Behavior Specialist - Education

Are you interested in making a positive difference in the lives of children with developmental disabilities? Consider joining our Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health team!

About the Role

Located at our school in Red Hook, Dutchess County, NY, this position is responsible for providing direction and mentorship to Education staff relative to behavioral strategies, and maintaining order and appropriate behavior by addressing students' actions and encouraging/reinforcing positive behavior. The Behavioral Specialist will maintain knowledge of each resident's whereabouts to ensure attendance at activities and counsel residents as necessary. They serve as a role model and reference person to students dealing with academic, personal, social, and vocational problems, provide crisis intervention as needed, and assist the program by completing projects as assigned by the principal or designee.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and mentorship to Education staff on behavioral strategies.
• Maintain order and appropriate behavior by addressing students' actions and reinforcing positive behavior.
• Ensure attendance at activities by monitoring residents' whereabouts.
• Counsel residents as necessary.
• Serve as a role model and reference for students dealing with academic, personal, social, and vocational problems.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Assist the program and complete projects as assigned by the principal or designee.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• RBT Certification preferred.
• At least two years of experience working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) in an educational or residential setting, including one year in a crisis intervention-type position.
• Free of dependency and abuse of illegal or illicit drugs, alcohol, inhalants, or other chemical/controlled substances.
• Ability to perform significant, prolonged, and frequent amounts of walking, standing, sitting, stooping, bending, and lifting of 70 lbs. or more.
• Using standard crisis intervention procedures, must be able to singlehandedly effect the initial restraint of children and adolescents weighing between 75 and 150 lbs.
• Possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Pay

• With HS Diploma/GED: $22.50 - $24.08 per hour
• With BA/BS: $23.50 - $25.15 per hour
• With MA/MS or higher: $24.50 - $26.22 per hour

Schedule

Monday through Friday daytime schedule.

Benefits

• Paid orientation.
• Over 5 weeks of paid time off your first year.
• Quality low-cost benefits, plus student loan debt assistance and 30-day benefit eligibility waiting period for new hires.
• Access to the Savi Student Loan Checkup tool to help navigate the student loan system.
• ASCEND – the first career accelerator program exclusively for behavioral healthcare workers, offering career guidance, one-on-one coaching, skills development, and financial assistance, including tuition assistance and student loan repayment.
• Comprehensive health and welfare program (medical, dental, prescription drug, preventative care, and mental health services).
• Generous time-off (accruing from the first day), 403(b) retirement plan with matching benefit, and voluntary/employee-paid supplemental life and accident coverage.
• Employee assistance/work-life balance program.

About Devereux

Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight, and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational, and employment programs that positively impact the lives of 10,000+ children, adults, and their families every year. Our mission is to change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral, or cognitive differences.

With nearly 6,500 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools, and communities, serving individuals in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education, and foster care. Our culture is rooted in Servant Leadership, inclusivity, and a commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment.