Child Life Specialist-Lead

University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jackson (MS); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS seeks a Lead Child Life Specialist to provide expert services, reduce stress in pediatric patients, and supervise child life staff. The role involves coordinating playrooms, teaching coping strategies, and partnering with medical teams to support families during hospitalization.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree, a Child Life Certification, and two years of experience, with hospital exposure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years working as a Child Life Specialist, one year in a hospital setting.
• Certification in Child Life from the Child Life Council and maintain active membership in the organization.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and trains child life staff and oversees playrooms, activity rooms, and classrooms.
• Collaborates with medical staff to support patient care and family education.
• Prepares children for and assists during tests and procedures using coping skills and education.
• Maintains knowledge of child life theory and evidence-based practices; provides in-services for staff.
• Fosters positive relationships with patients, families, and hospital staff.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Child development knowledge

Stress management

Ability to work in stressful env.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Child Life Certification

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

## Child Life Specialist-LeadApply: Jackson, MS: Full time: Posted Today: R00054185Hello,Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Please review the following instructions prior to submitting your job application:* Provide all of your employment history, education, and licenses/certifications/registrations. You will be unable to modify your application after you have submitted it.* You must meet all of the job requirements at the time of submitting the application.* You can only apply one time to a job requisition.* Once you start the application process you cannot save your work. Please ensure you have all required attachment(s) available to complete your application before you begin the process.* Applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment. Once recruitment has closed, applications will no longer be accepted.After you apply, we will review your qualifications and contact you if your application is among the most highly qualified. Due to the large volume of applications, we are unable to individually respond to all applicants. You may check the status of your application via your Candidate Profile.Thank you,Human Resources## Important Applications Instructions:**Please complete this application in entirety by providing all of your work experience, education and certifications/****license. You will be unable to edit/add/change your application once it is submitted.**## Job Requisition ID:R00054185## Job Category:Allied Health## Organization:Children's Clinical Support Services-Child Life## Location/s:Main Campus Jackson## Job Title:Child Life Specialist-Lead## Job Summary:Provides expert child life services by helping reduce the stress and anxiety in children in a hospital setting and provides a variety of emotional, psycho-social, recreational, and health related educational needs. Acts as a resource to other child life staff. Assists child life staff in the development, implementation, and evaluation of child life services. Maintains quality standards in child life services. Delegates when appropriate. Consults with medical and other health care staff regarding patient care. Functions as a lead child life specialist to the unit and/or team.## Education & Experience**Education and Experience Required:**Bachelor's degree and two (2) years working as a Child Life Specialist, one of those years must be in a hospital setting.**Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required:**Certification in Child Life from the Child Life Council and maintain active membership in the organization.**Preferred Qualifications:**Master’s degree## Knowledge, Skills & Abilities**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:**Knowledge of child cognitive, social, and skills development methods and techniques. Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients, family members, and staff. Ability to provide a supportive and caring environment for children, families, and staff. Ability to alleviate stress and anxiety in children. Ability to work in a stressful environment.**Responsibilities*** Supervises and performs the coaching, training, and education of child life specialists, child life assistants and recreational therapists.* Supervises overall management of playrooms, activity rooms, and classrooms.* Fosters positive and professional interpersonal relationships with patient/families, hospital staff, community representatives, and visitors. Supports families during hospital stay or challenging events.* Participate in patient/family teaching about hospital and/or procedures.* Participate in professional development by attending workshops, reading professional journals and networking with coworkers. Ensures child life is using evidenced based practice. Provides in-services for department/unit staff and child life staff.* Supervises therapeutic and diversional play.* Assesses and proficiently prioritizes patient needs through chart 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 practice.* Maintains knowledge and mastery of child life theory and best practices.* Ability to quickly build report with patients/families of diverse populations. Advocates for patients and families in the medical setting.* 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 exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, occasional handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, occasional exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional travelling to offsite locations, frequent activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, frequent work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, occasional bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, occasional climbing, occasional crawling, occasional crouching/stooping, occasional driving, occasional kneeling, frequent pushing/pulling, frequent reaching, frequent sitting, frequent standing, frequent twisting, and frequent 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:09/24/2026