Life & College Readiness Coach

Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Sonoma (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Package

Job summary

Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance seeks a Life Readiness Coordinator to guide middle and high school students (Grades 7–12) toward post-secondary success. You’ll collaborate with school counselors, mentors, families, and community partners to map academic, career, and life goals within SVMA’s school-based model.

You will lead college access efforts, FAFSA/CADAA support, and career exploration activities, while developing essential life skills and maintaining student records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Social Work, Counseling, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of direct work with middle/high school youth, preferably in school-based or nonprofit settings.
• Knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, CTE, and youth development principles.
• Strong interpersonal, public speaking, and small-group facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to work across diverse socio-economic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Build strong, trusting, and culturally responsive relationships with mentees in grades 7–12.
• Deliver individualized post-secondary planning guidance, mapping out academic, career, and personal goals.
• Assist mentees in identifying personal strengths, values, interests, and transferable skills.
• Facilitate essential life-readiness skill development, including communication, self-advocacy, financial literacy, time management, and decision-making.
• Monitor student academic progress, engagement, and milestone achievements across program years.
• Design and coordinate experiential career exploration opportunities, including job shadowing, campus visits, and career fairs.
• Guide seniors and families through college access and financial aid processes (FAFSA/CADAA).
• Promote diverse post-secondary options, including universities, community colleges, and trade certifications.
• Facilitate workshops on resume building, interviews, scholarships, and financial basics.
• Support students in creating a Post-Secondary Transition Plan before graduation.
• Partner with SVMA Mentor Facilitators to share progress with mentors.
• Equip volunteer mentors with tools to support college/career planning.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Small-group facilitation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Social Work, Counseling, or equivalent practical experience

Job description

Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance seeks a Life Readiness Coordinator to guide middle and high school students (Grades 7–12) toward post-secondary success. You’ll collaborate with school counselors, mentors, families, and community partners to map academic, career, and life goals within SVMA’s school-based model.

You will lead college access efforts, FAFSA/CADAA support, and career exploration activities, while developing essential life skills and maintaining student records.