NEUROAFFIRMING PROGRAM SPECIALIST

About the Role

At LEAPS Services, our Specialists build relationships, create meaningful learning opportunities, support independence, collaborate with families, and take an active role in helping each self-advocate move toward individualized goals.This position combines direct service, caseload management, program implementation, community-based learning, family collaboration, progress monitoring, and professional documentation.This is an active role with significant responsibility. It requires creativity, organization, flexibility, initiative, strong communication, and the ability to think beyond the activity happening in front of you.For the right professional, it is also an opportunity to see the direct impact of thoughtful, individualized support.

Key Responsibilities

Individualized Support-Provide individualized, person-centered, and neuroaffirming support across LEAPS programming, at the LEAPS Community Hub, and throughout community-based environments.

Use real-life experiences to intentionally develop skills related to:

Specialists are expected to actively teach, model, facilitate, coach, and create opportunities for independence rather than simply supervise or accompany self-advocates.

Caseload

Maintain an assigned caseload of approximately 5–7 self-advocates.

Caseload includes:

Who Will Thrive in This Position?

This position may be a strong fit for someone who:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.

Preferred undergraduate fields include, but are not limited to:

Candidates with degrees in other disciplines may also be considered when they demonstrate substantial relevant professional experience working with neurodivergent individuals, individuals with developmental disabilities, or related populations.

***Preferred Education

Master's degree preferred, but not required.

Relevant graduate degrees may include:

Graduate education is especially valued when combined with strong direct-service experience and demonstrated ability to translate professional knowledge into practical, neuroaffirming, person-centered support.

Professional Experience

Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience working with neurodivergent individuals, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, behavioral health populations, or other related support environments.

Strong candidates will demonstrate experience in several of the following areas:

This is not considered an entry-level position. Candidates should be prepared to independently organize responsibilities, manage an assigned caseload, communicate professionally with families and team members, recognize when additional support is needed, and take ownership of appropriate follow-through.

Compensation

Salary Range: $58,000–$72,000 annually

This is a full-time salaried professional position.

Starting salary within the established range will be determined based on the candidate's combination of education, directly relevant experience, demonstrated professional competencies, caseload-management experience, specialized training, and the level of responsibility the candidate is prepared to assume upon hire.

A candidate meeting the minimum qualifications may typically enter toward the lower portion of the range, while candidates bringing advanced education, extensive directly related experience, specialized credentials, significant case-management experience, or demonstrated leadership within neurodevelopmental or behavioral services may be considered toward the higher portion of the range.

A master's degree is preferred and may be considered when determining placement within the salary range; however, education alone does not determine compensation. LEAPS will consider the candidate's complete professional background and demonstrated ability to successfully perform the responsibilities of the Neuroaffirming Program Specialist position.

Professional Expectations

Neuroaffirming Program Specialists are expected to demonstrate reliability, professionalism, initiative, organization, strong communication, appropriate professional boundaries, and consistent follow-through.

This is not an entry-level support position.

The Specialist is trusted with meaningful responsibility for the quality and continuity of services provided to their assigned caseload.

We expect Specialists to remain curious, prepared, engaged, accountable, collaborative, and willing to grow.