Career Readiness Coach

Hopeworks; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Hopeworks in Philadelphia seeks a Career Readiness Coach to support young professionals ages 17–26. You’ll deliver weekly 1:1 coaching, goal-setting, and strategic job-search support to secure living-wage employment.

You’ll use data to measure progress, track placements in Salesforce, and help participants complete DREAMS plans, resumes, portfolios, and interview prep. Trauma-informed practices and strong facilitation are required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in career coaching, workforce development, recruiting, or HR.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Experience with trauma-informed practices preferred; training provided.

Responsibilities

• Engage participants and ensure full participation in training and employment program.
• Meet weekly to set and review DREAMS Plan goals.
• Coach on resumes, portfolios, mock interviews, and professional profiles.
• Source living-wage job leads and support applications and interviews.
• Maintain accurate records of placements and engagement in Salesforce.

Skills

Career coaching

Workforce development

Recruiting

HR

Interpersonal communication

Facilitation

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Job description

Hopeworks is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to transforming the lives of young adults ages 17–26. Using a trauma-informed approach, we provide cutting-edge training in web development, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and data visualization, alongside individualized coaching, academic support, and direct work experience.

Our model combines real-world business experience with personal development and technical training, ensuring young professionals are fully prepared to secure and thrive in living-wage careers. Hopeworks operates its own client-serving businesses in web development, GIS, and data services—allowing participants to work on real projects for clients while building professional skills, confidence, and networks. This integrated approach consistently produces exceptional outcomes in education re-engagement, job placement, and long-term career growth.

Position & Responsibilities

The Career Readiness Coach prepares, supports, and holds young professionals accountable to securing and maintaining permanent, living-wage employment. This role blends weekly 1:1 coaching, goal-setting, and strategic job search support with a strong emphasis on measurable results, data use, and long-term career retention.

Specific tasks:

• Participant Engagement & Accountability – Ensure assigned young professionals fully participate in all aspects of the Hopeworks training and employment program to secure and retain living-wage jobs.
• Individual Career Planning – Meet weekly to set, review, and advance progress on each participant’s DREAMS Plan (training, education, employment, and financial goals).
• Job Readiness Preparation – Conduct mock interviews, coach on professional presentation, and guide the creation of resumes, portfolios, and professional profiles.
• Employment Connection – Actively source living-wage job leads, support applications, interview prep, and collaborate with staff to address barriers to success.
• Data Tracking & Reporting – Maintain accurate records in Salesforce CRM, tracking placements, retention, wages, and engagement to drive continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Job Placement Rate: ≥ 90% (# of job placements / # of internships completed).
• Average Starting Wage: ≥ $42,000 (average starting wage of permanent placements).
• Average Meeting Rate: ≥ 85% (# of meetings held / total caseload).

Requirements:

• 3+ years in career coaching, workforce development, recruiting, HR, or related fields (experience in high-demand industries a plus).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to motivate while holding others accountable.
• Strong organization and time management; comfortable managing multiple participants and priorities at once.
• Problem-solving mindset; adaptable to changing needs and participant circumstances.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed practices (training provided as needed).
• Experience working with diverse populations; prior work with young adults and/or individuals facing barriers to employment preferred.

In essence, the perfect candidate:

• Is action-oriented, and not satisfied until they have exceeded the goal.
• Loves interacting with young people, both to celebrate their successes and to challenge them to improve.
• Is goal-oriented and tracks and measures progress through measurable outcomes.
• Is a true cheerleader and coach, able to manage both individual relationships and groups.