needs and empower them to reach their full potential. Every young person’s journey is unique, and their needs are too. Our case management model meets young people where they are and helps them get to where they want to be. Our programs and services are designed to support youth to graduate high school, enroll in post-secondary education, gain employment, and prepare for adulthood. 

Position Summary

The Academic Excellence Program Coordinator will report to Manager, FYI on Keele and Community Engagement to create a supportive network for youth in York South-Weston and Oakwood-Vaughan communities. In this role you will provide mentorship, opportunities and resources to nurture and build the capacity of teens and young adults between ages 16 and 29. The goal of this program is to serve teens and young adults as they make important decisions that will shape their adult lives. The program focuses on educational attainment, training and employment to equip participants with resources needed to reach their full potential. The Academic Excellence Program Coordinator will work closely with participants to identify individual needs, goals and interests. Weekly group events include skill development workshops, career speaker series and off-site visits to colleges, universities and career fairs. Participants are connected to post-secondary institutions or apprenticeships and will also receive assistance with applications for education, training, scholarships and grants.

The Academic Excellence Program Coordinator will develop a one-on-one relationship with each youth on their caseload and work across sectors and locations to connect these youth to a variety of programs and resources. The Post-Secondary Worker will leverage existing opportunities to enhance access to post-secondary education, and will have a coordinating role in ensuring that efforts from cross-sectoral partners are aligned, coordinated and maximized. This would include: facilitating and bringing in facilitators for OSAP support, University/College/Trades applications, career exploration workshops, coordinating Post-Secondary Institutions and career-oriented site-visits, and managing FYI’s Scholarship and Application Bursary program. Ultimately, these efforts will help ensure that a greater number of youth will be able to navigate the complex options available to them, and these youth will have the meaningful relationships and support they need to achieve long-term educational and career success.

The Academic Excellence Program Coordinator must outreach to, recruit and support youth participants in accomplishing self-identified goals relevant to personal and professional development. Case management in collaboration with internal and external service providers/partner organizations is an essential part of this position to ensure that appropriate service delivery and timely supports are provided. Lastly, The Academic Excellence Program Coordinator will complete the required monitoring and evaluation activities to improve program outcomes based on feedback from youth, and support the Manager, FYI on Keele and Community Engagement to author reports to our Board and funders.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities: 

Outreach & Youth Engagement

• Utilize innovative strategies for outreach, engaging in both traditional and non-traditional methods to engage hard-to-reach youth
• Engage youth to identify challenges, needs, barriers to accessing services in order to achieve goals and aspirations and support youth’s preparation to enroll in a post-secondary program
• Provide youth with information, resources, contacts, referral services and case management support
• Engage potential partner organizations including service providers, school representatives, community members and the general public
• Conduct intake and needs assessment with youth to examine strengths, challenges and goals

Program Planning & Coordination

• Implement and maintain strength-based and evidence-based professional standards of practice based on FYI’s Program Practice Manual and HR policy
• Organize and coordinate program activities including workshops, networking events, site visits, etc. with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop and maintain a strong alumni network and collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders
• Host informal and dynamic space for peer-to-peer learning and reflective learning opportunities for participants

Case Management

• Support participants to set self-identified goals to develop a comprehensive case management plan in accordance with FYI’s Case Management Program Manual
• Manage a caseload of active youth participants and provide ongoing one-on-one case management supports that are tailored to the unique needs of the participant
• Ensure follow up on assigned action plans and continuously develop and re-evaluate
• Monitor participant’s progress on personal and professional goals
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders
• Identify and provide crisis resolution and solution-focused supports
• Maintain comprehensive client files and case notes utilizing FYI’s database and case management system
• Reach and maintain yearly caseload targets

Evaluation & Administrative Duties

• Organize and coordinate evaluation activities with participants to collect quantitative and qualitative data in a timely manner to ensure services are relevant, flexible and responsive recognizing that recipients’ priorities and needs may change and evolve
• Provide monthly reporting on client targets, outcomes and trends
• Participate in staff and team meetings, trainings and professional development sessions
• Complete necessary administrative work and other documentation as required
• Lead engagement of partners and coordination of programs to support access to tutoring, academic upgrading, upskilling and post-secondary education.
• Develop maintain community relationships with partners such as academic institutions, schools, confirming post secondary
• Developing advocacy plans for both individual & system advocacy this includes

Required Qualifications:
Education

The ideal candidate has a (BSW) Bachelor' or (MSW) master's in social work or relevant human services and social studies-related education or equivalent employment experience 

Skills & Experience

• Project management and/or program coordination
• Experience working with youth and/or youth at greater risk of being NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
• Experience in case management including developing systems and processes to ensure the careful assessment, referral, and follow-up of complex cases
• Able to work from an outcome-based and evidence-based programming model
• Experience outreaching and/or building relationships/partnerships with community stakeholders including community-based organizations, secondary and postsecondary schools and corporate entities
• Experience mentoring/coaching hard-to-reach youth
• Demonstrated ability to work in culturally diverse communities with a particular understanding of the challenges facing racialized youth from socioeconomically marginalized communities
• Demonstrated knowledge of strengths-based, client-centered, and solution-focused approaches
• Knowledge and experience working within an anti-oppression and anti-racist framework
• Proficiency working with Microsoft Office Suite, client records software, Google Applications, social media, etc.

Core Competencies 

• High-level of professionalism when working with community partners (i.e., service providers, partner organizations, community members, etc.)   
• Established a high degree of good judgement, professional manner, empathy, and strong understanding and application of ethical principles   
• Initiative and commitment to continuous learning   
• Acceptance and use of constructive criticism for personal and professional growth   
• Ability to work cooperatively with other professionals and community 
• Capacity to work positively in a team environment 
• Fantastic team player, with a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision 

Physical Requirements:  

None 

Equipment Used:  

Experience and knowledge of using regular office equipment including computers, photocopiers, printers, and fax   

Working Relationships:   

• Works under supervision of the Manager, FYI on Keele and Community Engagement
• Will work with and support colleagues, including placement students, to complete tasks   
• The position interacts with staff, supervisors, managers, volunteers, the community, partner organizations, corporate partners, and other organizations 

Expected Job Outcomes 

The position has an overall impact on accomplishing priority objectives from FYI’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. An error in judgment in this position could result in a loss of participants, loss of program funding, cuts in staffing, tarnishing FYI's reputation, and a loss of morale among staff. The impact of an error could be felt within the entire organization.   

Working Conditions: 
Hours of work: Monday to Friday, 10:30am - 6:30pm, with some requirements to work extended evening hours and occasional weekends.    

Location:  

Splits time between FYI Head Office (1652 Keele Street) and FYI on Oakwood (504 Oakwood Avenue), and may be required to work from other locations based on funders or programs changing requirements 

How to Apply:

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

Please send your cover letter, resume, and three references in one MS Word or PDF document by February 13, 2026 by 11:59pm, by email with the subject line Academic Excellence Program Coordinator to hr@foryouth.ca 

For Youth Initiative is committed to employment equity. We encourage residents of York-South Weston, Oakwood-Vaughan, and surrounding communities as well as anyone who identifies as a person with a disability, as Black, racialized, newcomer, refugee, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+ or Francophone to apply and self-identify.  

If accommodation is required during the hiring process, please advise at the time of application, or contact the Manager, HR & Administration. If you are selected, you will receive the Manager, HR & Administration’s contact info.  

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE