Empowerment Coach

Empowerment Coach

The Office of Community Wealth Building seeks to hire an Empowerment Coach for its Youth Engagement Services (YES) Division. This pivotal role is responsible for supporting participants enrolled in workforce and economic mobility programming in achieving their career, education, and self-sufficiency goals through individualized coaching, workforce development services, and connections to community resources. While the position will primarily focus on serving young adults, particularly individuals ages 18–24, the role is designed to support adult participants across various stages of life and career development as program priorities and community needs evolve.

The Empowerment Coach works closely with participants to assess strengths, identify opportunities, develop individualized success plans, and connect individuals to employment, education, training, financial empowerment, and supportive services. The position serves as a trusted guide and advocate, helping participants navigate barriers to success while building the skills, confidence, and resilience necessary to achieve long-term personal and professional goals. Through participant engagement, resource coordination, case management, and collaboration with employers, training providers, and community partners, the Empowerment Coach contributes to the Office of Community Wealth Building's mission of advancing resilience, revitalization, and inclusive prosperity for Richmond residents. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to empowering individuals, fostering economic mobility, and promoting equitable outcomes through a person-centered and strengths-based approach.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000 annually (dependent on experience and qualifications)

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one coaching to individuals, helping them set career goals, assess their strengths and areas for improvement, and develop personalized career plans.
• Assist individuals in identifying transferable skills and creating strategies for entering new industries or advancing within their current field.
• Offer guidance on job search strategies, interview preparation, and creating impactful resumes and cover letters.
• Establish and maintain consistent, close relationships with other youth-serving community agencies and organizations.
• Assist in the development and distribution of educational and informational materials to increase individual, youth, family, and community awareness for youth between ages 18-24
• Support youth in developing soft skills, such as leadership, time management, self-respect, communication, and socially acceptable behavior through one-on-one discussions, group activities, and pieces of training, workshops, or lessons
• Conduct skills assessments to help individuals identify current competencies and potential skill gaps to match them with opportunities that promote economic mobility.
• Customize professional development programs to close skill gaps and ensure readiness for current and future job market demands.
• Design and deliver workshops, webinars, or training sessions to enhance professional skills, such as communication, leadership, time management, and technical proficiency.
• Collaborate with external training providers or educational institutions to offer targeted learning opportunities for skill enhancement.
• Help individuals map out clear career pathways and connect them with opportunities for growth, including internships, apprenticeships, volunteer work, and entry-level jobs leading to long-term career advancement.
• Provide guidance on professional development resources and support individuals through career transitions or upward mobility within organizations.
• Support youth and young adults in identifying career interests and accessing job readiness programs, mentorships, internships, leadership development opportunities, and post-secondary pathways to promote economic mobility.
• Collaborate with schools, youth organizations, and city departments to design developmentally appropriate interventions and engagement strategies to foster success.
• Deliver workshops focused on leadership, goal setting, and financial empowerment for youth.
• Educate individuals and families on financial topics such as budgeting, credit building, savings, debt reduction, and long-term asset building.
• Support financial literacy workshops in collaboration with banks, credit unions, and nonprofits.
• Connect residents with programs supporting food justice, holistic health, entrepreneurship, homeownership, cooperative development, and access to capital.
• Partner with local businesses to create equitable hiring pipelines, job placements, internships, and skills-based hiring initiatives.
• Recruit employers and entrepreneurs to participate in inclusive economic development strategies within disinvested communities.
• Facilitate forums and business roundtables to identify opportunities for job creation and local investment.
• Maintain accurate records and monitor client progress toward program goals using established systems.
• Analyze data to ensure equity in outcomes and inform continuous improvement.
• Serve as an advocate for individuals and families navigating systems (e.g., workforce, education, housing).
• Collaborate with community-based organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, and city agencies to align efforts and leverage shared resources.
• Inform and support policy initiatives related to inclusive workforce and economic development.
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers to ensure alignment between the skills individuals possess and the skills employers seek.
• Act as a liaison between community partners, educational institutions, and employers to ensure access to job opportunities, internships, and mentorship programs.
• Facilitate networking opportunities that enable individuals to connect with key employers and industry leaders.
• Monitor and track the progress of individuals' career development, ensuring goals are met and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Use data and analytics to assess program effectiveness and provide feedback for continuous improvement in professional growth initiatives.
• Identify common challenges faced by individuals in advancing their careers (e.g., lack of access to resources, discrimination, limited networks) and help them overcome these barriers.
• Advocate for individuals within the community, supporting policies and practices that enhance career growth opportunities for underserved populations.
• Stay current on industry trends, best practices in professional development, and innovations in career coaching and growth.
• Continuously improve facilitation techniques and tools based on emerging trends in job market needs and professional growth methodologies.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in career development, youth development, workforce services, case management, or human services, with a proven ability to help individuals achieve personal and career growth.
• Bachelor's degree in social work, Public Administration, Business, Education, Human Services, or related field
• An equivalent combination of education and experience (minimum of 5 years) may be considered.

Required Skills:

• Youth Program Development: Experience designing or implementing youth programming (ages 14–24), including leadership development, internship coordination, or education-to-career pathways.
• Direct Service & Client Navigation: Expertise in assessing client needs, creating personalized service plans, and coordinating referrals to wraparound services.
• Financial Literacy & Economic Mobility: Working knowledge of budgeting, credit building, debt management, and asset-building services.
• Strong Communication & Facilitation Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities to coach individuals, facilitate group training, and engage with employers, community organizations, and partners.
• Partnership & Community Engagement: Proven ability to build relationships with employers, community organizations, and public institutions to support job placement, skills training, and collaborative service delivery.
• Cultural Competency & Equity Focus: Demonstrated commitment to working with diverse populations, fostering inclusive opportunities, and applying cultural humility in all interactions.
• Technology Proficiency: Familiarity with career development platforms, case management software, data tracking tools, and virtual learning technologies.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to assess individuals' strengths, identify skills gaps, and create actionable plans for career and personal development.
• Empathy & Active Listening: Strong capacity to relate to and understand individuals' challenges, providing tailored and compassionate guidance.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and ensure personalized service delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree: in social work, Public Administration, Business, Education, Human Services, or related field.
• Business or Employer Engagement Experience: Experience in business outreach, job development, or recruitment strategies that align with inclusive economic development.
• Financial Coaching or Certification: Training or certification in financial literacy, credit counseling, or financial coaching (e.g., AFCPE, NFCC).
• Youth Engagement & Development: Experience working