Job Opportunity –

Education Program Coordinator – Kitchener 
(16-week Contract; 35 hours/week; May – August 2025)

JA South Western Ontario is a member of JA Canada and part of JA Worldwide (JA), the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business.  Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, JA empowers young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings, and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Since 1963, schools in South Western Ontario have relied on JA to prepare young people for success in an ever-changing global economy. JA South Western Ontario is responsible for the geographic area including the counties of Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Hamilton, Haldimand-Norfolk, and Niagara.

The JA Education Program Coordinator will play a key role in the planning and execution of JA’s entrepreneurship summer camp activities and will also assist in the coordination and execution of other JA in-school programs and events. In May and June, the individual will work directly with JA’s full-time Program Management staff to plan and prepare all necessary components for 4 week-long summer day camps to take place during July and August and will also be called upon to support other JA program activities and events. In July and August, the Education Program Coordinator will take a lead role in the execution of JA’s summer camp program – JA Camp StartUp, which involves campers, ages 8-13, in creating and managing their own small business for a week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assisting full-time JA Program Management staff with:  
• Scheduling field trip type activities (ex. Corporate tours) and sales day locations for summer camps 
• Reviewing and revising summer camp curriculum documents and resources 
• Liaising with parents, vendors, and other summer camp partners 
• Scheduling and training volunteer leaders-in-training for summer camps 
• Ensuring all resources are in place for successful summer camps 
• Supervising, facilitating, and participating in camp program activities with campers 8-13 years old 
• Providing leadership for JA Camp StartUp camp counsellors (2) 
• Training and supporting summer camp counsellors and volunteer leaders-in-training 
• Working in cooperation with other Camp Counsellors to ensure campers are safe, while maintaining adequate health and hygiene measures 
• Building relationships with campers by demonstrating compassion, empathy, and understanding 
• Assisting with camp set up and tear down activities, such as light cleaning, room preparation, organizing supplies/ materials, etc. 
• Supporting other JA program events and activities (ex. coordinating and/or facilitating in-school programs and supporting online events) 
• Other duties as assigned 

Skills/Qualifications

• Ability to work well with children and parents 
• Ability to communicate effectively with parents, other Camp Staff, and campers 
• Ability to motivate others in learning new skills 
• Ability to demonstrate responsible, ethical, and professional conduct 
• Ability to provide support and instruction to others 
• Experience in education or in working with children is an asset 
• Driver’s License and access to a vehicle is an asset 

This contract position (35.0 hours per week) is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program. Pay is set at $17.65/hour. You must be between 15 and 30 and be legally entitled to work in Canada to apply. The successful candidate must be available to work 8:30 – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday from May 5 to August 22, 2025. Some work from home will be possible during May/ June, however you may be required at various school or other locations in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for programs or other events. On-site work will be required during JA Camp StartUp weeks in July and August at the camp location – Church of the Good Sheppard, 116 Queen Street N, Kitchener. 

JA South Western Ontario is committed to a diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible environment where differences are valued and respected in all areas of our business.  We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.  JA South Western Ontario will not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed (religion), sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, age (18 and over), record of offenses for which a pardon has been granted, marital status (including same sex partners), family status, or any other grounds prohibited by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Are you ready to be a JA Education Program Counsellor? Please email your Resume and Cover Letter to John Wilson at jwilson@jaswo.org. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  

April 17, 2025