Director of Professional Development

About FirstSteps
The FirstSteps Team is inspired by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. To that end, our mission is twofold: to provide the best evidence-based, behavior analytic treatment to our children diagnosed with autism and related learning differences, and to offer a positive, collaborative, and dynamic work experience for our team. We are steadfastly committed to ongoing training and mentorship of our employees, always motivated to support the next generation of clinical leaders in our field and at FirstSteps. Our greatest reward is witnessing the rapid and joyful learning of our little ones and knowing that together, we are creating more happy days for the kids and families we serve.

The Director of Professional Development (DPD) oversees the design, delivery, and continuous enhancement of all clinical training programs, from new instructors to Regional Clinic Directors. In collaboration with the Chief Clinical Officer and Development Team, the DPD creates content, evaluates training effectiveness, solves for performance gaps, and manages learning and professional development experiences for all clinical positions that reflect company values and drive clinical excellence throughout the organization.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

As directed and in collaboration with the FirstSteps Chief Clinical Officer:
Assess, Develop, Improve & Assist with Delivery of Ongoing FirstSteps Clinical Training Programs
Trainings Across Clinical Positions:

• Ongoing Assessment/evaluation of current trainings across measures of learning outcomes, efficiencies (time and financial), training integrity across locations, and KPIs
• Development and implementation of training solutions to address deficits or gaps in either the delivery or content of training
• Ongoing content development to ensure training programs are dynamic and always reflect best practice, including new research and development initiatives by CCO, and represent FirstSteps mission and values.
• Create systems to track, manage, and evaluate frequency and impact of ongoing trainings
• Utilize and improve FirstSteps LMS including the development of skill labs across all clinical roles
• Deliver advanced clinical training for select team member groups

Coaching, Supervision, Management, and Evaluation of Training Team
FirstSteps employs on-site Regional Training Managers in each office location who are responsible for effective and efficient management and delivery of the Initial Instructor Training, NCI Training, and Lead Instructor Training as well as Clinical Coaching of new hires in their first 90 days of employment.

As the Direct Report to RTMs, the DPD will:

• Assess each RTM's impact as determined by direct observation, monitoring of process and procedural competency, survey data, and analysis of clinical staff performance over time.
• Design and keep current RTM Manual / Sharepoint Site
• Provide additional training and support to trainers as needed to improve their performance
• Hire, Promote, Terminate as needed to achieve company clinical standards and KPIs
• Keep RTM Performance Records in ADP current and complete

Legal & Ethical Duties

• Develop trainings and performance standards that are sensitive and responsive to DEI objectives
• Ensure all training meets or exceeds minimum standards developed by the BACB
• Ensure all training includes BACB's ethical standards
• Ensure all training and standards developed are consistent with California and federal employment laws (e.g., breaks, DEI protections, PTO, etc.)
• Represent FirstSteps values and excellence at FirstSteps and with outside educational/ provider communities

Administrative Duties

• In-person visits as needed to support team and ensure consistency of implementation
• Ongoing documentation/manualizing of all systems and evaluations
• Leverage FirstSteps technology to ensure company-wide training systems, standards, and processes
• Proactive planning and communication of annual training and professional development events
• Monitoring / quality assurance via survey data to assess training experience of trainees and participants of professional development events
• Assisting with CEU certificates
• Audits related to employee training and professional development

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master's or Doctorate Degree required in ABA, Psychology, Education or related field
• BACB Certification as Board Certified Behavior Analyst required
• Minimum 3 years of organizational leadership experience including practice management required, with oversight of multiple locations preferred
• Minimum 5 years of experience in clinical leadership, with expertise in curriculum development and global training initiatives
• Prior experience developing and managing department budget
• Prior experience implementing and managing learning management systems

ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Clinical expertise in EIBI, purpose-driven ABA programming, assessment, ACT, clinical supervision and mentorship, and related topics essential to all clinical positions at FirstSteps
• A passion for helping others achieve new levels of understanding in their professional lives
• Commitment to ongoing innovation to improve employee training and work performance
• Strong Project/Systems Management skills
• Collaboration & understanding of company operations and organizational needs/requirements (including but not limited to regulatory standards)

Salary Expectation:

• Depending on Experience: $95,000-105,000 Annual, plus significant ongoing clinical bonus opportunities

For more information about FirstSteps for Kids, we encourage you to visit our website