Female Life Coach- First Shift

Water Street Mission; Town of Lancaster (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Water Street Mission seeks a Life Coach to work directly with guests, supporting their personal journeys toward restoration. The role emphasizes trauma‑informed, strengths‑based coaching and accountability, guiding guests toward self-identified goals.

The position requires leading faith-based programs, coordinating with residential life, and participating in crisis response on campus. A minimum of 1 year in human services is preferred, with strong communication and office skills essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year experience in human services.
• Associate’s degree or higher preferred, though related education/experience will be considered.
• Competency in Microsoft Office products is required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills essential.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coach, support, provide accountability, and empower guests towards their self-identified goals.
• Foster positive partnerships with other Water Street Mission departments.
• Lead Life Coach when Senior Life Coach or Residential Life Leaders are not on campus.
• Participate in crisis conversations and de-escalation as needed.
• Attend required meetings and trainings and maintain guest information and reports.

Skills

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Trauma-informed care

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate's degree or higher

Tools

Case management software

Job description

For Water Street Mission to fulfill our mission and purpose, it is critical for all staff to participate in the development and maintenance of a healthy Christian Community. By living out our faith with one another and creating a space where our guests are invited to experience that community with us, we participate in lives being restored. Even as some positions have minimal direct contact with guests, each staff member has an essential role in forming and maintaining Christian community. The love of Christ, evidenced in our Water Street community, is the real impetus for change with our guests.

Job Summary:

A Life Coach works directly with and supports Water Street Mission guests in their personal journey towards sustainable restoration, providing accountability and empowerment for guests to reach their self-identified goals. A Life Coach works with guests from a strengths-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed perspective.

This position involves leading faith-based programs, including programs and events tailored specifically for female youth in our community. Due to the faith-based requirements of the role, and the need for a female staff member who will be working closely with female youth, this position qualifies as a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) under applicable law.

Core Life Coach team functions:

• Uphold WSM’s mission
• Offer radical hospitality
• Practice presence ministry
• Build safe relationships
• Provide accountability and empower guests
• Connect guests to internal WSM resource teams
• Ensure campus safety

FLSA:

Non-Exempt; Full Time. Weekends and holidays required. Essential personnel.

All Water Street Mission Staff must be:

• Willing to sign Water Street Mission’s Statement of Faith.
• A current and active member and/or regular attendee of a local church.
• Able to fully support Water Street Mission’s core values and ministry philosophy.

Essential Functions:

Culture and Values

• Share the Good News of Jesus Christ in words and actions with people we serve, communicating hope and dignity.
• Walk alongside fellow WSM staff in Christian community as we journey toward maturity.
• Encourage restoration in the lives of coworkers and guests, recognizing we are each restored by God to become restorers.
• Work in full coordination with other WSM staff at all times to identify, report and respond appropriately to any potential threats to the safety and wellbeing of guests.
• Embody, encourage, and cultivate WSM culture, purpose, mission and values in words and actions.

Role Specific Responsibilities

• Work every other weekend.
• Work holidays as assigned in the staff rotation.
• Coach, support, provide accountability, and empower guests towards their self-identified goals.
• Foster positive partnerships and collaboration with other WSM departments.
• Function as lead Life Coach when a Senior Life Coach or Residential Life Leaders are not on campus.
• Participate in crisis conversations and de-escalation of situations on campus as needed.
• Answer phone calls, field inquiries, and direct visitors/volunteers, as needed.
• Be present in and oversee assigned areas of campus, as directed by supervisor.
• If assigned a temporary guest caseload, meet with guests for individual Life Coach sessions, lead/facilitate guest groups, and prepare and submit up-to-date status reports on guest progress.
• Assist Residential Life Leaders and Senior Life Coaches with designated tasks.
• Assist guests moving into and out of WSM.
• Manage and stock supplies, as needed, and maintain cleanliness of assigned areas on campus.
• Facilitate ‘Overview of Residential’ groups for Shelter guests.
• Meet with Shelter guests for Residential Program application interviews, as assigned.
• Oversee and assist guests with assigned task responsibilities.
• Attend all required meetings and trainings.
• Maintain accurate guest information, including reporting and data management, and communicate with other shifts as necessary.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 1 year experience in human services, with preference given to candidates with demonstrated experience in the areas of homelessness, behavioral health, substance abuse, or trauma-informed care, required. Associate’s degree or higher (or degree in progress) preferred, although candidates with a relevant combination of education and experience will be considered. Competency in Microsoft Office products and ability to use or learn a case management software system is required. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred.

Reports To:

Director, Women and Families.

Key Internal Relationships:

Residential Life (Social Services, Life Coaches), Water Street Health Services, Community Resources (Pastoral Ministries, Career and Financial Services, Guest Education, Outreach Ministries).

Physical Demands:

Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

This position requires:

• Meeting with guests
• Leading groups
• Moving throughout campus
• Crisis intervention
• Campus Supervision
• Sit for meetings, documentation, and role-related activities - Continuously
• Operate computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment - Continuously
• Sitting for extended periods of time using computer - Continuously
• Bend, squat, kneel, and reach - Frequently
• Lift and or move up to 50 pounds - Frequently
• Ability to respond quickly to emergencies and crisis situations throughout campus.
• Ability to ascend and descend stairs during emergency response situations.
• Ability to safely navigate facilities and campus grounds.
• Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

Christian Life:

Water Street Mission is a privately funded 501(c) 3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and purpose statement. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in the ministry activities of Water Street Mission.
• Subscribe to the Water Street Mission Statement of Faith and Qualifications of Employment upon hire and continuously while employed.
• Adhere to the Water Street Mission Employee Handbook.