Career Coach

Neighborhood • Chesapeake, VA

2d • $66,625 - $71,425 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Coach supports participants ("Leaders") as they work toward obtaining and maintaining living-wage employment. Through individual and group coaching, the coach helps Leaders identify goals, overcome barriers, build career readiness skills, and navigate the job search process. A significant aspect of the role is mobility coaching, an approach that focuses on helping individuals and families achieve long-term economic stability and upward mobility. Rather than simply assisting someone in finding a job, mobility coaching empowers participants to set their own goals, recognize their strengths, address obstacles, and develop sustainable plans for advancement. The coach serves as a partner and guide, helping leaders build confidence, access resources, and make progress across multiple areas that influence economic success, such as employment, education, financial well-being, housing stability, transportation, and family support systems. Success in this role requires strong relationship-building skills, empathy, and an understanding of the systemic barriers that can affect people experiencing poverty. The Career Coach works collaboratively with Leaders to create meaningful, lasting change by supporting both their immediate employment goals and their broader journey toward economic self-sufficiency and career growth. Neighborhood is an economic empowerment nonprofit working to ensure that the income of every family in our community exceeds the cost of living within their lifetime. We walk alongside individuals navigating poverty and create clear, supported pathways to living-wage careers, personal growth, and long-term stability. At Neighborhood, we are committed to building a community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, embarking on a transformative journey toward career readiness, economic stability, and personal development. The Career Coach plays a critical role in walking alongside each Leader during this 6-month journey, offering trauma-informed support, accountability, and guidance. This role requires both a high degree of relational intelligence and a strong operational skillset, balancing meaningful interpersonal work with consistent data, communication, and tracking. As such, the ideal candidate will be highly relational and emotionally attuned, while also organized and responsive in managing the systems that keep programming flowing smoothly.

Requirements

• Demonstrate high emotional intelligence and relational strength
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage systems
• Passion for working with individuals navigating poverty, trauma, or life transition
• Comfort with technology: Google Suite, spreadsheets, forms, shared drives, and Salesforce or similar CRM platforms
• Understanding of systemic barriers to employment and a non-judgmental, empowering posture toward others
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through reliably
• Understanding of systemic barriers to employment and a non-judgmental, empowering posture toward others

Nice To Haves

• Experience in coaching, case management, career services, education, social work, or community development strongly preferred
• Coaching certificate through an accredited coaching program

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one coaching to a caseload of approximately 30 Leaders, including monthly hour-long sessions and weekly check-ins
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with participants, supporting them in personal and professional goal setting
• Identify barriers to progress, connect Leaders to internal and external resources, and track ongoing development
• Assist in the development/identification of external resources available
• Apply trauma-informed approaches and maintain a posture of encouragement, accountability, and dignity
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date coaching documentation in shared systems (e.g., Google Drive)
• Track and report weekly attendance; submit updates for Leader stipends in coordination with Operations
• Provide light support on classroom assignments, resume building, and professional preparation projects
• Ensure all participant paperwork (surveys, assessments, goals) is completed and organized in a timely way
• Communicate effectively with program team on Leader progress, needs, or escalations
• Attend and support weekly class sessions, including bi-weekly Wednesday evening Community Gatherings (Wednesday nights)
• Assist with classroom culture, behavior support, and maintaining an environment that supports learning and transformation
• Provide logistical and relational support for major events such as: Saturday Retreat, Mock Interview Day, Graduation Ceremony
• Reinforce learning from the Leadership Lab phase of the program
• Walk alongside participants in identifying viable career pathways, skill-building opportunities, and job-readiness milestones
• Support with application processes, interviewing preparation, and post-hire encouragement where needed

Benefits

• Annual Flexible Benefits Stipend: $4,800 (This stipend is provided as taxable income and is fully flexible for your use, whether for insurance or otherwise.)
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with automatic employee enrollment and a 3% employer contribution.
• 160 hours (20 days) of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.
• Office closure during the week of Thanksgiving and from Christmas Day through New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed