Summer Youth Program Counselor at COUNTY OF MERCER – TRENTON, New Jersey

SUMMERYOUTH PROGRAM COUNSELOR

DEPARTMENT: Mercer County Office of Training& Employment Services (MCOTES)

SALARY: $20.00 per hour

LOCATION: Mercer County, New Jersey

POSITION(S)AVAILABLE: 2–3Seasonal Positions

CLOSINGDATE: Untilpositions are filled

POSITIONOVERVIEW:

The MercerCounty Office of Training & Employment Services (MCOTES) is seeking 2–3Summer Youth Program Counselors to support the Summer Youth Jobs ConnectionProgram. This program provides eligible youth ages 16–24 with meaningful workexperience, job readiness training, and life skills development.

Counselorsserve as mentors and liaisons between youth participants and worksitesupervisors. This position plays a critical role in supporting participantsuccess, monitoring progress, and reinforcing workforce readiness skillsthroughout the program.

This is aseasonal position. Counselors must be available for the full duration of theprogram.

ProgramDuration: May 4,2026 – October 31, 2026
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hours: 35 hours per week

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Mentoryouth participants and address concerns on behalf of the worksite supervisorand/or participant.
• Conductweekly worksite visits to monitor participant progress and performance.
• Review andverify digital time records for accuracy and compliance.
• Completerequired program documentation and reports in a timely manner.
• Developand present job readiness presentations and assist in facilitating workshops.
• Supportyouth in developing workplace professionalism, communication skills, and careerreadiness competencies.
• Maintainregular communication with supervisors, participants, and MCOTES leadership.
• Performrelated duties as assigned to support program success.

GENERALRESPONSIBILITIES (All MCOTES Employees):

• Provideexcellent customer service and disseminate accurate information toparticipants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Maintainconfidentiality of participant information and adhere to PII best practices.
• Treatparticipants, colleagues, and community partners with professionalism andrespect.
• Adhere toCounty and MCOTES policies and procedures, including Time and Attendance andDress Code requirements.
• Review andrespond to email and voicemail communications in a timely manner.
• Attend andactively participate in scheduled meetings and trainings.
• Otherduties as assigned by MCOTES Leadership.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be aMercer County resident.
• Minimum oftwo (2) years of college preferred.
• Previousexperience working with youth is required.
• Mustpossess reliable transportation for work-related travel throughout MercerCounty.
• Availabilityto work Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., for the full duration ofthe program.
• Strongresearch, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Proficiencyin Google Suite and Zoom.
• Familiaritywith the Mercer County area.
• Candidatesselected for this position will be subject to pre-employment background check,drug screening, and standard County onboarding procedures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of workforce readiness principles, youth development strategies,and professional workplace expectations.
• Ability to build rapport with youth participants and provide supportivementorship.
• Ability to assess participant progress and identify potential barriers tosuccess.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills for delivering workshops and jobreadiness sessions.
• Ability to manage multiple worksites and maintain organized documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with youth, supervisors, communitypartners, and leadership.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to exercise sound judgment indynamic situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive participant informationappropriately.
• Ability to work independently in the field while maintaining accountabilityand professionalism.

Mercer County EEO/ Civil Service Statement & Residency Requirements:

Mercer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, disability, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.

As a Civil Service employer under the State of New Jersey, all candidates must comply with New Jersey Civil Service Commission regulations and guidelines. Mercer County residency is required. Non-residents must establish residency within one (1) year of employment.

Mercer County is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws, specifically in accordance with the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.