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 Pre‑ETS Paid Internship Grant to join our team in Ocean County, NJ.

Earn: $20.91/hour.

The Skills Trainer under the Pre‑ETS Paid Internship Grant supports transition-age students with disabilities (ages 14–21) in New Jersey by delivering structured work readiness training before and after a 150‑hour paid internship at integrated employer sites. In addition to the five core Pre‑ETS components—job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, post-secondary counseling, workplace readiness, and self-advocacy training—the Skills Trainer handles essential preparatory tasks such as obtaining working papers, setting up payroll accounts, managing stipends, and coordinating with schools, families, DVR, and employers.

Skills Trainers actively recruit internship sites, communicate expectations with employers, and oversee field placements to ensure meaningful alignment with students’ career interests. They are instrumental in facilitating smooth transitions between training and paid work, including wrap-up debrief and next-step planning. This is a grant-funded position aligned with NJDOL DVRS objectives, designed to provide 150 hours of real-world paid work within a structured training continuum.

Skills: 

• Knowledge of Pre ETS components, NJ DVRS Paid Internship objectives, and student eligibility criteria.
• Strong ability to develop student-aligned internship placements, manage employment logistics, and coordinate multifaceted stakeholder interactions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to navigate employers, students, parents, schools, and systems.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management capabilities to manage training modules, internships, and documentation seamlessly.
• Familiarity with employment onboarding processes including tax paperwork, payroll setup, and benefit explanations.
• Proficient in SETWorks, Microsoft Office, email, virtual communication platforms, and team-based coordination tools.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing workplace conditions, internship logistics, and procedural updates.
• Crisis-management and problem-solving skills to anticipate and address internship site or student challenges proactively.
• Commitment to inclusive, strengths-based coaching, and supporting transitions into competitive integrated employment.

Responsibilities: 

Training & Paid Internship Coordination

• Deliver six weeks of structured training around the internship:
• 3 weeks pre-internship (workplace readiness, self-advocacy, job exploration).
• Post-internship wrap-up phase to reflect on experience and plan next steps.
• Coordinate all aspects of internship placement:
• Recruit and confirm 150-hour paid internship sites aligned with career interests.
• Arrange essential employment logistics: working papers, payroll account setup, stipend coordination.
• Facilitate smooth transitions into and out of internships including site changes as needed.
• Provide support during work-based learning experiences and manage students in integrated employer settings.

Employer & Community Outreach

• Develop relationships with community businesses to serve as paid internship sites.
• Promote the Pre-ETS Paid Internship model among employers, DVR counselors, school staff, and families.
• Represent the program at outreach events, ensuring employer satisfaction and ongoing engagement.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as liaison among students, parents, schools, DVR counselors, employers, and internal program staff.
• Communicate internship progress, needs, and outcomes to all relevant parties.
• Address and de-escalate concerns involving student performance, workplace fit, or behavioral issues.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete daily intake logs, activity notes, and internship progress in SETWorks.
• Submit Monthly Activity Reports reflecting billable hours, stipend payments, and service completion.
• Maintain attendance, payroll documentation, and compliance records as required by NJ DVRS grant standards.

Program Administration

• Support program sustainability goals: track outcomes and contribute to growth planning.
• Participate in team meetings and training opportunities facilitated by Boggs Center or CDS.
• Perform additional duties as needed within the scope of the grant.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• 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.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

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. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. 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!

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, education, psychology

Salary : $21