Child Life Specialist - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

East Carolina University; Greenville (NC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

East Carolina University seeks a Child Life Specialist to deliver comprehensive psychosocial care to pediatric hematology/oncology patients and families in outpatient and clinical settings. The role collaborates with physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and students to meet developmental and emotional needs.

The position requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s in a therapeutic field, with CCLS certification or eligibility within nine months.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the therapeutic specialty area to which assigned.
• CCLS certification or be eligible for CCLS certification within nine months of hire.
• Experience in Childlife is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct developmental and psychosocial assessments, provide procedural preparation and coping support, and document interventions and patient progress (40%).
• Provide therapeutic and medical play, developmental activities, and age-appropriate interventions (15%).
• Support and educate patients and families, advocate for needs, and connect families with resources (10%).
• Coordinate, supervise, educate, and evaluate students, interns, volunteers, and other learners (25%).
• Support program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, community activities, and quality improvement (10%).

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the therapeutic specialty area

CCLS certification or eligibility within nine months

Job description

Child Life Specialist - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Job Title

Job Title Child Life Specialist - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Working Title Child Life Specialist - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 1.0

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Recruitment Range

Recruitment Range $44,513 - $94,487

Anticipated Hiring Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications.

Anticipated Hiring Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications. $65,070 - $72,300

Salary Grade Equivalency

Salary Grade Equivalency NC16

Work Schedule

Work Schedule Monday - Friday

Work Hours

Work Hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Position Location (City)

Job Category

Job Category Staff

Be a Pirate!

East Carolina University ( ECU ) is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities for its commitment to research, innovation, social mobility, and public service. Classified as a R1 institution by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, ECU is among the top 5% of research universities in the United States, an elite designation reflecting the highest levels of research activity, funding, and doctoral output.

Founded in 1907, ECU is a public, four-year university located in Greenville, N.C. , which is widely regarded as the cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of eastern North Carolina. Through education, research, healthcare, community engagement, athletics, cultural enrichment, and service, ECU enhances the quality of life for its students, the state and communities around the world. It is a great place to work, teach, and learn.

ECU’s commitment to impactful scholarship is further demonstrated through its repeated Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (2010, 2015, 2024), as well as its 2024 designation as a Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose institution. These distinctions recognize the university’s leadership in translating research into meaningful community partnerships and measurable societal benefits.

Academic Affairs , led by the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, comprises the university’s colleges, schools and libraries, along with other academic support and administrative units. Academic Affairs works collaboratively to strengthen ECU’s culture of academic excellence in line with our mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation.

The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University is composed of departments that function to increase the supply of primary care physicians to serve the state; improve the health and well-being of the region; and train physicians who will meet the healthcare needs of the state. The ECU Brody School of Medicine is aligned with ECU Health as a clinically integrated academic healthcare organization. This integration allows the two organizations to provide efficient, effective and high-quality care to eastern North Carolina residents. For more information, visit ECUHealth.org.

The Department of Pediatrics advances child health through comprehensive pediatric and subspecialty care, innovative clinical and basic science research, and excellence in academic medicine, improving outcomes for children and families across eastern North Carolina.

Primary Purpose of Position

This position is responsible for providing comprehensive Child Life services to pediatric hematology and oncology patients and their families across the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology outpatient clinic and other applicable ECU Health care settings. Reporting to the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Work Practitioner, the position works collaboratively with physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, other interdisciplinary team members, ECU Health Child Life staff, students, volunteers, and community partners to support the developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and their families.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Conduct developmental and psychosocial assessments, provide procedural preparation and coping support, and document interventions and patient progress (40%)
• Provide therapeutic and medical play, developmental activities, and age-appropriate interventions (15%)
• Support and educate patients and families, advocate for needs, and connect families with resources (10%)
• Coordinate, supervise, educate, and evaluate students, interns, volunteers, and other learners (25%)
• Support program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, community activities, and quality improvement (10%)

Minimum Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the therapeutic specialty area to which assigned. Some positions may require additional training, certifications, or licensure in speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other fields. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

License or Certification required by statute or regulation

None

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Experience in Childlife

License or Certification required by the Department

Certified Child Life Specialist ( CCLS ) certification or be eligible for CCLS certification at the time of hire. Certification must be obtained within nine (9) months of the initial date of hire.

Additional Instructions to Applicant

CLINICAL SUPPORT POSTION – NOT SUBECT TO STATE HUMAN RESOURCES ACT .

The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University is affiliated with ECU Health Medical Center, which serves as its teaching hospital, as well as the flagship hospital for ECU Health.

Employment in this position provides eligibility to participate in the UNC Optional Retirement Program ( ORP ) which offers matching employer contributions and employee control of investment choices, along with eligibility to participate in various Voluntary Supplemental Retirement Plans (401k, 403b, 457). This position is not eligible to participate in the NC Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System ( TSERS ). Additionally, this position offers multiple voluntary options for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance as well as various supplemental plans including Critical Illness, Flexible Spending Accounts, Cancer, and Disability.

While this position is not automatically eligible for the NC Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System ( TSERS ), new hires transferring from another North Carolina state agency and current ECU employees transferring internally who had been enrolled in TSERS in their previous employment will continue participation in TSERS . These individuals may be able to elect to participate in ORP if they had not been offered that option at the time of their initial enrollment into TSERS .

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 10/30/2026

Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date; If no closing date is indicated, the position will be posted until filled and may close at any time after the recruitment has been completed.

If no applicants apply who meet the required competency level and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications.

East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act ( ADAAA ) should contact the ADA Coordinator at [phone] (Voice/ TTY ) or ADA [e-mail] .

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. If highest degree earned is from an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, final candidates are required to have their degree validated as equivalent to the degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.

Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at [phone] or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to [e-mail]. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST .

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Please indicate where you learned about this job vacancy.
  • LinkedIn
  • Chronicle of Higher Education
  • CareerBuilder
  • Greenville Daily Reflector
  • Raleigh News & Observer
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • InsideHigherEd.com
  • Monster.com
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  • ECU Website
  • Other
• * Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment?
  • Yes
  • No