Employment Success Coach

Reports To: Director of Community Engagement

Status: Full-Time, Part-Time, Exempt

Location: Greater Milwaukee Area, Hybrid, Remote

Salary Range: $45,000 – $50,000 (for full-time) – Benefits Package Included

About the Organization:

Common Ground Works is committed to empowering individuals and families by providing transformative career support, education, and access to opportunity. We believe employment is more than just a job—it’s a pathway to dignity, stability, and generational success. We take a holistic, person-first approach to workforce development by meeting people where they are and walking alongside them as they navigate barriers and build their futures.

Position Summary:

The Employment Success Coach is a compassionate and driven professional who works directly with job seekers to remove social, economic, and systemic barriers to employment. This role focuses on whole-person support and provides individualized coaching to help clients clarify goals, build job readiness, develop soft skills, and access sustainable employment opportunities.

This position is ideal for someone who believes in the power of human potential, has a deep understanding of the challenges underserved communities face, and thrives on helping others succeed.

Key Responsibilities: Client Coaching & Support

• Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive one-on-one coaching to individuals navigating unemployment or underemployment.
• Co-develop individualized employment action plans with clients, focused on long-term goals and immediate needs.
• Support clients in building confidence, self-advocacy, and the soft skills necessary for workplace success.
• Identify and address personal or systemic barriers such as transportation, childcare, housing, justice involvement, or lack of credentials by connecting clients to appropriate internal or external resources.

Workforce Preparation

• Guide clients through resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, and workplace etiquette.
• Facilitate group-based workshops or career readiness sessions focused on professional communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and time management.
• Collaborate with internal trainers and curriculum designers to align support services with program offerings and employer needs.

Relationship Building & Advocacy

• Build trusted, long-term relationships with clients, encouraging accountability and celebrating growth.
• Act as a connector and advocate for clients, working with partner organizations, community resources, and employers to promote access to opportunities.
• Maintain consistent follow-up with clients post-employment to ensure job retention and satisfaction, offering coaching as needed.

Team Collaboration & Learning

• Work closely with internal staff and external partners to ensure a cohesive support network around each client.
• Contribute insights from client experiences to help shape program improvements and address systemic inequities.
• Participate in ongoing professional development, community learning, and peer coaching.

Qualifications:

• Passion for equity, social justice, and supporting marginalized communities.
• Experience in workforce development, social work, education, case management, or a related field.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and motivational coaching skills.
• Ability to hold space for individuals facing complex challenges with empathy and without judgment.
• Knowledge of local workforce systems, community resources, and employment trends preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to manage multiple clients and responsibilities simultaneously.

Preferred Attributes:

• Lived experience related to the barriers faced by the populations we serve.
• Background in trauma-informed care or motivational interviewing is highly valued.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization transforming lives and communities.
• Work in a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment.
• Opportunities for continued growth, innovation, and leadership.