Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 219535 
Department/Program: Community Health Team, Healthy Populations & Provincial Initiatives 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: 07/20/2026
Union Status: Non-union, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $36.8512 - $48.9643 /hour
Closing Date: May 4, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This is not a designated position; however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

The Community Health Team (CHT) is an IWK/NSH community-based health initiative that focuses on wellness programming, wellness navigation, and working with community partners. The CHT works in collaboration with other groups/organization in the community to offer programming and support. Reporting to the Health Services Manager of IWK Primary Health, the Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator will provide leadership, expertise, and innovation to develop, facilitate and lead Primary Health wellness programs and services, with a key focus on children, youth, and families. This work will utilize a population health approach, including a focus on community development and the determinants of health, and will recognize best practice in youth engagement, mental health, and people-centred care. The Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator also facilitates navigations, in accordance with their scope of practice and employment, to support clients to access appropriate community wellness resources. 

This position is located at our Chebucto location.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborates with the community to identify key priorities and emerging wellness needs related to children, youth and families and helps to formulate strategies to address these needs
• Works together with community members and organizations to build capacity and strengthen partnerships.
• Provides wellness navigation, assesses client needs, coordinates community and health resources, and documents in accordance with organizational requirements.
• Uses behavior change language and a self-management approach to help clients prioritize health goals.
• Facilitates group-based educational and wellness programming for parents and youth.
• Develops, evaluates, and updates programs based on best evidence, community engagement and innovation.
• Collaborates with service providers to share health and wellness knowledge, share resources, and connect community groups to one another.
• Provides support to Parent Educators and their scheduling for program facilitation.
• Promotes CHT programs and services: within government, not for profit, health services, family physicians, and other community groups and organizations.
• Works in partnership with individuals, families, and groups to prioritize needs and connect the services and supports required to improve health and wellness; helps citizens to reduce barriers to accessing needed services.
• Identifies gaps in systems and communicate with appropriate groups who may address these issues.
• Evaluates programs and services using program evaluation, and engagement data.
• Participates in working groups and committees that enhance and improve the quality of work performed by CHTs.
• Works as part of an interprofessional team in collaboration with other IWK and NSH team members.

There are four Community Health Team locations: Chebucto, Halifax, Bedford/Sackville and Dartmouth.  
The Coordinator may be required to work at another site(s) for programming and coverage requirements.

Hours of Work

7.5-hour shifts, Monday – Friday (some evenings and weekends are required)

Your Qualifications

    Undergraduate degree in a health profession required (Recreation Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation, Social Work or bachelor's degree with major credits in nutrition or dietetics) or WFOT-approved Occupational Therapy program.
•    Graduate degree in a related health discipline preferred.
•    Registration with respective professional regulatory body (NS College of Occupational Therapy or NS College of Social Workers) or Certification (CTRS) with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) is required or Licensure with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD).  To be licensed a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and completion of a recognized Dietetic Internship Program is required.
•    3 years’ experience working in mental health required.
•    3 years’ experience working in Primary Health Care settings/community-based group education or programming is preferred. 
•    Experience working and interacting with children, youth and families is required. 
•    Experience working with equity populations is required. 
•    Valid Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle and appropriate insurance required. Travel to other sites is required.
•    Experience working in partnership and community development is preferred.
•    Demonstrates excellent interpersonal, facilitation and communication (verbal & written) skills, utilizing adult education principles.
•    Utilizes a trauma-informed care, people-centred and diversity focused approach to care.
•    Demonstrates an understanding of population health, health promotion strategies, and behaviour change principles. 
•    Demonstrates an ability to work as part of a collaborative, interprofessional team as well as the ability to work independently. 
•    Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to change.
•    Demonstrates innovation in program planning, implementation and evaluation, and quality improvement.
•    Demonstrates excellent time management, organization and problem-solving skills. 
•    Demonstrates computer skills (MS Office, e-mail, calendar management, and internet).
•    Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Level (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required.
•    Competency in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.