Child Life Program Manager

Essentia Health; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 59,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Educational programs

Flexible scheduling

Generous time off

Wellness resources

Job summary

Essentia Health is seeking a Child Life Program Manager to lead education and support initiatives for patients and families within the Children’s Hospital. You will coordinate program development, collaborate with healthcare teams, and advance child-centered care practices across inpatient and ambulatory settings.

You will research evidence-based child development methods, analyze program data, and drive strategic planning to enhance volunteer involvement and donor partnerships, ensuring

Qualifications

• Leadership and coordination of patient and caregiver education and support programs.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices for child development and health experiences.
• Ability to analyze data to guide outreach focus areas.

Responsibilities

• Promotes development of children to optimize responses to medical care and reduce stress.
• Assesses patients and families to plan interventions.
• Provide play, learning, self-expression, family involvement and peer interaction opportunities for children.
• Advocates for children and families in ambulatory and inpatient settings.
• Manage donor donations: identify needs, coordinate utilization, maintain donor relationships.
• Lead development and expansion of the Child Life Program through strategic planning and resource cultivation.
• Provide consultative support to Essentia departments on developmentally sensitive facilities and processes.
• Coordinate and oversee volunteers in pediatric patient care areas.

Skills

Program management

Child Life

Education

Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, child life, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work or related field

Job description

Job Description

Essentia Health is hiring a Child Life Program Manager on our Child Life team!

Building Location

Building B - St Marys Medical Center

Department

2005290 CHILDRENS HOSPITAL - SMMC HOSP

Education Qualifications

Job Description

The Child Life Program Manager is responsible for providing leadership, program development and coordination of patient and caregiver education and support programs. Acts as a primary liaison between healthcare teams and key community and internal partners. This position requires the knowledge of and ability to research evidence-based practices for child development and health experiences, and to analyze and interpret data to make recommendations about areas of focus for outreach efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Promotes the continuous development of children to optimize their responses to medical care, to minimize psychological stress and trauma, and to increase understanding and coping with illness and health care experiences
• Assesses patients and families with the goal of planning interventions
• Provides children with opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery, for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction
• Advocates for children and families in ambulatory and inpatient settings
• Manages donor donations, including identifying program needs, coordinating donation utilization, and maintaining positive donor relationships
• Leads efforts to build, expand, and enhance the Child Life Program through strategic planning, program development, and resource cultivation
• Provides consultative support to all Essentia departments including evaluation of developmentally sensitive facilities, materials and processes
• Coordinates and oversees volunteers’ activities during volunteers' time in pediatric patient care areas

Education Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree with a preference in therapeutic recreation, child life, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work or related field

Required Qualifications

• 3 years of related experience, preferably in an acute care children’s facility

Licensure/Certification Qualifications

• Child Life Professional Certification or ability to obtain within 6-12 months. Must maintain certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification required or ability to obtain within 3 months

Fte

1

Shift Rotation

Day Rotation (United States of America)

Holidays

No

Compensation Range

$28.40 - $42.60

Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at [phone].