Academy Behavior Specialist

Behavioral Health Allies•Kansas City, MO

4d•Onsite

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