YMCA of Greater Vancouver
Employment Opportunity
Date Posted:
March 30, 2017
Position Title:
Activity Coach, Choose to Move Program
Location:
Tong Louie Family YMCA
Salary:
$25.00/hour
Start Date:
April 2017
End Date:
March 31, 2018
Terms:
Temporary, Part-Time
Shift:
6-24 hours/week
Weekly hours will vary depending on needs of the program, however most shifts will be
during regular business hours, with some evening shifts as needed.
Reports To:
Manager, Choose to Move
Situation:
The YMCA of Greater Vancouver is a charity dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community, by
nurturing the potential of children, teens & young adults, promoting healthy lifestyles, fostering a sense of social
responsibility and delivering lasting personal & social change. We are building a community in which a generation
of children and families reach their full potential. Our values guide our decision making and behaviour—we do the
right thing, put people first, keep our promises and lead by example.
For over 130 years, we have been part of the community, a place where people of every age and background find
the support they need to grow in spirit, mind and body. One of the Lower Mainland’s leading charities, the YMCA
of Greater Vancouver provides services in health & fitness, child care, camping, employment & community services
to over 120,000 participants annually.
YMCA Community Health Programs help people with a variety of health concerns such as heart disease, diabetes,
hypertension, stroke, obesity, and anxiety to gain health promoting skills within a supportive and welcoming
environment.
The YMCA Choose to Move Program aims to tackle the growing problem of chronic disease management and
sedentary lifestyles among vulnerable and isolated older adults by addressing common barriers of motivation and
access to physical activity. The YMCA is working in partnership with the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM)
to implement the Choose to Move Program. Choose to Move is a 6 month, choice-based physical activity program
that targets inactive older adults aged 65 and older, at risk for or experiencing chronic diseases.
One-on-One Consultations and Group Meetings
Activity coaches will assess and support older adults to create and implement action plans for physical activity,
tailored to older adults’ interests, abilities, and chronic conditions. This will take the form of group meetings, oneon-one meetings, and telephone support. Support will be more frequent during the first 3 months (active phase)
and less frequent during the second 3 months (taper phase).
At the beginning of the each program cycle, Activity Coaches will meet one-on-one with participants to develop a
physical action plan utilizing YMCA group fitness classes and amenities, individual exercise on cardio and strength
machines, active transportation, and/or home-based activities best-suited to participants.
Ongoing support:
Activity coaches will administer telephone support and/or in-person check- ins to participants throughout the
program. Brief check-ins (15 minute) will take place weekly for the first 4 weeks, and then biweekly until the end of
the first 3 months (active phase). Check-ins will cover participant experiences with physical activities and provide a
forum for troubleshooting and questions. For the last 3 months (taper phase) of the program, Activity Coaches will
provide check-ins once a month for the remaining 3 months.
Nature and Scope:
Reporting to the Manager, Choose to Move, the Activity Coach will work collaboratively with other staff,
volunteers and participants. The Activity Coach is responsible for program delivery, some administrative tasks,
marketing and recruitment of participants, role modeling, building relationships, and supporting program
evaluation.
Major Responsibilities:
 Ensure the safety of all members, participants, staff, and property by following YMCA
standards/policies/procedures
 Intake and assessment of participant’s readiness to engage safely in an exercise using the Par-Q + and
requesting a clearance from the participant’s doctor as needed
 Creating exercise plans with participants based on their interests, abilities, and chronic conditions.
 Encourage and support participants to set physical activity goals
 Provide ongoing support through weekly check-ins with program participants to address barriers to exercise
and to provide encouragement
 Encourage social connectedness between program participants
 Assist with program recruitment and marketing including community outreach
 Plan, organize, and facilitate information sessions for interested participants and monthly educational
workshops on topics related to healthy living
 Assist Program Manager with processing program applications and managing potential waitlist
 Assist with program evaluation tasks
 Case noting and documentation of participant meetings, incidents, and participant progress
 Promote philanthropy through the YMCA’s annual campaign and assist with Community Health fundraising
initiatives
 Maintain an atmosphere of achievement that inspires self and others to succeed at the highest levels
Requirements:
 Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, and/or Human Kinetics
 Experience prescribing exercise plans to people with chronic conditions
 Knowledge and education of various chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and
stroke
 Experience working with older adults (65+ and over)
 Current BCRPA Certification with Older Adult an asset
 Current Standard First Aid with CPR Level “C” and AED
 High degree of independence and initiative within a team environment
 Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills
 Proven ability to recruit participants into a community program
 Strong understanding of physical activity programming for older adults in local communities
 Computer proficient – Microsoft Office (Excel, Word), Gmail
 Proven ability to facilitate groups using adult education methodologies
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Ability to be flexible, adaptable and multi-task in high demand environment
Demonstrated ability to make sound judgments and decisions; effective prioritizing and problem solving skills
Ability to work some evenings, weekends and flexible schedule, as required
Successful candidates will be required to provide a current and satisfactory Criminal Reference
Check/Vulnerable Sector Search issued no later than six (6) months preceding your start date
3 professional references
Competencies:
 Commitment to Organization and Values: Demonstrates and promotes a personal understanding of and
appreciation for mission, vision, strategic outcomes and values of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
 Service Attitude/Customer Focus: Identifies needs and wants of members/ participants as priority, responds in
an effective and timely manner.
 Service Orientation: Deliberately identifies and creates opportunities to enhance each and every person’s YMCA
experience.
 Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with others to achieve optimal collective results.
 Communication: Ability to speak, write, listen, and secure information in a variety of settings.
 Outcomes Oriented: Ability to lead, manage and achieve identified goals.
 Self-Management – the ability to work independently within prescribed parameters, discern the relevance of
issues and communicate them effectively to program and administrative supervisor(s).
Application Process:
Complete online application using the following link:
https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=ymcagv&jobId=125873&lang=en_CA&source=CC3
Application Deadline: April 7, 2017
Thank you for your interest and application.
Due to the high volume of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.