Program Manager

Position Title: Program Manager (1 position)

Type: Full-time 37.5 hours/week

Location: Halifax, NS

Salary: 65,000

Reporting to: Executive Director

Contract Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of renewal

SUMMARY

Since 2002, the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) and the Marine Institute have offered internship positions through the International Youth Internship Program and the International Aboriginal Youth Internship Program. These internships provide youth with international development experience, skills, and knowledge to help better prepare them for future employment, while advancing Canadian development objectives.

The current iteration of ACIC and the Marine Institute’s IYIP Program, called “Resilient Youth through Supported Inclusion toward Sustained Network Growth (RYSING), is currently in Year 2 of a five-year funding period (2024-2029) which will see 190 interns between the ages of 18 and 30 placed with international partners in 22 countries around the globe. Special priority is given to interns belonging to the following priority groups: Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, and to youth who have faced barriers to employment due to COVID.

About RYSING:

The Marine Institute and ACIC, along with MI partners and a consortium of ACIC members (all of whom have experience delivering transformative internship programs) collaboratively implement the RYSING International Internship Program. RYSING is currently in Year 2 of a five year funding period (and in Cohort 4 of seven anticipated cohorts).

RYSING offers a variety of accessible, 16-week in-country career development placement opportunities. Knowledge transfer and skills training outcomes are based on reciprocal relationships between Canadian youth and local partner staff where each are considered stakeholders and agents of change.

Internships incorporate virtual/hybrid pre-departure training and placement orientation, over a 6 week period. This allows for youth to begin engagement at a pace that fits within a part-time work schedule, and is adaptive to a variety of individual, community, and family circumstances. IYIP staff work with partners to meet individual interns’ needs and address barriers to participation identified by youth during the recruitment phase, such as access to technology, peer support, and or appropriate spaces to engage in online work. Interns also take part in a 1-week intensive pre-departure training. This time will allow for building deeper connections, confidence and shared learning among peers, and give youth a sense of shared experience and strength. The connections youth gain as part of this type of group learning environment have shown to improve their well-being, commitment to program completion and continued engagement post-placement initiatives.

Building on observed results from MI & ACIC Internships working with youth participants who face barriers to employment including Indigenous youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth and racialized youth, ACIC and MI have gained significant insight into best practice for supporting equitable program access, as well as identifying and addressing systemic barriers to employment for youth post-placement. These lessons have informed our approach to prioritize pre-departure training and orientation topics, increase internship support systems while in-country – adapted to the specific needs of target groups, as well as a key program focus on mentorship, network growth and sustained engagement, training and career development support following in-country placement.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Manager will work closely with their colleague from the Marine Institute (and be a key member of a small staff team) be able to work independently on a variety of tasks, and to motivate others to participate. As a co-manager of the program, the successful candidate will have a track record of working in a collaborative environment and have direct experience implementing an internship or work placement program and have direct experience supporting youth.

The Program Manager will:

● Program Management: including liaising with local and international hosting partners, recruitment, selection, pre-departure and re-integration program development and delivery, supervision and facilitation of logistics for interns in Canada and overseas, and support for public engagement and innovative activities related to the internship program;
● Build and maintain strategic relationships with diverse communities, organizations and groups;
● Provide front-line support to interns through regular check-ins as they prepare for, and complete, their international or virtual placement;
● Establish and foster relationships with intern families, communities, alumni and volunteers;
● Ensure due diligence and maintain risk management frameworks related to the health and safety of interns participating in programs;
● Review applications, host interns, and finalize applicant selection for future cohorts;
● Implement strategies to improve and increase the impact and promote the internship program using educational and support resources for alumni;
● Work closely with the co-manager on financial management, reporting and monitoring of program budget;
● Complete program activities according to the intended outcomes, budget and timelines established;
● Participate in the regular Emergency On-Call Rotation;
● Prepare internal and external narrative reports for funders;

● Liaise with consultants, volunteers, short-term contract employees, as required;
● Develop and establish information and administrative systems.

The Program Manager position is also responsible for:

● Actively participating in staff meetings and providing input towards the development of other organizational activities, operational practices and policies as required
● Providing general administrative support
● Representing ACIC and the Marine Institute at events or external meetings, when requested
● Responding to general telephone and email inquiries
● Other duties, as deemed necessary

HIRING TIMELINE

• Application Deadline: rolling, until June 24th
• Interviews: June 25th and 26th
• Anticipated Start Date: June 13th

In-Person Pre-Departure Training: July 26th – August 1st (in Antigonish, Nova Scotia)

To Apply:

Please submit your resume, cover letter, the names and contact information of three references and where you heard about the job posting, in ONE document, by e-mail to hiring@acic-caci.org by 4:00 pm AST on June 24, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis.

Please ensure that you indicate the position title in your subject line. Thank you for applying. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted to arrange for an interview. Interviews will be conducted on June 25-26th.

ACIC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring individuals who reflect the diversity of communities in Atlantic Canada. As such, we strongly encourage people with Indigenous ancestry and members of BIPOC communities to apply. Be sure to self-identify.