Child Life Specialist III-NICU

Novant Health; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Benefits starting day one

Structured onboarding

Career growth opportunities

Top patient safety ratings

Job summary

Novant Health is seeking a Certified Child Life Specialist III in our NICU to deliver therapeutic interventions, support families, and help pediatric patients cope with hospitalization in a safe, supportive environment.

In this clinical leadership role, you will mentor teammates and students, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, develop child life programs to promote normalization and coping, and advocate for patients and families across care settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in child development or related field is required; graduate degree preferred.
• Total of 10,400 hours as a Certified Child Life Specialist or 8,320 hours with a Master's degree.
• Certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals is required.
• Meets child life competencies and participates in departmental education and committee work.

Responsibilities

• Provides therapeutic child life interventions for patients, siblings and families.
• Develops child life programs to promote normalization and positive coping.
• Advocates for patients and families within healthcare settings and the community; supports emergencies.
• Oversees child life students and volunteers when necessary.

Skills

Mentoring & leadership

Child life theory & interventions

Staff education

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Development or related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

What We Offer

Join our team as a Certified Child Life Specialist III in our NICUand make a lasting impact on children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. In this advanced role, you'll provide emotional support, therapeutic interventions, and family-centered care that helps pediatric patients cope with healthcare experiences in a safe, supportive environment.

As a clinical leader, you'll mentor teammates and students, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and help shape programs that enhance the patient and family experience. If you're passionate about advocacy, education, and creating meaningful moments for children and families, we'd love to have you on our team.

Why become a Teammate at Novant Health?

• Future Forward Program to help you advance your career.
• Relocation assistance available.
• Benefits starting day one.
• Structured onboarding and dedicated preceptors.
• Career growth and skill building opportunities.
• Top ratings in patient safety from The Leapfrog Group.
• Quality and safety recognition from CMS.

What You'll Do

Process: Provides therapeutic child life interventions for patients, siblings and families. Develops child life programs to promote normalization, positive coping, and to minimize stress and negative effects of healthcare experiences. Provides support for family and multidisciplinary team in emergency situations (codes, critical care transport, bereavement). Advocates for patients, siblings and families throughout healthcare settings, and in the community. Plans, implements and assists with support groups when applicable.. Oversees child life students and volunteers when necessary

Education: Provides education to the multidisciplinary team on child life strategies for providing optimal care to pediatric patients and their families. Educates the community about the certified child life specialist role and benefit to pediatric patients and families.

Compliance: Complies with departmental, hospital and regulatory policies and procedures.

What We're Looking For

• Education: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree, required. In Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Recreational Therapy, Psychology, or related field. Graduate Degree, preferred.
• Experience: 5 years, required. A total of 10,400 hours as a Certified Child Life specialist or 8,320 hours with a Master's degree.
• Licensure/Certification: Certification - Assoc of Child Life Professionals, required.
• Additional Skills (required): Meets child life competencies and other skills/activities in accordance with the job description. Maintains The Association of Child Life Professionals membership. Participates in child life departmental meetings and other related functions. Serves as a role model for peers; precepts and orients new staff. Sits on an approved committee or workgroup through Novant Health, The Association of Child Life Professionals or a local Child Life association.Administers initial competencies to new staff. Provides departmental and interdisciplinary education. Develops and coordinates new clinical programming. Participates on research working groups. Presents at conferences/publishes on topics relevant to Child Life. Assists with competency development. Plans and facilitates staff team building activities. Leads clinical supervision when Lead CLS is unavailable. Ability to drive/travel to multiple facilities/locations as needed.Meets child life competencies and other skills/activities in accordance with the job description.. Participates in child life departmental meetings and other related functions. Demonstrates mastery of advanced child life practice skills. Sits on an approved committee or workgroup through Novant Health, and the child life professional community. Administers initial competencies to new staff. Provides departmental and interdisciplinary education. Develops and coordinates new clinical programming and supports quality improvement initiatives related to pediatric care in the system. Assists with competency development and clinical supervision as needed.

Why Choose Novant Health?

At Novant Health, we believe remarkable care starts with compassion for our patients, our communities, and each other. We value belonging, courage, personal growth, and teamwork, creating a space where everyone is respected, supported, and safe to show up as their full selves.