Child Development Specialist

Child Development Specialist

Join a team dedicated to making a lasting impact on children’s lives!

At the Center for Developing Minds, we are searching for a skilled and compassionate Child Development Specialist to work closely with children, particularly those with developmental disabilities or behavioral challenges. This role focuses on individualized care, fostering developmental growth, and building critical skills through intentional play and evidence-based practices.

What You’ll Do:

Group Intervention:

• Plan and teach a 3-day-a-week class (2.5 hours per day) for 3–8 children with developmental delays.
• Collaborate with 1–2 classroom aides to support children with social, behavioral, sensory, cognitive, and communication needs in a preschool-like environment.
• Lead weekly 1-hour small group sessions (2–6 children) designed to enhance social communication, emotional regulation, behavior, attention, and play skills.

Individualized Intervention:

• Provide 1:1 sessions focusing on areas such as literacy, parent-training, speech therapy, or occupational therapy, tailored to your expertise.
• Develop and adapt lesson plans to meet individual needs in real-time.

Comprehensive Assessments and Treatment Planning:

• Conduct formal and informal assessments of cognitive, social-emotional, motor, communication, and adaptive skills.
• Create detailed treatment plans that integrate the child’s needs within their family, school, and community contexts.

Support Adaptive Skill Development:

• Assist with toileting, feeding, dressing, and other essential adaptive skills as part of intervention plans.

Family and Community Collaboration:

• Communicate with families and schools, attend IEP or 504 meetings, and provide education to ensure coordinated support.

Team Support and Training:

• Supervise classroom aides, provide feedback, and mentor staff in your areas of expertise.

What We Expect:

Educational Requirements: Master’s degree in special education, psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, child development, or a related field.

• Maintain or advance all current certifications and educational level.
• Pursue ongoing education/training on assessments, intervention, and child development. 
• May be required to obtain California or county certification related to individual qualification such as teaching license. 

Experience:

• At least 2 years of experience working with children with developmental needs, with 1 year focused on autism spectrum disorder in children under 6.
• Previous experience with therapy groups for children or parents is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and multi-tasking abilities.
• Proficiency in written and verbal English communication.
• This job requires intervention involving dysregulated children. The Child Development Specialist must be able to remain regulated while safely responding to a child’s emotional or aggressive outburst. 
• CPR Certification preferred (or willingness to obtain one). 
• Comfort with technology, including electronic medical records (experience with CHARM EHR is a plus).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently transition between sitting on the floor/chairs and standing.
• Strength to lift, move, or push up to 50 lbs.
• Stamina to match the energy of young children and safely respond to emotional or behavioral outbursts.

Why Work With Us?

At the Center for Developing Minds, we provide a supportive, interdisciplinary environment where your expertise and passion can thrive. You’ll work alongside a team of dedicated professionals, including physicians, therapists, and educators, all committed to supporting children and their families. We value diversity and are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.

Apply Now

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and their families, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume. We are looking forward to hearing more about you and your love of kids!  

Learn more about our mission at www.devminds.com.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time