Pediatric Child Life Specialist

Legacy Health; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 41,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Legacy Health is seeking a Pediatric Child Life Specialist to support pediatric patients and families at Randall Children’s Hospital. The role uses therapeutic play, education, and emotional support to ease hospitalization experiences and promote coping in children and teens.

Responsibilities include collaborating with an interdisciplinary team, planning activities, and mentoring students and volunteers. Relocation assistance is available for new hires.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or related field with all clinical coursework for clinical Child Life Certification completed.
• Completion of a 600-hour Child Life internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Work experience with children, youth, and families in non-healthcare settings also preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support pediatric and adolescent patients and families coping with hospitalization, treatment, or loss.
• Use therapeutic play, education, and preparation to reduce fear and anxiety.
• Help patients build coping skills and self-expression through evidence-based interventions.
• Provide guidance and emotional support for parents, siblings, and caregivers.
• Partner closely with nurses, physicians, and therapists to ensure emotionally safe, developmentally appropriate care.
• Plan and lead activities, celebrations, and events that bring joy and normalcy to the hospital experience.
• Mentor students and volunteers, and contribute to ongoing education within the hospital and community.

Skills

Therapeutic play

Emotional support

Education and preparation

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Mentoring students

Electronic systems proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Child Life

600-hour Child Life internship

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Job description

Overview

Pediatric Child Life Specialist – Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel

Relocation assistance available for new hires!

At Legacy Health, we’re passionate about making life better for others—especially our youngest patients and their families. As a Child Life Specialist, you’ll bring hope, comfort, and emotional support to children experiencing illness, injury, or hospitalization. Your compassion and creativity in therapeutic play, education, and emotional support will make a lasting difference in their healing journey.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is one of the leading pediatric centers in the Pacific Northwest. Designed exclusively for children, our state-of-the-art facility combines advanced medical care with a warm, family-centered environment. From routine care to the most complex cases, families trust our team to provide exceptional, compassionate care—every day.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

As a valued member of our interdisciplinary care team, you will:

• Support pediatric and adolescent patients and families coping with hospitalization, treatment, or loss


• Use therapeutic play, education, and preparation to reduce fear and anxiety


• Help patients build effective coping skills and self-expression through evidence-based interventions


• Provide guidance and emotional support for parents, siblings, and caregivers


• Partner closely with nurses, physicians, and therapists to ensure emotionally safe, developmentally appropriate care


• Plan and lead activities, celebrations, and events that bring joy and normalcy to the hospital experience


• Mentor students and volunteers, and contribute to ongoing education within the hospital and community

Why Join Legacy

• Work with a passionate, mission-driven pediatric team


• Access professional growth and education opportunities


• Contribute to a culture that values empathy, teamwork, and innovation


• Relocation assistance available for candidates new to Legacy Health

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or related field with all clinical coursework for clinical Child Life Certification completed.


• Completion of a 600-hour Child Life internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.


• Work experience with children, youth, and families in non-healthcare settings also preferred.

Skill Requirements:

• Plans and implements comprehensive Child Life services.


• Broad knowledge of child developmental theories, specific illnesses/diagnosis, medical terminology physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of children 0-21 years.


• Ability to assess and respond to the developmental and psychosocial needs of infants, children, youth, and families using the theories of human growth and development, therapeutic play, and emotionally supportive interventions.


• Provides emotionally supportive play and preparation for pediatric patients undergoing surgery, medical tests, and procedures.


• Enhances patient's and family's understanding of medical procedures and diagnosis by facilitating developmentally appropriate procedural preparation and support.


• Partner with interdisciplinary team, including patient and family, to create a collaborative plan of care.


• Demonstrates strong organizational skills, including effectively triaging patient and family needs.


• Ability to supervise child life students and volunteers.


• Demonstrates technology skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

Licensure

• Must obtain Certified Child Life Certification (CCLS) from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) within one year of employment.

Pay Range

USD $29.89 - USD $42.74 /Hr.

Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.

If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed.

Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.