Self-Directed Employee (SDE)

Location:

Hunterdon County, NJ Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00

PM Pay:

$25.00/hour through

Acumen Hours:

About 30 hours/week, with room to grow Community & Independent Day Program Support - Help Build a Meaningful Day — Not Just Fill One We are seeking an enthusiastic, dependable, and creative Self-Directed Employee to work one-on-one with a young man in Hunterdon County who enjoys music, community outings, volunteering, and spending time with others. He, his family, and his support team are building an individualized day-program experience around his interests, abilities, relationships, and participation in community life. This is not a traditional caregiving job. We want someone who will join his team and help turn a person-centered plan into a real day. Working alongside him, his family, Supports Broker, and broader support team, the SDE will help facilitate planned community activities, volunteering, recreation, fitness, practical life skills, and opportunities to develop greater independence and social connection. His family and Supports Broker help identify and coordinate opportunities. The SDE is the person beside him who helps those opportunities happen. He is mostly nonverbal and communicates through facial expressions, gestures, and other nonverbal cues. He responds best to patient interaction, short one-step directions, and time to process and respond. He is also learning supported communication methods. What Might a Day Look Like? No two days need to look the same. His schedule will be developed with him, his family, his Supports Broker, and his team. The SDE helps facilitate that plan and supports his participation in activities such as: Community outings and recreation Volunteer experiences chosen with him and his team Fitness, walking, and wellness Music and other activities tied to his interests Practical independent-living and household skills Simple work-like tasks that build responsibility Libraries, parks, community centers, local businesses, classes, and events Time with peers and other social opportunities Communication, choice-making, and self-direction New experiences that help him discover additional interests He already enjoys music, community outings with peers, volunteer experiences, household activities, and simple one-step jobs. New activities may need extra support until they become familiar. The goal is not only to accompany him. It is to support his participation, encourage his independence, and help him get the most from the opportunities his team develops with him. The Person We Hope to Find The right person is patient, respectful, energetic, dependable, and genuinely interested in helping someone participate more fully in community life. He communicates differently. The right employee will listen, observe, and understand him rather than speaking for him. Limited eye contact is typical. He should always be included in conversation and given time to communicate. We are especially looking for someone who is: Patient and respectful. Comfortable with many forms of communication and with giving someone time to process and respond. Energetic and engaged. Enjoys being out in the community and participating alongside him, not watching from the sidelines. Creative and flexible. Can make an activity engaging, adapt when plans change, and find chances to learn within ordinary moments. Community-minded. Comfortable going with him to volunteer sites, recreation, fitness, events, and other plan-based experiences. Dependable and consistent. Familiarity, routine, and trust matter. A team player. Comfortable working with him, his parents, his Supports Broker, and the rest of his support network. Focused on independence. Understands the difference between supporting someone and doing the task for them. Support Needs He needs active supervision and assistance with community safety and certain activities of daily living. Because he has a seizure disorder, the employee will receive individualized training and must follow his health and safety protocols. Current guidance includes remaining with him during community activities and never leaving him alone in a vehicle. He generally responds well to calm, simple communication and one-step directions. Guidance emphasizes redirection, quiet space when needed, and avoiding long explanations, raised voices, or too many demands at once.

•Training and guidance on his communication preferences, individualized support, health, and safety needs will be provided.

Position Details Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00

PM Hours:

Approximately 30 hours per week

Pay:

$25.00 per hour

Payroll:

Paid through Acumen under New Jersey's Self-Directed Employee model

•Must Have Reliable transportation and the ability to accompany him in the community are essential.

Requirements:

Must complete New Jersey Self-Directed Employee (SDE) and Acumen onboarding, including required background checks and any other enrollment steps before starting work.

Experience:

Experience supporting adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities is preferred. Applicants with relevant experience in community recreation, education, direct support, or other person-centered settings are also encouraged to apply.

•There is potential for additional hours and expanded responsibilities as his program continues to develop. Why This Position Is Different This role is about partnership, participation, and possibility. He has a family and support team who know him well and are building a rich, person-centered life in his community. Supports Brokerage and his family help identify opportunities and shape the broader plan. The SDE is a key part of making that plan happen. On a given day you might go with him to a volunteer site, support a fitness or recreation activity, practice everyday living skills, enjoy music together, or help him become comfortable with something new. Sometimes success means helping him learn something new. Other times it means giving him more time, offering a prompt, encouraging him, or stepping back so he can do it himself. We are looking for someone who approaches each day by asking: How can I help him participate more fully today? How can I support him without doing for him what he can do himself? How can I turn today's activity into a chance for greater independence, confidence, or connection? This is not simply about providing care. It is about helping him build a meaningful day—and a meaningful life—one experience at a time. If this sounds like work that would be meaningful to you, we would love to hear from you.

Pay:

$25.00 per hour Expected hours: 30.0 per week

Benefits:

Flexible schedule

Work Location:

In person