Empowerment Coach

City-of-Richmond,-Va; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Richmond, Office of Community Wealth Building seeks an Empowerment Coach to support youth and adults in workforce and economic mobility programs. The role focuses on coaching, gap analysis, and connections to employment, education, training, financial empowerment, and community resources.

The position emphasizes serving young adults 18–24 while supporting adults across life stages. Responsibilities include career coaching, skills assessment, workshop facilitation, pathway planning,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in career development, youth development, workforce services, case management, or human services.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one career coaching to individuals, helping them set goals and develop personalized plans.
• Design and deliver workshops to enhance professional skills and connect participants with job opportunities.
• Assess skills and develop individualized success plans to support economic mobility.
• Connect participants with employment, education, training, and supportive services.
• Collaborate with employers, training providers, and community partners to align opportunities.
• Maintain records and monitor progress toward program goals using established systems.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, business, education, human services, or related field

Job description

This position requires proficiency in both English and Spanish to effectively communicate with clients, community members, and other stakeholders. Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000 annually (dependent on experience and qualifications)

The Office of Community Wealth Building seeks to hire an Empowerment Coach. 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.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Career Coaching & Development:

• 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.
• Older Youth: Establishing and maintaining consistent, close relationships with other youth-serving community agencies and organizations.
• Older Youth: Assisting in the development and distribution of educational and informational materials to increase individual, youth, family, and community awareness for youth between ages 18-24
• Older Youth: Supporting 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

2. Skills Assessment & Gap Analysis:

• 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.

3. Workplace Readiness & Training Facilitation:

• 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.

4. Career Pathways Planning & Support:

• 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.

5. Youth Development & Engagement:

• 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.

6. Financial Empowerment & Wealth Building:

• 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.

7. Business & Employer Engagement:

• 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.

8. Tracking Progress & Program Evaluation:

• Maintain accurate records and monitor client progress toward program goals using established systems.
• Analyze data to ensure equity in outcomes and inform continuous improvement.

9. Advocacy, Policy, & Community Collaboration:

• 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.

10. Employer and Community Partnerships:

• 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.

11. Tracking Progress and Performance Metrics:

• 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.

12. Barrier Mitigation and Advocacy:

• 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.

13. Continuous Improvement & Research:

• 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.

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
• This position requires proficiency in both English and Spanish to effectively communicate with clients, community members, and other stakeholders.
• 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 with youth or young adults in educational, workforce, or mentoring settings; knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches.