Career Coach

New Moms; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 49,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

403b retirement plan

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

New Moms is seeking a Career Coach in Chicago to empower young moms through individualized coaching, training, and job placement support. This full-time role focuses on helping participants create personalized career and education plans while addressing barriers to long-term employment and family well-being.

The position emphasizes collaboration with trainers, ongoing documentation, and development of referral networks to expand participant opportunities within the East Garfield Park community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; or HS diploma with 5 years related experience.
• Experience in workforce development or case management preferred.
• Knowledge of WIOA or CDBG programs strongly preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Meet one-on-one with participants to update career and education plans and address barriers.
• Facilitate a group coaching session on financial literacy or parenting skills.
• Collaborate with classroom and production trainers to celebrate participant achievements or address performance challenges.
• Provide follow-up support for a participant who has recently started a new job.
• Document case notes and assessments in the agency database, ensuring records are complete and timely.
• Research new community resources or attend a partner meeting to expand referral networks.

Skills

Coaching

Communication

Organization

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

HS diploma +5 years experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database experience

Job description

About New Moms

At New Moms, we’re on a mission to empower young moms and their families to thrive and build brighter futures. Through innovative housing, job training, and family support programs, we serve hundreds of families each year across Chicagoland.

Position Summary

The Career Coach is a key member of the Workforce Development team, providing individualized coaching to young moms in the program. This role helps participants maximize training, coaching, and job placement opportunities while addressing barriers to long-term employment and family well-being. This position is based primarily at Bright Endeavors in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.

Location: Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood

Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours/week

Starting Salary: $49,000 - $51,000

What a Day Might Look Like

• Meet one-on-one with participants to update career and education plans and address any barriers.
• Facilitate a group coaching session on financial literacy or parenting skills.
• Collaborate with classroom and production trainers to celebrate participant achievements or address performance challenges.
• Provide follow-up support for a participant who has recently started a new job.
• Document case notes and assessments in the agency database, ensuring records are complete and timely.
• Research new community resources or attend a partner meeting to expand referral networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized case management and career coaching to young moms.
• Conduct assessments and develop personalized career and education plans.
• Support participants through all program phases, from training to job retention.
• Address barriers to employment and provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Facilitate group and one-on-one coaching on career, financial, and family well-being topics.
• Collaborate with trainers and staff to enhance participant success and celebrate achievements.
• Build and maintain referral networks with community resources.
• Maintain accurate records and complete reports in a timely manner.
• Participate in professional development and support the New Moms Coaching Model.

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are:

• Passionate about coaching and mentoring young moms toward their career and education goals.
• Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple cases, records, and deadlines.
• A strong communicator, comfortable building trust and presenting information clearly.
• Resourceful and collaborative, skilled at problem-solving and connecting participants to community supports.
• Flexible and adaptable, able to respond to changing participant needs and program demands.
• Grounded in strengths-based approaches, committed to supporting participants with dignity and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred; OR High School Diploma/Equivalent + 5 years of related experience required.
• Case management or Workforce Development experience preferred.
• Familiarity with WIOA or CDBG programs strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of social services, education, and community resources.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Proficient in Microsoft systems; experience with database/case management software preferred.
• Ability to problem-solve, set priorities, and work collaboratively across teams.

Other Requirements

• Access to reliable transportation (vehicle or public transit).
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Work Environment: Must be able to sit/stand for up to 8 hours, walk stairs, and lift up to 30–40 lbs (or perform with reasonable accommodation). Work environments may vary.

Benefits & Perks

We care about the well-being of our team and are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical insurance with generous employer contribution
• Dental and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance – 100% employer-paid
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counseling and resources
• Generous paid time off, as well as 15 paid holidays and half days on Fridays during the summer
• 403b retirement plan with employer match
• Pre-tax transportation benefits
• Professional development support
• Discounts on Bright Endeavors products
• Free spiritual direction services