Child Development Specialist

Positive Development • Thousand Oaks, CA

18d • Onsite

About The Position

Positive Development is hiring a part-time Child Development Specialist to work one-on-one with autistic children in their homes and/or center-based settings. The role uses play-based, relationship-focused interactions to help children build communication, social, and daily living skills. Specialists create meaningful connections, follow a relationship-based intervention model, document session notes and goal outcomes, and collaborate with clinicians and supervisors. The position offers hands-on experience with evidence-based developmental care and is designed to support professional growth in fields such as psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, education, counseling, and health care. The company provides paid training, ongoing coaching and mentorship, and opportunities for role progression and pay increases. Employment is contingent upon clearing a background check and successfully completing training.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• At least 1 year of volunteer or working experience with children.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation, with the ability to travel within a 30–40 minute drive radius.
• Ability to complete physical tasks, including playing on the floor or ground for up to two to three hours per session, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds, and sitting, kneeling, crouching, or moving quickly to ensure child safety.
• Strong communication skills and professionalism with families and teammates.
• Patience, empathy, enthusiasm, emotional maturity, reliability, and commitment to a consistent schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Experience or interest relevant to psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, education, special education, counseling, medicine, or health.
• Background as an education or psychology student, pre-med or nursing student, OT/SLP hopeful, behavior technician, camp counselor, teacher's assistant, childcare provider, direct support professional, or caregiver.

Responsibilities

• Work one-on-one with children in their homes and/or center-based settings.
• Build communication, social, and daily living skills through play, conversation, and shared activities.
• Create meaningful connections that help children think, create, and engage with the world.
• Follow a relationship-based intervention model.
• Document session notes and goal outcomes to track progress.
• Collaborate with clinicians and supervisors to build clinical skills and confidence.
• Complete training and apply evidence-based developmental care in practice.
• Work directly with families and maintain professional communication with families and teammates.

Benefits

• Paid new-hire training.
• Ongoing coaching and mentorship from expert clinicians.
• Opportunities for role progression and pay increases.
• Performance bonuses.
• $1,000 referral bonus.
• Monthly technology stipend.
• Paid drive time at the admin rate and mileage reimbursement between clients at the IRS rate.
• Strong performers may request letters of recommendation for graduate or professional programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level