Child Life Specialist

University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson seeks a Child Life Specialist to help reduce stress and anxiety in pediatric patients through emotional support, therapeutic play, and education. You will collaborate with families and care teams to promote coping skills and comfort during hospital visits.

Required: Bachelor's degree and completion of a Child Life Internship; certification by the Child Life Council is preferred. This is a full-time, day-shift role on main campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and completion of Child Life Internship.
• Certification by the Child Life Council preferred.
• Experience with pediatric patients is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Supervises therapeutic and diversional play.
• Assesses and prioritizes patients’ needs through chart review and family contact.
• Prepares children for medical tests and procedures through education and coping skills.
• Supports families during hospital stays or challenging events.
• Participates in patient/family teaching about hospital procedures.
• Engages in professional development by attending workshops and reading journals.

Skills

Child development

Interpersonal skills

Caring environment

Stress management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Child Life Internship completion

Job description

Job Requisition ID: R00052482

Job Category: Allied Health

Organization: Children's Clinical Support Services-Child Life

Location/s: Main Campus Jackson

Job Title: Child Life Specialist

Job Summary

Helps reduce the stress and anxiety of children in a hospital setting and provides a variety of emotional, psycho-social, recreational, and health related educational needs.

Education & Experience

Education and Experience Required: Bachelor’s degree and completion of Child Life Internship

Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required: N/A

Preferred Qualifications: Certification by the Child Life Council

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of child cognitive, social, and skills development methods and techniques.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients and family members.
• Ability to provide a supportive and caring environment for children.
• Ability to alleviate stress and anxiety in children.
• Ability to work in a stressful environment.

Responsibilities

• Supervises therapeutic and diversional play.
• Assesses and prioritizes patients’ needs through chart and cardex review, collaboration with staff and co-workers, and personal contact with patients and family members.
• Prepares children for and assists children during medical tests and procedures through education, rehearsal, and coping skill development.
• Supports families during hospital stays or challenging events.
• Participates in patient/family teaching about hospital and/or procedures.
• Participates in professional development by attending workshops, reading professional journals and networking with co-workers.
• The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.
• Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Requires occasional travelling to offsite locations, occasional bending, occasional lifting and carrying more than 100 pounds, occasional climbing, occasional pushing/pulling, occasional reaching, occasional sitting, occasional standing, occasional twisting, and constant walking (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more).

Time Type

Full time

FLSA Designation/Job Exempt

Yes

Pay Class

Salary

FTE %

100

Work Shift

Day

Benefits Eligibility

Grant Funded: No

Job Posting Date

07/30/2026

Job Closing Date (open until filled if no date specified):

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is committed to educating the next generation of health professionals, discovering new cures and treatments and providing the highest quality health care. We foster environments that support respect, compassion and belonging for all faculty, staff and students as well as patients and visitors. Our employment, academic, research and clinical care practices reflect these commitments. UMMC is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), disability, age, sex (as that term is defined in applicable laws such as 45 CFR § 92.101(a)(2) and binding court decisions), religion, genetic information, veteran’s status and any other status protected by applicable law. UMMC also prohibits retaliation against those who report discrimination or harassment and against those who participate in the Medical Center’s investigation and handling of such reports. Further, UMMC complies with all applicable statutes, regulations and executive orders regarding sex discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity UMMC operates including in admission and employment, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistic Act (“Clery Act”) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (“SaVE Act”). UMMC’s commitment to nondiscrimination applies to all of its programs, services, opportunities and activities, including but not limited to all employment, academic, research and clinical care practices and extends to all students, applicants for admission, employees, applicants for employment, affiliates, subcontractors, on‑site contractual staff, third party or community members, visitors to any of our campuses and others participating in UMMC programs or receiving UMMC services. With respect to employment in particular, this commitment applies to all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, employment, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions and termination. UMMC maintains an affirmative action program in accordance with applicable laws. Consistent with these laws, UMMC takes affirmative action to recruit, employ, advance and prevent discrimination against qualified individuals. For additional information, please check here: Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). In compliance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal civil rights laws and to ensure individuals with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to, have an equal opportunity to participate in and have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our programs, activities, services and other benefits, UMMC provides the following in a timely manner and free of charge: reasonable modifications to our policies, practices, or procedures for qualified individuals with disabilities when such modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability; appropriate auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities (including individuals’ companions with disabilities) which may include qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats including braille and large print and language assistance services for individuals with limited English proficiency (including individuals’ companions with limited English proficiency) which may include qualified interpreters and information written in other languages.

Additional Information and Support

Complaint Process You may request additional information, accommodation or file a complaint through the applicable process identified below. Inquires or complaints relating to discrimination or other employment issues may be referred to the Office of Employee Relations, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505 or emailed to [e-mail]. If you are a UMMC Student who needs more information or needs to file a complaint, please click here. You may also report any allegations of UMMC’s noncompliance with any legal requirement using UMMC’s Compliance Line. If you are anyone who has experienced, witnessed or otherwise has knowledge of any alleged violation of UMMC’s Title IX policy, please click here. If you are a Visitor/Patient who needs more information or needs to file a complaint, please click here.

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2026 Benefits at a Glance - University of Mississippi Medical Center