Personal Trainer - Adaptive Fitness

Special Strong Naples•Naples, FL

5d•$35 - $45•Hybrid

About The Position

This is not a typical personal training job. Progress with our athletes doesn't always look like a new personal best or being five pounds down. Some days, a win is an athlete making eye contact for the first time in weeks, getting through a full session without needing to step away, or just showing up and trying. Some sessions will be hard. Some families are exhausted, and you'll be one of the steadiest parts of their week. If you need fast, visible results to feel like you're doing good work, this probably isn't your role. But if something about that description made you sit up a little, if you've ever wished you could do this kind of work and didn't quite know it existed, keep reading. Special Strong SWFL is the proud franchise of the nationally recognized Special Strong brand, dedicated to providing adaptive fitness training for individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental challenges. We don't train the diagnosis, we train the individual in front of us. Families come to us after searching for someone who actually gets it, someone who sees their athlete, not their diagnosis. Our clients and their families love us for our compassionate, results-driven approach that fosters confidence, strength, and independence. Our job is to be that person, every session. We're looking for an Adaptive Fitness Trainer to join our mission-driven team and work directly with our athletes at partner gyms and community spaces around Collier County. In this rewarding role, you'll work one-on-one and in small groups with individuals of all abilities building real relationships with athletes and their families, not just run a program. This is a part-time role with flexible hours built around your availability.

Requirements

Attitude and heart first. Experience second.
A patient, empathetic, no-judgment approach where curiosity comes before conclusions, always
Comfort and confidence working with individuals of all ability levels, including those who are nonverbal or have behavioral needs
Reliable and self-motivated; you don't need someone standing over you to show up ready
CPR/AED certified, or willing to get certified before starting

Nice To Haves

Experience with individuals with disabilities is a strong plus, whether that's professional (PT/OT, special education, direct care) or personal
A personal training certification (NASM, ACE, NSCA, ISSA, etc.) is preferred, not required; the right person without one will be supported through Special Strong University's certification pathway

Responsibilities

Running initial assessments and tracking real progress over time, in whatever form that progress takes
Building and adapting fitness programs for athletes with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and developmental needs
Modifying exercises and training techniques to accommodate individual abilities and limitations
Communicating consistently with families so they always know how their athlete is doing
Showing up reliably; the families and athletes counting on you are the reason the schedule matters
Creating a training environment that feels safe, patient, and genuinely welcoming; every time, even on hard days
Growing your skills through Special Strong's training and certification pathway