Behavior De-Escalation Specialist - Part Time Dragon's Den Homestead, PA Job Details Part-time $22 an hour 21 hours ago Qualifications CPR Certification Relationship building (classroom management strategies) Experience working with individuals with disabilities Employee relationship building De-escalation support in education Emergency response in crisis intervention Driver's License First Aid Certification Experience working with individuals with trauma-related disorders Staff training Full Job Description Behavior De-escalation Specialist - School Year Program Expanded After-School Program and High-Support Behavioral Track Position Type Part-time, school-year, non-exempt Pay Rate $22.00 per hour Schedule Approximately 20 hours per week M-F 2:30-6:30. The position must generally cover after-school program hours Monday through Friday, with the exact schedule determined by program needs. Reports To Out-of-School Program Manager and/or LBB Teen Pathways Program Manager, as assigned Work Location Dragon's Den, 1008 Amity Street, Homestead, PA, with periodic off-site locations when assigned. Position Summary The Behavior De-escalation Specialist provides structured, nonclinical behavioral support to children and teens participating in Dragon's Den programming. This role supports the high-support behavioral track, de-escalation/reset space, STAR behavior system, caregiver communication, and consistent staff responses grounded in evidence-informed de-escalation and social-emotional resilience practices. This is a nonclinical youth-development position. The Behavior De-escalation Specialist does not diagnose conditions, provide therapy or clinical counseling, or develop clinical treatment plans. Essential Responsibilities

• Lead or support daily structured small-group behavioral intervention for youth with high behavioral needs, including emotional regulation, conflict de-escalation, accountability, repair, and positive decision-making.
• Implement and reinforce MindfulChoice, Mindful Young Minds, Heartwood Ethics Curriculum, STAR behavior expectations, and other approved Dragon's Den behavior-support routines.
• Support youth in accessing and using the de-escalation/reset space appropriately, with the goal of returning safely to group activities.
• Provide in-the-moment coaching to youth during escalation, peer conflict, transitions, group activities, and reintegration into the larger program setting.
• Help youth identify emotions, behavioral triggers, and coping strategies they can use before situations escalate.
• Use a repair-and-return approach that helps youth take accountability, repair harm, and safely rejoin group programming.
• Develop and support individualized behavior plans in coordination with the Program Manager, caregivers, school partners, interns, and other staff when appropriate.
• Coach program staff, interns, and volunteers on consistent language, routines, expectations, and de-escalation responses.
• Support safe supervision during expanded after-school hours and, as assigned, during teen off-site or transportation activities where behavioral support is needed.
• Communicate with caregivers regarding behavior plans, progress, repeated triggers, and strategies for consistency between home and program, as directed by leadership.
• Maintain the confidentiality of youth and family information.
• Participate in internal planning meetings, staff training, behavior chart discussions, program debriefs, and continuous improvement activities. Compliance, Documentation, and Data Responsibilities
• Maintain STAR behavior logs, incident reports, individualized behavior support notes, caregiver communication notes, and reset-space usage records as required.
• Observe and document behavioral patterns, triggers, interventions, coping strategies, and outcomes.
• Complete required time and effort reporting accurately and on time.
• Participate in required trauma-informed care, SEL, safety, mandated reporter, and Dragon's Den program trainings.
• Support outcome tracking related to reduced high-intensity incidents, repair-and-return, coping skill use, and youth reintegration.
• Follow all confidentiality, mandatory reporting, incident documentation, and safety procedures.
• Immediately report threats, injuries, suspected abuse, or other serious safety concerns according to Dragon's Den policies. Required Qualifications
• Experience working with children or youth with behavioral challenges, trauma exposure, disability-related needs, emotional dysregulation, or histories of exclusion from programs/schools.
• Ability to remain calm, firm, and supportive during conflict, aggression, dysregulation, or crisis situations.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to hold consistent boundaries with children and families.
• Strong judgment and the ability to recognize when an incident requires supervisory or emergency intervention.
• Willingness and ability to complete required de-escalation, crisis response, trauma-informed, SEL, and safety training.
• Ability to use basic technology for attendance, documentation, communication, and reporting.
• Must complete and maintain all required youth-safety requirements, including PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal History Record Check, FBI fingerprinting, mandated reporter training, CPR/First Aid, and any Dragon's Den-required de-escalation/behavior-support training.

Valid driver's license and reliable means of transportation to and from work are required. Candidates must be able to arrive consistently and on time for scheduled program shifts, meetings, trainings, and off-site activities. Preferred Qualifications

• Education or experience in psychology, social work, counseling, special education, behavior support, youth development, restorative practice, or a related field.
• Experience using behavior tracking systems, incident logs, individualized plans, or SEL curricula.
• Experience supporting youth affected by trauma, disabilities, behavioral challenges, school discipline, foster care, housing instability, or other significant barriers.
• CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain certification. Schedule and Physical Requirements
• Part-time schedule with afternoon/evening availability required to align with expanded after-school programming.
• Ability to move quickly through the facility, supervise active youth, and respond to emotional or physical safety concerns.
• Ability to participate in staff meetings, planning sessions, trainings, and caregiver/school coordination as assigned.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and physically assisting, lifting, or carrying a child/youth when necessary for safety, emergency response, or program operations, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Perform other program-related duties as required by program needs and as directed by the Executive Director or Program Managers.

How to Apply Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to with the subject line: Behavior De-escalation Specialist.

Pay:

$22.00 per hour Expected hours: 20.0 per week

Work Location:

In person