Empowerment Coach

Empowerment Coach

Salary

$47,507.20 - $86,777.60 Annually

Location

City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

MENT

Department

Office of Community Wealth Building

Opening Date

06/04/2026

Closing Date

6/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y? Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

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 Buildings 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.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000 annually (dependent on experience and qualifications)

Duties include but are not limited to

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.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

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.
• Bachelors degree in social work, Public Administration, Business, Education, Human Services, or related field
• 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:

• Masters 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.
• Entrepreneurship or Small Business Knowledge: Understanding of small business ecosystems, technical assistance programs, or economic inclusion initiatives.
• Multilingual or Bicultural Skills: Fluency in Spanish or other languages common in Richmond is a plus.
• Workforce Development Certification: Credentialing such as the National Workforce Development Professional Certification (NWDP), Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), Certified Youth Services Consultant, or equivalent is highly desirable.

Certifications:

• Professional certifications in career coaching, case management, or workforce development are strongly preferred.
• Additional certifications in financial coaching, youth development, or training facilitation are a plus.

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

Physical Requirements and Working Environment: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk, hear, and see; frequently reach and perform repetitive motions; and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may not include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

• Internal use: HR Generalist to review.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at HR-ADA@rva.gov.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company.

The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.

With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".

The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.

01

10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veterans widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

02

5-point veterans must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following: Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

03

Which answer best describes your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma/ GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• None of the above

04

Do you have a Bachelors degree in social work, Public Administration, Business, Education, Human Services, or related field?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of experience do you have providing workforce development, career coaching, education, case management, or human services to youth and young adults (ages 16-24)

• Less than one year of experience
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

06

How many years of experience do you have developing service plans, conducting assessments, providing coaching, and managing participant caseloads?

• Less than one year of experience
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

07

How many years of experience do you have helping individuals address barriers to employment, education, or self-sufficiency such as transportation, housing, childcare, financial hardship, or legal issues?

• Less than one year of experience in
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

08

How many years of experience do you have building and maintaining relationships with employers, educational institutions, workforce partners, or community organizations to support participant success?

• Less than one year of experience
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

09

How many years of experience do you have entering participant information, tracking outcomes, maintaining case notes, and utilizing databases or case management systems?

• Less than one year of experience
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

10

How many years of experience do you have facilitating workshops, trainings, job readiness activities, life skills classes, or group coaching sessions?

• Less than one year of experience
• One to two years of experience
• Three to four years of experience
• Five or more years of experience
• No experience

11

Are you bilingual in a language that is not English?

• Yes
• No

12

If you selected a bilingual option above, please identify the language(s).

Required Question

Employer City of Richmond

Address 900 East Broad Street

Suite

Richmond, Virginia, 23219

Phone (804) 646-5660

804-646-5660

Website https://www.rva.gov/