Log In
Sign Up
About The Position
At BHA Academy, Behavior Specialists are essential leaders in advancing our mission of empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral needs to achieve academic, social, and emotional success. Guided by our Core Values—Compassion with Purpose, Structure Builds Safety, Professionalism in Every Moment, Positivity Drives Progress, Education is Empowerment, Consistency Creates Change, Reunification is Our Mission, and Advocacy Through Action—Behavior Specialists lead with both clinical expertise and compassionate purpose. This role collaborates across interdisciplinary teams to ensure behavioral supports, instructional strategies, and data-driven interventions align with each individual’s IEP and functional behavior needs. Behavior Specialists serve as coaches, mentors, and clinical leaders, ensuring fidelity of implementation across all learning environments. This is a safety-sensitive position requiring the ability to maintain continuous supervision, respond to behavioral crises, drive individuals when required, and administer medications as trained.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 7+ years of relevant experience required
- Master’s degree or higher preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral disorders (school-based experience strongly preferred)
- Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills
- Experience with behavior plan development and implementation
- Knowledge of IDEA, IEP processes, and data-driven decision-making
- Ability to interpret and use behavioral and academic data to guide interventions
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data collection systems
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Emotional resilience and professionalism in high-stress situations
- Demonstrated ability to coach, collaborate, and lead teams effectively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Must successfully implement approved crisis intervention techniques (PCMA or equivalent)
- Must remain continuously alert during supervision responsibilities
- Must comply with all safety, documentation, and regulatory requirements
- Subject to fitness-for-duty evaluation when safety concerns arise or after extended leave
- This position includes access to Protected Health Information (PHI). All employees are required to maintain strict confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
Nice To Haves
- Enrolled in or completion of a master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis, Education, Psychology, or a related field preferred
Responsibilities
- Approach individuals with empathy, dignity, and high expectations
- Support the development of trauma-informed, individualized Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
- Model calm, supportive leadership during behavioral escalation and crisis situations
- Develop and implement structured systems that promote safety, predictability, and regulation
- Conduct behavior assessments and design proactive intervention strategies
- Train staff in consistent routines, reinforcement systems, and environmental supports
- Maintain accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, and progress
- Maintain confidentiality, ethical standards, and professional conduct at all times
- Coach and support staff implementing PBIS-based strategies
- Actively participate in IEP meetings, family consultations, and team collaboration
- Foster a strengths-based, solution-focused team culture
- Recognize and celebrate individual and staff growth using data and reflection
- Maintain flexibility and optimism during changing or challenging situations
- Integrate behavioral supports with academic instruction to increase independence and engagement
- Train staff in evidence-based behavioral strategies, prompting systems, and reinforcement methods
- Use data collection and analysis to guide instruction and measure IEP progress
- Engage in ongoing professional development
- Ensure fidelity of behavior plans through observation, feedback, and data review
- Lead crisis response and de-escalation using approved intervention strategies
- Align all programming with BHA protocols and regulatory requirements
- Design interventions that support transition to less restrictive environments
- Collaborate with schools, families, and external partners to support reintegration goals
- Track and document progress toward reunification outcomes
- Advocate for the rights, dignity, and inclusion of all individuals served
- Provide family training and support to promote consistency across environments
- Serve as a clinical advocate in multidisciplinary and IEP settings
- Staff training, coaching, and performance evaluation as assigned
- Participation in on-call behavioral crisis rotation
- Completion of documentation, billing, and reporting requirements
- Support special projects and organizational initiatives as needed
