Lead Behavior Specialist

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; New Jersey; On-site; USD 63,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Behavior Specialist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will lead a multidisciplinary team serving children and adolescents with complex emotional and behavioral needs. You will combine hands-on therapy with strategic program development to improve outcomes while mentoring staff and integrating evidence-based practices.

This role requires a Master's in a relevant field, 5+ years of direct care experience, and active engagement in professional growth, clinical supervision, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in psychology, social work, special education, school psychology, ABA or similar field.
• Minimum of five years direct care experience with children with social, emotional, behavioral needs.
• Relevant licenses or certifications preferred (see licenses section).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary behavior therapist for assigned patients, creating and implementing interventions.
• Conduct functional behavioral assessments and track target behaviors.
• Provide psychoeducational, social and emotional skills training; psychotherapy if licensed.
• Coordinate daily treatment room operations, schedules, coverage, and activities.
• Supervise and mentor Behavior Specialists and Assistants in protocols and activities.
• Train and orient new staff; ensure accurate patient documentation and compliance.
• Maintain a safe environment and apply non-violent crisis interventions when needed.
• Collaborate with leadership to improve program performance and efficiency.
• Participate in program development, research, and staff professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Clinical decision making

Functional behavioral assessment

Communication (verbal & written)

Knowledge of child development

Computer skills

Education

Master's degree in psychology/social work/education/ABA or related field

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheet

Database familiarity

Job description

SHIFT:

Day (United States of America)

A Brief Overview

Are you a behavioral health professional who thrives in leadership, problem-solving, and hands-on clinical work? CHOP is seeking a Lead Behavior Specialist to take on a high-impact role working with children and adolescents facing complex emotional and behavioral challenges.

This position is ideal for someone who wants more than a caseload – someone ready to lead a team, shape treatment strategies, and influence program outcomes.

Why This Role Stands Out

Leadership with Purpose – guide and mentor a team of behavioral specialists while maintaining an active clinical role

Strategic Clinical Work – design and implement evidence-based behavior plans that drive measurable change

Team-centered Environment – collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals, schools, and families

Professional Growth – participate in program development, staff training, and research or evaluation initiatives

What you will do

• Serve as the primary behavior therapist for assigned patients, developing and implementing treatment interventions.
• Conduct functional behavioral assessments and track patient target behaviors.
• Provide psychoeducational, social, and emotional skills training (and psychotherapy if licensed).
• Coordinate daily treatment room operations, including schedules, staff coverage, and activities.
• Supervise and provide guidance to Behavior Specialists and Assistants in implementing protocols and activities.
• Train, orient, and mentor new behavior team staff.
• Ensure accurate and timely patient documentation and compliance with all policies and regulations.
• Maintain a safe therapeutic environment and implement non-violent crisis interventions when needed.
• Collaborate with leadership to improve program performance and efficiency.
• Participate in program development, research, and staff professional development activities.

Education Qualifications

• Master’s Degree psychology, social work, special education, school psychology, applied behavioral analysis or a similar field of study Required

Experience Qualifications

• At least five (5) years experience with direct care of children with social, emotional and behavioral needs. Required

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of typical and atypical child and adolescent development and related areas.
• Knowledge of youth psychopathology.
• Knowledge of therapy and psychological assessment techniques with youth and families.
• Knowledge of behavioral methodology and principles.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English.
• Computer skills including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
• Ability to direct and motivate staff teams.
• Critical analysis and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other health care team providers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other health care team providers.

Licenses and Certifications

• Certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention - Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc. (CPI) - within 3 months - Required
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - - Preferred or
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - - Preferred or
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - - Preferred or
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) - - Preferred

**To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must receive an annual influenza vaccine.

EEO / VEVRAA Federal Contractor | Tobacco Statement**

SALARY RANGE:

$62,900.00 - $80,200.00 Annually

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you’re working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

At CHOP, we are committed to fair and transparent pay practices. Factors such as skills and experience could result in an offer above the salary range noted in this job posting.