We are currently hiring for a Pre-Employment Skills Trainer to work with high school students with disabilities in Middlesex County.

Since 1996, Waters & Sims Employment Services has provided Supported Employment services to those with barriers to employment in Monmouth, Ocean & Middlesex counties. We are passionate about raising the bar of employment options and opportunities for our consumers and seek a person who shares this passion. Our employees excel at supporting their consumers in securing competitive integrative employment and providing ongoing, long-term support to foster independence. A very rewarding career experience!

Supporting our Pre-Employment and Training Services Program (Pre-ETS) you would be working with Special Services departments in local high schools by working with their students in preparing them for employment. All New Jersey students with disabilities ages 14 through 21 who are either 1) eligible for special education; 2) receiving accommodations under Section 504; or 3) have a medically documented disability, and intend to pursue employment, can request needed Pre-ETS services. The Federal law known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires State vocational rehabilitation agencies to set aside at least 15% of their federal funds to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities to prepare them for competitive integrated employment. Skills Trainers will work one-on-one in a classroom or virtual setting with a student during their high school years to engage and instruct the student in the five Pre-ETS components. Using a variety of assessments, career exploration, and workplace learning experiences the students’ interests, skills, abilities, and aptitudes are discovered. Curriculum development to achieve the desired outcome of the five Pre-ETS components is an important responsibility of this position. Coordinating referrals from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and local high schools, as well as community outreach to high schools and local employers will be a vital part of this position.

As a Skills Trainer, you will be working with students by instructing/training them in the following five components to help prepare them for competitive integrative employment:

1. Job Exploration Counseling/Assessments

2. Counseling on Post Secondary Education Options

3. Workplace Learning experience (volunteer work experience and/or unsubsidized employment)

4. Workplace Readiness Training to develop social skills and independent living

5. Instruction in Self Advocacy

Successful applicants must:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in Counseling, Psychology , Social Work, Special Education or related field. • Live within Monmouth County and be willing to travel throughout the county as needed using your own vehicle (mileage reimbursed) • Have excellent time management skills • Be flexible • Be able to juggle multiple projects at once • Have strong problem-solving skills • Have strong verbal and written skills • Feel comfortable job developing in person and on the phone with potential employers • Be able to provide strong advocacy and coaching skills • Be able to work independently, position is in the community and NOT a desk job • Have a strong desire to help consumers reach their full potential by preparing for the workforce after they graduate from school

This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is:

• Achievement-oriented -- enjoys taking on challenges, even if they might fail • Autonomous/Independent -- enjoys working with little direction • Detail-oriented -- would rather focus on the details of work than the bigger picture • Innovative -- prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity • Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous • People-oriented -- enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects • Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction