Lived Expert Community Development Specialist

Never Too Late (NTL)’s mission is to facilitate and support safe, unconditional, and lifelong connections for people who have or will have ended their time with the child welfare system. These young people do so without the one thing they were promised when they entered – people to support and guide them through life who are not paid to be there, “Humans” in Never Too Late (NTL) language. 

Never Too Late (NTL) was co-founded by people who believe everyone has a right to permanency. We are a community of people who believe that all individuals belong with people who love and value them unconditionally throughout their lives. 

Never Too Late (NTL) works to recruit, connect, educate and train, support, and advocate, to give back to young people who have terminated their time with child welfare, the chance to have “family” to rely on, no matter their age. To find out more about Never Too Late (NTL), please visit our website: https://www.nevertoolatentl.ca/. 

Job Description - Lived Expert Community Development Specialist

Living Expert (or Lived Expert) is the term that Never Too Late (NTL) uses to refer to people of any age who have lived experience within the child protection/child welfare system. It is capitalized when we are referring to that community of people. More generally, a living expert can be an expert in anything that they have direct personal experience in (ie. a black person is a living expert of the Black community) 

The Lived Expert Community Development Specialists are an essential part of Never Too Late (NTL). Their primary responsibilities include providing intentional input into the deliverable goals and strategic priorities of Never Too Late (NTL), specifically relating to the success of the Trillium Seed Grant. This includes helping ensure the Lived Expert lens and voice is centred in the development of programming and resources, as well as the delivery of education events. 

Lived Expert Community Development Specialists may have a long-standing relationship with Never Too Late (NTL), or may have connected more recently, with each voice having equal importance. 

The Lived Expert Community Development Specialists will be supported by the Lived Expert Community Coordinator and Leadership and Clinical Lead. 

Temporary Part-Time –April 27, 2026 - December 18, 2026 – Average of 4.5 hours weekly/33.5 weeks (up to 162 hours total) – $40/hour

This is a part-time, temporary grant-based position. There are four (4) positions available.

Essential Functions/Duties of a Lived Expert Community Development Specialist

• Lived Expert Community Development Specialists will contribute to the development of three specific priorities:
  1. Development and/or delivery of an interpersonal “human” skills training for Lived Experts to support their ability to develop and sustain caring relationships and a sense of belonging in their community while learning conflict resolution, harm reduction, and other crucial life skills
  2.Establish and support a sustainable peer network that includes peer mentors, supportive groups, 1:1 coaching opportunities and in-person social events
  3. Support the development of a sustainable supportive model that provides opportunities for Lived Experts to access relational supports from caring adults
• Meeting in person on an occasional basis.
• Contributing to reporting on outcomes for the grantor.
• Contributing to sustainability plans for the grant-funded programs.
• Working collaboratively with other Lived Expert Community Development Specialists ensuring all voices are equal and that there is a positive, inclusive environment for all.
• Following through with completion of assignments and tasks, understanding deadlines and the importance of those being met for Lived Expert voice to be part of planning, development, and delivery.

Skills and Qualifications

• Personal lived experience of child welfare and/or disruption from original family, and a deep understanding of the lifelong impact those experiences have is required. 
• Previous experience working with Lived Experts that demonstrates commitment to valuing diverse voices, strengths and challenges is preferred. 
• Experience in the field of child welfare or a related field is considered a plus.
• An ability and experience with facilitating collaborative peer groups, that allows for joint sharing and capacity building opportunities for participants is considered a plus.
• Demonstrated experience developing curricula for Lived Experts that goes beyond traditional “living skills” training.
• Professional experience working alongside Lived Experts to create models/programs that are designed to support the development of “soft skills” that support relational growth.
• Strong communication and writing skills, as well as strong attention to detail.
• Demonstration of high emotional intelligence to meet the values of Never Too Late (NTL) and ability to remain steady in situations that can be emotionally charged. 
• Ability to work in a way that shows growth and commitment to the mission, vision and values that underpin Never Too Late (NTL), this includes our Belonging, Equity and Diversity policy.
• The ability to use Zoom, Teams, PowerPoint and MS Office, and SharePoint, or an ability to learn.
• Understanding of, and commitment to the concepts of harm reduction.
• The ability to work both remotely and in-person at locations within the GTA.
• The ability to work both independently and as an effective team member on program development, demonstrating a commitment to NTL’s policies.
• Ability to work some evenings or weekends in order to meet the needs of our Never Too Late (NTL) community, or other times in the week that allow them to fulfill their role.

This is a primarily remote position, requiring the successful candidate to provide their own equipment and have a home/remote office space to work out of (Please speak to a member of the Never Too Late (NTL) team if this is a barrier for you and we would be happy to discuss support options). The successful candidate is required to attend in-person team meetings as scheduled throughout the year. 

Never Too Late (NTL) requires all staff to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check. While our organization understands that many good and qualified people may have had previous difficulties in their lives, it is incumbent upon Never Too Late (NTL) to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for our staff and community.

Never Too Late (NTL) values the unique skills and experiences that each individual has to offer, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation to participate fully in our recruitment processes, please let us know when we contact you.

Never Too Late (NTL) is an equal opportunity employer seeking to live its values in all we do. We are committed to taking proactive steps to provide and create opportunities for historically marginalized groups. We seek applicants who will strengthen our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Indigenous, Black, and other racialized persons, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, individuals with disabilities, and other members of marginalized communities to consider working with and for Never Too Late (NTL). We recognize that structural barriers shape experiences and job qualifications, and therefore we seek to use employment equity to evaluate candidates who meet the required qualifications. If you are comfortable doing so, you are encouraged in your cover letter to identify as a member of an equity-deserving group.

If this position interests you, and you meet all of the above requirements, please submit your resume and a cover letter by the end of the day (11:59 pm) on Monday March 9^th, 2026. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.