Academy Behavior Specialist

Description

Division: Academy
Reports To: Lead Clinician
Supervises: None
FLSA Status: Exempt

About the Role

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.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Enrolled in or completion of a master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis, Education, Psychology, or a related field preferred 
• 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) 

Skills & Competencies

• 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

Requirements

Key Responsibilities 

Compassion with Purpose

• 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 

Structure Builds Safety

• 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 

Professionalism in Every Moment

• 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 

Positivity Drives Progress

• 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 

Education is Empowerment

• 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 

Consistency Creates Change

• 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 

Reunification is Our Mission

• 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 

Advocacy Through Action

• 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 

Additional Responsibilities

• 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 

Physical Requirements

This role requires the ability to safely perform essential job functions in a highly active environment, including but not limited to:

• Continuous supervision of individuals 
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and physical engagement 
• Supporting individuals up to 50 lbs frequently and up to 100 lbs occasionally 
• Responding to behavioral crises, including physical intervention when necessary and trained 
• Participation in toileting, feeding, and hygiene support 
• Working in classroom, community, and outdoor environments 

Employees must maintain physical stamina, emotional regulation, and the ability to remain alert throughout the workday.

Work Environment

Behavior Specialists work in dynamic environments, including classrooms, therapy spaces, gyms, outdoor settings, and community locations. The role involves:

• Exposure to high noise levels and frequent movement 
• Interaction with individuals exhibiting challenging behaviors (e.g., aggression, elopement, self-injury) 
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids and biohazard conditions (PPE provided) 
• Regular cleaning and sanitation responsibilities 
• Use of mechanical, instructional, and assistive equipment 

Safety & Compliance

• 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 

Confidentiality

This position includes access to Protected Health Information (PHI). All employees are required to maintain strict confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Core Values

Our work is grounded in:

• Compassion with Purpose 
• Structure Builds Safety 
• Professionalism in Every Moment 
• Positivity Drives Progress 
• Education is Empowerment 
• Consistency Creates Change 
• Reunification is Our Mission 
• Advocacy Through Action