Employment coach

Location

1 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 and or 1360 Garrison Ave. Bronx, NY 10474

Reports To

Director of Employment and Business Services

About The HOPE Program

The HOPE Program (HOPE) empowers New Yorkers to build stronger futures through comprehensive training, employment, career advancement, and lifelong support. For forty years, HOPE has stood as a pillar for individuals facing systemic barriers to economic opportunity.

Our vision of a Home Of Prosperity and Empowerment goes beyond traditional job placement by preparing participants for sustainable careers and addressing systemic challenges in underserved neighborhoods. Through our signature workforce development initiatives and holistic support services, we help participants navigate the challenges of unemployment, underemployment, and financial instability.

Our employees embody HOPE’s core values—Heart, Opportunity, Purpose-Driven, and Excellence—by embracing a growth mindset, showing empathy, and remaining deeply committed to the individuals we serve. We are committed to breaking the cycles of poverty and exclusion that impact so many in our city.

Position Summary

The HOPE Program is seeking an Employment Coach who will provide one-on-one and group based support, connecting HOPE program participants to job opportunities, ensuring placement and continued employment while offering career advancement opportunities that lead to increased hourly wages. The position receives daily supervision from the Employment and Retention Manager and reports to the Director of Employment and Business Services. The Employment Coach is expected to work a minimum of four days from the office across all HOPE and partner locations and work schedule will include evening and weekend hours.

The Employment Coach will work with program participants to assess their level of job readiness, understand and guide their career plans, review and finetune their baseline resume, cover letter and interviewing skills, and assist them in searching for in-person and remote work to connect them to jobs that are aligned with their career plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Build relationships and manage a caseload of up to 150 program participants and alumni annually, ensuring that 80% of them secure employment within 90 days after program completion for first time placement and within 30 days for re-placements. This equates to 10 job placements per month. Report progress towards goals and outcomes on a weekly basis.
• Ensure a minimum 85% 90-day retention rate, 75%180-day retention rate, and a 65% 365-day retention rate, by maintaining regular contact with participants, assessing job satisfaction, performance and sustainability of the job, providing consistent coaching, and partner with other HOPE staff to make referrals for other support services as needed. Report progress towards goals and outcomes on a weekly basis.
• Through the use of a holistic, student-centered approach, provide consistent and high quality employment-focused group based and one-on-one engagements and services to ensure that students are qualified candidates for the job opportunities that they seek. More specifically,
  • Develop an engaged coaching relationship with participants.
  • Partner with participants on their short and long term career goals and provide guidance in understanding their potential career pathways.
  • Perform job readiness assessments and co-develop coaching plans that will address barriers to employment.
  • Ensure all students have a complete and updated employment portfolio, including resumes, cover letters, career profile, and references.
  • Support in tailoring materials and practicing for interviews for open positions and ensure they are equipped for self-directed search.
  • Screen for HOPE-developed internships and job opportunities with trusted employers.
  • Maintain communication with students regarding applications, interviews, hiring, new hire follow-up, and documentation.
  • Secure proof of employment for new hires as well as for capturing retention milestones, either directly from program graduates or from the employer partner.
  • Develop and facilitate group-based work that includes (peer-to-peer) job search and applications activities, interview preparation, networking events, hiring events, panel discussions and other sessions and events that among others include employer partners or provide participants and alumni with valuable resources that support job placement and retention.
  • Coordinate activities designed to help graduates retain jobs and develop new skills to advance in their careers, including facilitating discussions on topics such as: retention incentives, conflict management, dealing with difficult employees/employers, employee rights, and financial planning.
  • Make career advancement training opportunities available that eventually will lead to increased hourly wages and salaries.
  • Conduct outreach to engage graduates for participation in day-time, evening, and weekend workshops, groups sessions, and events.
  • Engage program alumni as ambassadors for The HOPE Program and as contributors for providing services and facilitating events and activities.
• Support the Business Development Managers with identifying and stewarding employer partner relationships.
• Enter all required data into the Salesforce database and document activities in a timely manner to include employment and retention verification documentation, case notes, up to date participant contact, demographic, and other profile data,
• Participate in case conferencing with other employment and program staff
• Document participant and employer feedback and testimonials.
• Support a culture of HOPE for Life where participants remain engaged with The HOPE Program and pay it forward when they can.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

The following are the ideal qualifications for this position. A successful candidate will possess a compelling combination of strengths in some areas and the self-awareness to identify areas where they are eager to learn and grow.

• At least two years of case management or workforce development experience.
• Demonstrated ability to support clients in meeting their personal goals (this position is measured against placement rate).
• Ability to adapt and course correct with focus on meeting goals and outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written organizational and communication skills.
• Experience documenting interactions with clients within a 48 hour period and using a CRM (HOPE uses Salesforce).
• Google Suite, Zoom and Internet research proficiency.
• Ability to build rapport with a wide range of clients and practice client-centered counseling.
• Must be a strong team player who works well independently.
• Problem solver, flexible and adaptable.
• Experience in developing processes is preferred.

Work Environment

• This is a hybrid position working at least 4 days per week at HOPE and partner locations and work schedule will include evening and weekend hours.
• Work hours for this position may be subject to change based on organizational needs. Employees may be required to adjust their schedules, including working outside of standard business hours, as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.
• Employees serve as ambassadors of The HOPE Program and may be called upon to represent the organization at community events, partner meetings, public forums, and other external engagements, helping to advance our mission and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, including employers and community partners.

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $50,000 to $60,000, and is dependent upon experience. HOPE provides a full package of benefits including healthcare,vision and dental insurance, retirement plan, competitive vacation (plus half-day Fridays during July and August), and 12 paid holidays.

The HOPE Program is an equal opportunity employer.