Interventionist - Term

Vanderbilt; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University seeks an Interventionist for the Peredo Lab to implement naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for Latino families. The role is a 30-hour, 75% full-time term position working both on campus in Nashville and in the field with families, with some remote work possible.

Responsibilities include delivering intervention with high fidelity, coaching caregivers, and coordinating visits under IRB and NIH guidelines.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent experience; relevant experience with autism preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English; strong written Spanish.
• Experience with young children and families in clinical/research settings.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to follow detailed research protocols and procedures with fidelity.

Responsibilities

• Deliver intervention according to study procedures.
• Deliver evidence-based interaction strategies in Spanish with fidelity.
• Coordinate intervention visits with families, in written and verbal form.
• Adapt intervention to family needs while maintaining protocol fidelity.
• Provide in vivo coaching and feedback to caregivers during play and routines.
• Maintain confidential records and project logs and assist with recruitment outreach.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish-English

Strong communication

Organizational skills

MS Office

Field research

Autism spectrum knowledge

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Degree in Psychology / Special Education

Tools

REDCap

Job description

Position Summary:

The Interventionist is a vital position within the Peredo Lab in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. This individual will support an NIH Phase 1 clinical trial investigating a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI) approach for Latino families. The Interventionist is a 30 hour, 75% full-time term position responsible for implementing intervention procedures with participants in accordance with Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations, federal and sponsor regulations and guidelines, NIH guidelines, Vanderbilt Policies, and research protocols. The Research Assistant II reports directly to the Senior Research Associate/Project Director. The Interventionist will support multiple aspects of project operations, including recruiting potential participants, communicating with potential and enrolled participants, delivering NDBI strategies at high fidelity in person to young children on the autism spectrum, coaching families to implement NDBI strategies, managing research materials and data according to IRB and all other relevant policies, and participating in research team meetings. This position requires bilingual competency in Spanish and English, with strong written Spanish skills; native fluency in Spanish is preferred. This position also requires experience and comfort interacting with young children, children with developmental disabilities, and their families.
Note: The anticipated duration of this role is dependent on continuing availability of funding. Work hours are flexible and based on research participant appointments and team needs, which are scheduled at all times of day, including morning, afternoon, late afternoon, and may also be scheduled on the weekends. This role is hybrid including days on campus and out in the field in the Nashville metro area; some remote work is allowed.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Deliver intervention according to study procedures
• Deliver evidence-based interaction strategies in Spanish at criterion levels of fidelity with young children on the autism spectrum
• Communicate in a timely and professional manner with participating families to coordinate intervention visits, both verbally and in writing
• Adapt intervention delivery to meet individual family needs while maintaining fidelity to the research protocol
• Model evidence-based interaction strategies while explaining use of the strategies in parent-friendly terms
• Support parents to use intervention strategies with their children in naturalistic contexts by providing in vivo coaching and feedback during play, book-sharing, and other naturally-occurring routines
• Provide information to parents and respond to questions accurately, clearly, and respectfully during sessions
• Develop culturally sensitive, family-centered intervention plans in collaboration with caregivers
• Support participant recruitment activities
• Assist with outreach and recruitment efforts targeting Latino families in the community
• Communicate with prospective and enrolled families in Spanish, both verbally and in writing
• Conduct phone screenings with prospective participants to determine initial eligibility in accordance with IRB protocols
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date participant tracking logs and screening records
• Follow up with families who require additional contact to support retention
• Maintain organized and confidential records of project documents, session logs, correspondence, video and audio records, and materials

Supervisory Relationships

This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities. The Interventionist reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Research Associate/Project Director and the Principal Investigator.

Education and Certifications

Master's degree or equivalent experience is required. Relevant equivalent experience may include at least 5 years of experience working with children with autism and coaching caregivers. A degree in a field such as Psychology, Special Education, Communication Sciences, Human Development, or a related field is preferred. Certification for human subjects research is required (or must be completed upon hire).

Experience and Skills

• Required

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English, with strong written Spanish skills; native fluency in Spanish is preferred
• Background in clinical practice and/or research related to early childhood development, developmental disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder
• Experience working with young children and families
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both Spanish and English
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work professionally and sensitively with diverse Latino families
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Ability to follow detailed research protocols and procedures with fidelity
• Ability to lift and carry materials, walk across campus daily, and stand for extended periods
• Access to reliable personal transportation for participant coordination and materials collection

Strongly Preferred

• Prior experience in a research setting, particularly in clinical or behavioral research
• Experience with REDCap or other data management systems
• Cultural competency and demonstrated commitment to equitable and inclusive research practices
• Demonstrated ability to complete data entry accurately and efficiently
• Clinical or research experience working with young children with autism spectrum disorders in naturalistic contexts

ABOUT US

At Vanderbilt University, our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of "America's Best Large Employers" as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice. We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.