Job Description

Salary Rate: $48,891 - Check out the YMCA's total compensation package!





Location: The Steve and Sally Stavro Family YMCA




Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week




Employment Type: Contract Full Time Salaried (12 months)




Number of Vacancies: 1




Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 2025




Deadline to Apply: July 21, 2025 at 5:00pm

Be the Spark!

Join our passionate team of Health & Fitness Specialists and help us to achieve great things in our community!


Reporting to the Adult Programs Director, the Programs Specialist (Group Fitness) provides direct leadership in our initiatives to provide a superior experience to our members. Implementing our Member Insight Strategy and using our Membership Involvement Model, the Programs Specialist identifies initiatives to increase Membership on Roll, Retention, Satisfaction, and Philanthropic contributions in the membership plus areas, and assists with a specific project or portion of the department functions. A minimum of 50% of the position is spent using specialized skills in the development and delivery of choreography based classes (step, box-fit, low/high impact, yoga/pilates, and muscle conditioning classes).

In this role, you will:

Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates processes and systems impacting the experience of members in group fitness programs. Provides support to Director in development or modification of choreography based group fitness programs and events, setting long term and short term goals in area of expertise and focus that align with strategic plan; researches, monitors and evaluates trends in area of choreography based group fitness. Delivers programs in a manner in which the Mission, Vision, values, goals and practices, including Priority Sam Standards, of the YMCA of Greater Toronto are being met; ensures that YMCA Group Fitness best practices (as outlined by Priority S.A.M.) are followed. Delivers Basic Theory and Group Fitness Components plus assists in apprenticeship of YMCA Fitness Leadership Program. Recruits, coaches and develops a team of volunteers for pilot classes and focus groups that will provide superior service and will build relationships with members in the programs, conditioning room, and surrounding areas. Builds relationship with members and seeks opportunities to share the YMCA story. Educates members and guests on the YMCA as a Charity. Assists with scheduling and logistics of group fitness programs and events;assists Director in determining long term and short term goals for quantity, quality and type of group fitness programs in alignment with strategic plan. Provides leadership and support as a member of the Centres' senior staff team. Acts as an effective Service Leader and Acting General Manager as required. Participates in task groups, special assignments and opportunities that further the Association mission, vision and strategic initiatives including the Group Fitness Functional Group; connects with community and external organizations, and other YMCAs to participate in a community of practice for group fitness program development, measurement and design. Demonstrates appropriate behaviours in line with our Mission, Vision and Values as reflected in our YMCA competencies; takes a member focused approach to increase their understanding of programs offered across the Association. Represents the YMCA and the Association in a professional manner. Understands the legal responsibilities and moral imperative to report suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services. Understands the importance of the volunteer staff partnership and integrates the value of philanthropy and volunteerism in dealings with members, volunteers, donors and staff. Other duties as assigned.

You bring:

Diploma or Degree in Recreation Leadership, Kinesiology, Physical Education or related field preferred. Must have a minimum of 2 year's experience delivering group fitness programs Previous experience in development and implementation of new programs an asset. Demonstrated leadership skills developed through progressively responsible experience; ability to encourage, motivate staff and volunteers, acknowledge and appreciate contributions. Current Standard First Aid/CPR required Current WHMIS certification preferred Proficiency with computer software including Excel, Outlook, etc. Well developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers Excellent written communication skills Experience and sensitivity in dealing with members of different cultural and racial backgrounds, including visible and non-visible dimensions of diversity. Flexibility regarding assigned hours of work, including days, evenings and weekend. The position requires the following Core Association Competencies: Advanced competence in: Relationship Building and Partnering; Effective Interpersonal Communications; Ethics & Self Management; Being Member Focused; Being Results Focused; Teamwork and Collaboration; Diversity and Social Inclusion

What you need to succeed:

Commitment to the YMCA's Mission, Vision and Values Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.



Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2020-2025 strategic plan, Ignite the Light, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.



The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.



If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.



In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.



The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.



Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.