Behavior Specialist

Beacon Specialized Living; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Beacon Specialized Living in Kalamazoo, MI, is seeking a compassionate Behavior Specialist to partner with clinical teams and develop individualized behavior support strategies for individuals with IDD, autism, and complex behavioral needs. You will train care staff, monitor data, participate in care planning, and help ensure person-centered, evidence-based care across residential and community settings.

This full-time role emphasizes mentoring others, crisis management, documentation, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field (Master's preferred).
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Experience conducting behavioral assessments and implementing interventions for individuals with complex, high-intensity behaviors.
• Experience teaching and coaching staff to implement Behavior Support Plans.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to pass required background checks and meet state and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop individualized Behavior Support Plans (BSPs).
• Train, mentor, and coach Care Team staff on behavioral interventions.
• Provide crisis intervention support and post-incident debriefings.
• Monitor behavioral data, analyze trends, and adjust treatments.
• Collaborate with families, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to support goals.
• Participate in care planning meetings and ensure accurate documentation.
• Assist with investigations related to abuse, neglect, or incidents.
• Participate in an on-call rotation as needed.

Skills

Behavioral assessments

Staff coaching

Communication skills

Crisis management

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's in Psychology

Master's preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Make a Difference Every Day as a Behavior Specialist - Join Beacon and Help Transform Lives!

At Beacon, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live their best life. As a leading, private equity-backed behavioral health organization, we provide residential services and supports for children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Autism, Severe Mental Illness (SMI), and complex behavioral needs across the country. We're looking for a compassionate, skilled Behavior Specialist who is passionate about improving lives, empowering care teams, and creating meaningful, lasting change for the individuals we support.

This is a full-time position (40 hours/week; Monday-Friday)

What You'll Do

As a Behavior Specialist, you'll be a key clinical partner, developing individualized behavior support strategies while coaching and supporting direct care staff. You'll collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to promote positive outcomes and ensure individuals receive person-centered, evidence-based care.

Your Impact Will Include:

• Developing, implementing, and updating individualized Behavior Support Plans (BSPs)
• Training, mentoring, and coaching Care Team staff on effective behavioral interventions
• Providing crisis intervention support and post-incident debriefings
• Monitoring behavioral data, analyzing trends, and recommending treatment adjustments
• Collaborating with families, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to support individual goals
• Participating in care planning meetings and contributing to positive clinical outcomes
• Maintaining accurate documentation and electronic records
• Assisting with investigations related to abuse, neglect, or behavioral incidents
• Participating in an on-call rotation as needed

What We're Looking For - Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology or a related field (Master's preferred)
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Experience conducting behavioral assessments and implementing interventions for individuals with complex, high-intensity behaviors
• Experience teaching and coaching staff to implement Behavior Support Plans
• Valid driver's license
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to pass required background checks and meet state and regulatory requirements

Preferred Experience

• 1–2 years of experience supporting adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or Serious Mental Illness
• Experience working within residential or community-based behavioral health settings

What Makes You Successful

• Compassionate and person-centered
• Calm under pressure with strong crisis management skills
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams
• Passionate about mentoring others and improving quality of care