Position Summary/Objective
Join our team as a Behavior Specialist , where you'll support classrooms by creating positive behavior plans, coaching staff, and helping every child thrive. Working closely with the Behavior and Special Ed Coordinator, you'll collaborate with teaching teams to ensure we meet Head Start standards while making a real difference each day. This role includes a caseload of classrooms and some travel between counties—so every day brings something new!
If you're tech-savvy, love working with people, and want to be part of a mission-driven team, this could be the perfect fit!
Our Culture
Since 1964, UETHDA has been all about Helping People. Changing Lives. We're passionate about making a difference in our community through education, support, and collaboration. If you believe in empowering others and fostering growth, you’ll feel right at home here!
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Child Support & Intervention: Identify children in need of behavioral or special education services through screenings and referrals to both outside mental health agencies and local education agencies. Provide direct support in classrooms, including teaching social-emotional skills, modeling strategies, developing Behavior Support Plans, and conducting Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans.
- Collaboration & Modeling Proactive Behavior Intervention Strategies: Work closely with Head Start staff, families, and community partners to ensure coordinated care. Offer in-person classroom support for behavior management, training, and support to staff on behavior management, child development, and special education and inclusive practices. Works closely with local education agencies to ensure facilitation through IDEA referrals.
- Family Engagement: Support families by connecting them to resources, participating in goal setting, attending home visits, and helping navigate barriers to services. Collaborate on behavior and mental health strategies.
- Compliance & Monitoring: Maintain accurate documentation in systems like ChildPlus. Ensure timely completion of screenings, referrals, IEPs, and related services. Attend relevant meetings (IEP/BIP) and contribute to program self-assessments and policy updates.
- Community Partnership: Build and maintain relationships with healthcare and service providers. Represent the program in advisory committees and community initiatives.
- General Duties: Support regulatory compliance, participate in trainings, and fulfill other duties as assigned.
- Other Duties as assigned.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
This position requires the ability to lift and carry items up to 50 pounds. Candidates must have at least 20/40 vision (with or without corrective lenses) and normal hearing (with or without aids). Physical demands may include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crawling, and reaching.
** Benefits Package**
Vacation :
- 1 day of Vacation accrued per month (approximately 10 days per year)
Holidays :
Healthcare/Personal Benefits :
- 1 Day of Healthcare/Personal accrued per month (approximately 10 days per year)
Additional Benefits:
- Healthcare through the State of Tennessee. UETHDA pays 100% of the monthly premium for the Employee Only (estimated cost paid by UETHDA for the employee is over $600 per month ($7,200 annually). Additional insurance coverage is available but cost difference will be paid by the employee.
- Dental, Vision, Short-Term, Long-Term Disability and Voluntary Life Insurance options are offered at 100% cost to the employee .
- Group Term Life Insurance for employee paid by UETHDA at 100% for coverage of 1.5 time the yearly wages
- Retirement Plan--Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). Eligible employees are required to contribute 5% of yearly wages (pre-tax basis to the defined TCRS plan). UETHDA contributes an amortized amount as determined by TCRS. Employees are vested upon 5 years of eligible service.
- Additional 401(K) and 457 Savings Plan also available without employer match.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time non-exempt position and is paid hourly. Typically, this position will work 37.5 hours per week and normal Agency working hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This position has a temporary summer lay-off of 5-6 weeks from mid/late-May until early-July. Employees are eligible to apply for unemployment during temporary seasonal lay-off. Benefit coverage continues during this temporary lay-off.
Education and Experience
- Preferred Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Child Psychology, Special Education or related, or a minimum of Associates Degree in related field with 5 years relevant experience.
- Minimum One-year experience in a related position.
- Experience using ChildPlus (not required at hire).
- Experience conducting Functional Behavior Assessments and creating/implementing Behavior Intervention Plans (not required at hire).
- Excellent written and verbal communication with experience in verbally sharing data with management, Advisory Boards, and outside groups.
- Experience in working with culturally diverse clients.
- Proficient computer skills including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
- Working knowledge of local community resources in job area.
- Valid Tennessee Driver's License/ Proof of auto insurance.
EOE Statement
UETHDA hires high quality staff from a variety of fields and education levels who have a passion for changing the lives of others. UETHDA is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
Salary is based 100% on Education.
AS Degree $17.50; AS Degree w/Nursing Credential $19.24;
BS Degree non-related $18.00; BS Degree in Mental Health/Special Ed Field $19.24; BS Degree w/Nursing Certification $20.60