opdc-financial-coach-posting

Job Posting: Financial Coach Organizational Overview: Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) is a community-based organization in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood with a 34-year history of serving the community. OPDC builds a better Oakland and helps neighbors thrive. JobLinks is our workforce and financial capability program serving low-income adults from around the city.

We build clients’ interview skills, help them create resumes, and assist them in applying for jobs.

Additionally, we offer financial education, counseling, and coaching to equip clients to manage their finances. Over the long term, our job seekers find work, reduce debt, repair credit, build assets, and begin to break free of the cycle of poverty.

Position Overview: The financial coach provides direct financial education, counseling, and coaching to low- and moderate-income individuals who are enrolled in JobLinks. This person works in tandem with our employment specialists and income supports staff to ensure that clients are getting assistance and showing progress across these three major service areas. This person engages and motivates clients, possesses a strong understanding of personal finances, has the ability to teach that knowledge to others, and has his or her personal financial life in order. The financial coach focuses services in a one-on-one format, but also conducts small group classes and workshops on topics such as budgeting, credit building, and banking products.

He or she convinces clients about the value of financial capability training, and engages clients in long-term relationships to make progress. The position reports to the Assistant Director.

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Bachelor’s degree in social work, finance, education, or a related field.

Certification from a national purveyor of financial capability training, such as Justine PETERSEN, NeighborWorks Training Institute, the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, Sage Financial Solutions, or the Center for Asset Building Opportunities.

A demonstrated ability to counsel and coach low- and moderate-income clients, in a culturally-sensitive manner, toward financial flourishing, including budgeting, asset building, credit building, and debt reduction. Previous work experience in the financial sector (banking, lending, insurance, investments) is a plus.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to master other software packages.

Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Excellent relational and communication skills, especially among diverse audiences.

Skill in coaching and serving clients so that they perform their best.

An outcome orientation and demonstrated ability to organize, plan, persuade, multitask, and handle details.

Knowledge of HIPAA regulations pertaining to confidentiality laws that encompass the social service and healthcare fields.

Commitment to and enthusiasm for OPDC’s values, vision, and purpose.

Responsibilities: A. Client Interaction  Assist low-income clients to develop short- and long-term plans of action that are intended to help them resolve current financial maladies, shift their perspective to proactive financial management, and help them set and reach financial stability goals  Help clients create saving and spending plans and coach clients to stick to them  Access and assess clients’ credit reports and scores and help them to correct errors, build credit, and improve scores  Develop and conduct financial education workshops covering topics such as budgeting, savings, banking products, credit building, and identity theft B. Resources and Partnerships  Work with mainstream financial institutions to understand the needs of our target audience so they can provide products and services that fit  Identify, build relationships with, and deploy referral organizations to help assist clients meet their financial goals (e.g. housing counseling agency, legal aid help, health care applications, etc.)

C. Program Administration and Outcome Tracking  Maintain clients' files, records, and pertinent data pertaining to their financial health and stability  Track the stories and successes of program participants using a client management system, to document and reflect client outcomes in an accurate and timely manner  Document and provide reports for Executive Director and Board of Directors, including those needed for invoicing – placement, attendance, verification of employment, etc. – as required D. Collaboration with Colleagues  Promote and connect clients to colleagues in employment services and income supports counseling  Work with the entire JobLinks team to ensure that any changes to clients’ financial status (new job, new benefit, change in credit score) are properly documented Employment Status: This position is grant-funded and will start as a 12-month position, classified as Exempt and Temporary, without benefits (except for Workers Compensation and Social Security) as outlined in OPDC’s Employee Handbook. Pending future available grant monies, this position is likely to become classified as Exempt, Regular Full Time, with benefits, possibly at the six-month mark. Ideally, the candidate chosen can start by February 1.

How to Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume in PDF format to Bryan Perry, Assistant Director for Workforce and Strategy, via email at bperry@opdc.org. This position, posted December 12, 2014, will remain open until filled.