Employment Skills Trainer

Skills Trainer

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put our heart and soul into everything we do.

We are seeking a Skills Trainer to join our team in Middlesex County, NJ. Location: Must live and be willing to travel within county. Earn: $22.12 per hour + mileage reimbursement

The Skills Trainer plays a key role in supporting students with disabilities as they prepare for future employment through New Jersey's Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program.

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.

Job 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

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans 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