Financial Coach/Career Specialist

Overview

Under the direction of the Center for Working Families (CWF) Director of Financial Empowerment, the Financial Coach/Career Specialist is responsible for assisting clients in developing a plan of action to help them reach their financial/employment goals and achieve economic stability.

Responsibilities

The general duties and responsibilities of the position are included in, but not limited to, the information listed below.

• Ability to articulate the mission, objectives, and programs of the CWF, the Office of Workforce Development, and the Worker Empowerment Cabinet.
• Conduct one-on-one financial coaching and engage clients in a long-term relationship. Assist clients in resolving existing problematic financial situations, while emphasizing proactive financial management moving forward.
• Work with individual clients to develop a budget and provide strategies for budget improvements; pull client's credit report/score and provide strategies for credit building; document the client's balance sheet and provide planning for increasing net worth; develop plans of action and provide tools, resources and accountability to the client to help him/her meet goals; understand income support services and connect clients to these services, as needed.
• Use Salesforce and other software to document and reflect outcomes of clients accurately and in a timely manner; complete the Combined Financial Assessment (CFA) for financial coaching clients; work with the entire CWF team to ensure that any changes to the client's CFA (such as a new job, new benefit, or change in credit score) are properly documented.
• Assist the CWF Director, Outreach Coordinator, and Lead Financial Coach in creating recruitment, outreach, and retention strategies for participants to stay in the coaching program for 18-24 months. Assist the Bridge Program Manager by providing coaching to participants in that program. Conduct workshops as a form of outreach and education, including topics such as budgeting, saving, banking products, credit building, identity theft, and more.
• Monitor client retention and provide services to working clients; conduct general benefits screening for income supports; assist clients through the application process as needed; maintain contact with clients and document outcomes in Salesforce.
• Market CWF services to and maintain relationships with employers; obtain job vacancy information and refer appropriate job candidates.
• Work closely with culturally and ethnically diverse populations; familiarize and connect them with an array of employment opportunities in fields that include: construction and trades, services, health care, industrial-related opportunities, professional opportunities, etc.
• Assist in design and implementation of outreach programs aimed at potential employers. Develop and maintain recruitment and placement programs with employers in and around Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan and surrounding areas to cultivate and enhance employment opportunities for residents. Market recruitment and placement programs to employers.
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with community-based recruitment sources and with employment and training programs, as assigned. Refer customers to training programs and classes, and/or employment opportunities.
• Monitor a job opening referral network that includes public, private, and community-based posting of job openings and provides feedback on the appropriateness of referrals and the success of referred candidates. Collaborate with employers to connect residents to career opportunities. Identify placement opportunities through contact with public agencies as well as private commercial, industrial, and service industry organizations and developers. Refer prospective clients who only seeking assistance with job search to the MassHire Career Center.
• Interview and screen job seekers/clients. Conduct job readiness training workshops. Assess customer skills; perform job matching to appropriate employment opportunities. Meet client activity goals on a monthly, quarterly, or as needed basis. Create and maintain manual and electronic data and files. Ensure accuracy and completeness of records.
• Support CWF tax site with credit building and coaching services, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and three plus (3+) years of work experience preferred.
• Experience should include working with the public and more than one (1) year in financial and/or employment coaching, training, or a related field.
• Knowledge of credit, debt, and money management; savings and non-predatory financial products and services is necessary.
• Must have the ability to work with culturally and ethnically diverse populations, including individuals in prison re-entry programs.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with local employer needs and challenges is required.
• Must have the ability and willingness to work as part of a small team across all program components.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite; familiarity with Salesforce is highly desirable.
• Strong interviewing, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Must be available and willing to work some evenings and occasional weekends to accommodate client and program needs.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MM2-5

Hours per week: 35