Youth Engagement Specialist

CMHA Kelowna is hiring a full-time term Youth Engagement Specialist. This position offers 37.5 hours a week with a typical work week of Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm. The term of this opportunity is May-August 2026.

WHO IS A YOUTH ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST?

The Youth Engagement Specialist is a youth identified role designed to ensure that young people’s voices meaningfully shape the development of a permanent Foundry location on the westside. This position is rooted in the principle of “nothing about us without us” and exists to engage youth by youth, for youth. The Youth Engagement Specialist will build and implement a youth engagement strategy for on the westside that centers around lived experience, equity and inclusion. Working alongside internal staff, local government, Westbank First Nation, schools, and youth serving organizations, the position will gather insights, elevate youth leadership, and translate youth voice into actionable recommendations that inform service design, community planning, and long-term sustainability for Foundry location on the westside. This role also acts as a youth advisor, bridging young people’s perspectives with organizational and community decision making processes.

WHAT DOES A YOUTH ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST DO?

• Codevelop a 1-year youth engagement strategy to support the development of a permanent Foundry location on the westside.
• Take a leadership role on youth engagement efforts related to Foundry location on the westside from May-August 2026.
• Establish and support a Youth Ambassador Committee that reflects diverse lived experiences, identities and needs.
• Ensure youth are meaningfully involved in planning, leadership, evaluation, and community reporting.
• Organize and support youth led engagement activities, including surveys, focus groups, popup events and community gatherings.
• Support youth led initiatives and events that promote connection, mental wellbeing and community awareness.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback from youth, caregivers and community partners.
• Work with internal staff and community partners to understand the unique needs of the westside
• Analyze engagement findings to identify themes, priorities and service gaps.
• Produce clear, youth informed reports and summaries to share findings. with partners, funders, and the broader community.
• Support community report out sessions and presentations that demonstrate how youth voices inform decisions.
• Work collaboratively with youth serving organizations (e.g., Youth Action Table partners) to broaden engagement reach and reduce duplication.
• Help liaise with the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation to share youth perspectives and support aligned planning.
• Act as a youth advisor to project staff, partners, and leadership tables as appropriate.
• Support the Director of Innovation, Strategy & Partnerships with project coordination activities related to the development of a permanent Foundry location on the westside.
• Contribute youth and lived‑experience perspectives to service design, space planning, and accessibility discussions.
• Participate in planning meetings with internal teams, consultants, and partners to ensure youth voice is reflected in project decisions.
• Support the tracking of youth engagement milestones, feedback loops, and deliverables aligned with project timelines.
• Assist with documenting decisions, action items, and youth‑informed recommendations for use in project planning and reporting.

 YOUR STRENGTHS & EXPERIENCE:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in the Human/Social Services or related field
• Lived experience as a young person navigating community, mental health, education and/or social support systems
• Reliable vehicle and ability to travel between facilities and other locations on a frequent basis
• Valid Class 5 BC driver’s license
• Ability to provide a Driver’s Abstract & ICBC Claims & Insurance History Record
• Ability to obtain Rate Class 007 Business Insurance
• Criminal Record Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector
• Experience participating in or leading youth engagement, advocacy, advisory or leadership initiatives
• Experience working with youth serving organizations, community groups or schools is an asset
• Familiarity with West Kelowna and/or Westbank First Nation communities is a strong asset
• Experience working alongside peers, community partners or decision makers in a collaborative setting
• Strong ability to connect with peers and build trust-based relationships with young people
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, especially in youth led and group settings.
• Ability to organize events and engagement activities in diverse and non‑traditional spaces
• Comfort working with data collection tools such as surveys, feedback forms, and focus group
• Strong writing and storytelling skills to translate youth voice into meaningful reports and insights
• Ability to work collaboratively across systems, including nonprofits, schools, Indigenous partners and government
• Cultural humility and commitment to equity, inclusion and trauma informed practice
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple engagement activities simultaneously
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated cultural humility with the ability to build trust with marginalized populations
• Ability to work alongside many internal team members and community partners
• Ability to be regularly exposed to individuals who are struggling with and/or recovering from trauma, drug/alcohol use, homelessness, mental health challenges and/or mental illness

 WHO IS CMHA KELOWNA? 

At CMHA Kelowna, we are dedicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, we provide support for families and individuals through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovative and visionary organization. We are looking for someone who shares our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization. To learn more, check out our website at www.cmhakelowna.org 

CMHA KELOWNA OFFERS YOU:

• A competitive hourly wage of $24.36
• Vacation Pay & Personal Health Days
• A workplace culture that fosters learning, transparency, trust and teamwork 

 As an employer, CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical self-expression. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna does every day. 

We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.

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