Community Living Behavior Specialist

Behavioralhealth; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision insurance

401(k) & HSA

Short- and Long-Term Disability

PTO & Sick Time from Day 1

Wellness stipend

OnDemand Pay

Job summary

BHA Community Living seeks a motivated Behavior Specialist to support ABA services in residential settings. You will work under BCBA supervision to implement behavior plans and skill programs, collecting data and ensuring fidelity across shifts and environments.

The role emphasizes ethical practice, data-driven decision making, and person-centered support, with supervised fieldwork hours and collaboration with clinical teams across DSPs and nurses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• Enrolled in a Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis or related field.
• Actively pursuing BCBA certification with approved supervision agreement.
• Minimum 6 months of experience supporting individuals with behavioral needs.
• Experience in residential, educational, or clinical settings preferred.
• Strong understanding of ABA principles, data collection, and behavior intervention strategies.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and coaching skills.
• High attention to detail with data collection and documentation.
• Follow supervision structure and operate within defined scope.
• Valid driver’s license if applicable.

Responsibilities

• Implement Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and skill acquisition programs under BCBA supervision.
• Provide direct, hands-on support to individuals in residential settings.
• Collect, record, and maintain accurate behavioral and skill data in real time.
• Assist BCBA/LBA with assessments, data review, and plan implementation support.
• Ensure consistent ABA strategy application across staff, shifts, and environments.
• Support crisis response under clinical leadership using approved procedures.
• Train and model ABA strategies, reinforcement systems, and prompting techniques for DSPs.
• Monitor fidelity of plan implementation and report concerns.
• Participate in supervision meetings and maintain fieldwork documentation.
• Embed skill-building opportunities into daily routines and natural environments.
• Collaborate with clinical, operations, nursing, and direct care teams.
• Maintain active engagement with individuals served during all shifts.
• Support documentation, reporting, and clinical communication as required.
• Uphold ethical standards and operate within trainee scope of practice.
• Participate in on-call or crisis support rotation as assigned.

Skills

ABA principles

Data collection

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis

Pursuing BCBA certification

Job description

Description

About BHA Community Living: BHA Community Living provides structured residential support for individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral needs. Behavior Specialists play a key clinical support role by ensuring behavior plans are implemented with fidelity, data is accurately collected, and individuals receive consistent, person-centered support aligned with ABA principles and ethical clinical practice.

Position Summary:
Behavioral Health Allies (BHA) is seeking a motivated and clinically focused Behavior Specialist to support the implementation of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services within Community Living residential settings. This role is designed for individuals actively pursuing BCBA certification and completing supervised fieldwork hours under the direction of a BCBA/LBA.

The Behavior Specialist provides hands-on clinical and direct care support, ensuring behavior plans and skill acquisition programs are implemented with fidelity across residential environments. Working closely with Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Shift Supervisors, Operations, and Clinical teams, this role bridges clinical intent with day-to-day execution in the home.

This position operates strictly under supervision and within BACB, Missouri LBA, DMH, and BHA guidelines, with a strong emphasis on ethical practice, data-driven decision-making, and consistent, person-centered support.

What You’ll Do:

• Implement Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and skill acquisition programs as written under BCBA supervision
• Provide direct, hands-on support to individuals served in residential settings throughout daily routines
• Collect, record, and maintain accurate behavioral and skill acquisition data in real time
• Assist BCBA/LBA with assessments, data review, and behavior plan implementation support
• Ensure consistent application of ABA strategies across staff, shifts, and environments
• Support crisis response under the direction of clinical leadership using approved procedures
• Train and model basic ABA strategies, reinforcement systems, and prompting techniques for DSPs
• Monitor fidelity of behavior plan implementation and report concerns or inconsistencies
• Participate in supervision meetings and maintain required BACB fieldwork documentation
• Assist in embedding skill-building opportunities into daily routines and natural environments
• Collaborate with clinical, operations, nursing, and direct care teams to ensure aligned supports
• Maintain active engagement with individuals served during all shifts
• Support documentation, reporting, and clinical communication as required
• Uphold ethical standards and strictly operate within trainee scope of practice
• Participate in on-call or crisis support rotation as assigned

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis or related field
• Actively pursuing BCBA certification with approved supervision agreement
• Minimum 6 months of experience supporting individuals with behavioral needs preferred
• Experience in residential, educational, or clinical settings preferred
• Strong understanding of ABA principles, data collection, and behavior intervention strategies
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in high-pressure situations
• Strong communication, collaboration, and coaching skills
• High attention to detail with strong data collection and documentation skills
• Ability to follow supervision structure and operate strictly within defined scope
• Strong emotional resilience and consistency in applied settings
• Valid driver’s license meeting transportation requirements if applicable

Benefits & Perks

• Medical, Dental & Vision insurance through BCBS (6 plan options)
• 401(k), HSA, and Flexible Spending Account options
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage
• PTO and Sick Time accrue starting Day 1
• $100 monthly wellness spending account after 90 days
• OnDemand Pay (access pay when needed)

Starting Pay: Our compensation is competitive within the market. The starting rate for this position begins at $27.21 per hour, with your final offer based on a combination of your education, relevant experience, and overall qualifications