Skills Trainer

Are you looking for an opportunity to grow your career while helping others do the same? At Waters & Sims , a member of the Merakey family of companies, we empower people living with disabilities to live, work, and integrate successfully into the community. We are seeking a full-time Skills Trainer to join our Supported Employment Services team in Middlesex County, NJ.

Earn: $22.12 per hour, plus mileage reimbursement

Position Details

The Skills Trainer plays a key role in supporting students with disabilities as they prepare for future employment.


Working closely with DVR counselors, schools, families, and the Program Coordinator, the Skills Trainer helps students identify realistic employment goals, build transferable skills, and access meaningful learning opportunities in the community. The role requires strong organization, compassionate communication, flexibility, and a deep commitment to empowering students on their path toward independence and competitive employment.

Through consistent service delivery, detailed documentation, and professional collaboration, the Skills Trainer ensures that students receive high-quality transition support while meeting program standards and billable expectations. This is a dynamic position ideal for individuals who are passionate about education, equity, and helping young people thrive.

This position is responsible for delivering structured, individualized instruction across five core areas: job exploration, work-based learning experiences, post-secondary education counseling, workplace readiness, and self-advocacy training.

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence when collaborating with employers, students, families, DVR counselors, and school personnel.
• Apply exceptional organizational and time-management abilities to manage training schedules, service delivery, documentation, and caseload priorities.
• Utilize proficiency in Microsoft Office, email communication, virtual meeting platforms, and team-based coordination tools to support daily operations.
• Adapt effectively to changing workplace conditions, service logistics, and procedural updates.
• Develop individualized, student-aligned employment goals and coordinate communication across multiple stakeholders.
• Conduct intakes and assessments to determine student readiness and service needs.
• Deliver all five required Pre-ETS components, including Job Exploration Counseling, WBLE, Postsecondary Counseling, Workplace Readiness, and Self-Advocacy instruction.
• Support students in accessing essential employment-related resources such as technology, clothing, and tutoring.
• Maintain accurate daily documentation in SETWorks, manage a structured service calendar, and meet the expectation of 31 weekly billable hours.
• Collaborate with Program Coordinators and external partners while completing Monthly Activity Reports and ensuring compliance with funder and agency requirements.

Benefits

Waters & Sims employees have access to benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan with pre-tax and Roth contribution options.
• DailyPay, providing access to your pay when you need it.
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Care.com access for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling and legal and financial resources through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle services.
• Free personal and professional development courses through Pryor Online Learning.

About Waters & Sims

Waters & Sims helps individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment. Through personalized coaching, skill development, employer partnerships, and ongoing workplace support, our team helps the people we serve build greater confidence and independence.

Waters & Sims is a member of the Merakey family of companies. Merakey is a nonprofit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees support nearly 40,000 individuals and families across 12 states each year.

Learn more about careers with Waters & Sims.

Merakey and its family of companies strictly follow a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Waters & Sims and Merakey are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers. We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, disability status, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to building teams that reflect the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human services, education, psychology a must
• Reliable vehicle + Valid Driving License a must
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office a must
• Case management experience and proper documentation experience preferred
• Crisis-management and problem-solving skills to anticipate and address internship site or student challenges proactively preferred