Instructor

There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child. As a clinical instructor at FirstSteps you will have the great privilege of helping our little ones learn to say their first words and sentences, to develop their first friendships, to be successful in their first classrooms, and ultimately, to learn to love learning.

As a Therapeutic Instructor:

• You will receive extensive, in-person training that includes classroom teaching paired with direct observation of your trainer working with children and modeling the teaching strategies discussed. As your skills develop, you will gradually begin to run treatment sessions with the support of your trainer until you are confident and ready to independently work with your own kids.
• You will receive all the training and support needed to complete the requirements of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and sit for and pass the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam to earn your credential. Your training, exam, and credential are sponsored and paid for by FirstSteps.
• You will be placed on 2-5 treatment teams, each dedicated to providing exceptional 1:1 ABA intervention to individual children as prescribed and monitored by your mentor, a FirstSteps Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
• You will have the opportunity to work with your assigned children in a variety of settings including their schools, homes, and FirstSteps Learning Center.
• You will quickly learn and complete objective clinical documentation of your client's daily progress and develop the data analysis skills necessary to determine optimal program progression.
• As a critical member of each of your children's treatment teams, you will regularly participate in clinical meetings where treatment progress and plans are reviewed and updated.

In our field, the FirstSteps Therapeutic Instructor may also be referred to as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), Behavior Technician, Behavior Therapist, Behavior Interventionist, Behavioral Instructor, Behavioral Support Aide, Behavior Paraprofessional, ABAT, or Autism Specialist.

FirstSteps on Diversity & Equity

We are an equal opportunity employer, which means that we value diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of our work - in our service delivery with our clients, in collaboration with families and communities, and in our organizational culture and practices with our staff. We strive to serve a diverse population of children and their families and see a responsibility to address the issue of inequity in access to ABA services across different cultures.

As a service provider employing hundreds of staff to support our children and their families, we believe that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to social change and a kinder and more compassionate world by living our values of diversity and equity in all our daily operations. When we provide a more diverse learning environment for our clients and their families, we provide a more meaningful experience for all and contribute toward a more equitable future for everyone.

Being part of team FirstSteps affords many opportunities and benefits, including (but not limited to):

• Competitive wages with multiple opportunities throughout the year for ongoing performance reviews and pay increases
• Multiple options for full and part-time work schedules, including weekends if desired
• $500 signing bonus for credentialed Registered Behavioral Technician (RBTs)
• Compensation for drive time and mileage
• Earn your RBT Credential on us! FirstSteps provides and pays for all requisite training and exam fees.
• Health Insurance with a generous employer contribution
• Access to discounted dental and vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous company match
• Monthly Data Stipend
• Employment Assistance Program
• Anthem Wellness Incentives (up to $200)
• Access to discounted Pet Insurance
• Employee referral bonus program (up to $1200)
• Employee discounts on movies, theme parks, hotels, etc.
• Ongoing team building and community events during and outside of work hours
• Fun, team approach, and work atmosphere developed via the Prosocial Model of collaborative work
• Exceptional training, on-going support, and career development opportunities offered by our team of over 35 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) at FirstSteps

To APPLY for this position, we ask that you:

Share our Values & Mission:

• Understand the incredible significance of the position and show up with enthusiasm and dedication, knowing that your work is creating more life-long opportunities for those we serve
• Be inspired by the wonder of childhood and committed to provide compassionate care to our beautiful FirstSteps kids
• Believe that our kids (and all kids) are wonderfully unique and capable of communicating what is important to them and achieving their goals

Have some "Kid" Experience:

• We hire for potential, not necessarily experience! Our training is effective and extensive, so please apply if you are interested. Many current FirstSteps leaders joined our team over a decade ago in the Therapeutic Instructor position and began their careers with us right after college
• We do look for "kid people" and related work, study, or volunteer experience that demonstrates interest in child development and a commitment to the care and well-being of all children

Completed Education:

• As a clinical team member at FirstSteps, you will earn the nationally recognized RBT credential, which does not require a college degree. As such, though a college degree is preferred, we will consider your application with proof of high school graduation
• Graduate students in ABA may apply for employment and the opportunity for clinical training and supervision hours as required by the BACB, with unrestricted hours allocated based on clinical performance and competency

Health & Safety Requirements:

• Given our work with potentially medically vulnerable individuals, we require proof of childhood vaccinations and non-reactive Tuberculosis results
• Our team delivers services to our kids in their schools, homes, and FirstSteps centers. We zone our treatment teams to avoid excessive driving but do require reliable transportation, a valid California driver’s license, and proof of auto insurance
• To care for our kids and ensure their safety, you must be willing and able to lift up to 50 lbs, feel comfortable sitting on floors and or child-sized furniture, and be capable of moving from a seated position to running stance when needed