Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. 
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver’s license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.

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About the Department/College

IHD is an interdisciplinary unit and the oldest institute at Northern Arizona University. Housed within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences on the Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Mountain campus, IHD is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) emphasizing Research and Evaluation, Interdisciplinary Education and Training, Community Service, and Information Dissemination.

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About the Position

The Institute for Human Development's (IHD) Growing in Beauty Partnership Program (GIBPP) is seeking an Early Intervention Therapist to provide early intervention services to children birth to three years of age and their families. This position may be filled by a licensed Occupational Therapist or Speech-Language Pathologist with experience or interest in serving infants, toddlers, and families within a community-based early intervention model. Please see job duties section for duties and responsibilities based on an occuapational therapy or speech-language pathology background.

This position requires travel throughout the Navajo Nation and other rural communities in northern Arizona and includes home, community, and clinic-based visits. GIBPP is funded by the Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and has provided Part C Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) early intervention services on the Navajo Nation for over 30 years.

Responsibilities Include

Services Early Intervention Therapist - Occupational Therapist

40% - Direct Client Services

• Responds to the training and technical assistance needs of families and community-based service providers and programs as it applies to engaging community members in referral and service delivery for children birth to three and their families.
• Works with families to develop goals for their children that promote engaged participation in family and community routines and events.
• Provides discipline-specific early intervention services within the therapist's scope of practice:
• Provides occupational therapy interventions that may include infant and toddler motor development, postural control, fine motor skills, sensory processing, feeding, dressing, self-care skills, play skills, environmental adaptations, adaptive equipment recommendations, and caregiver training.
• Supports the development of plans of care and provides evidence-based interventions under a transdisciplinary coaching model for children eligible for AzEIP services, to support progress toward IFSP outcomes; consults with providers in developing individual plans of care.
• Travel to family homes or meeting locations throughout the Navajo Nation in northern AZ.

30% - Evaluation

• Works with tribal, local, and state Part C (AzEIP) programs to provide eligibility evaluations, program planning, and IFSP development and consultation to families with children birth through 2 years, 11 months.
• Administers and scores standardized assessments related to developmental functioning and discipline-specific areas of practice to assist with eligibility determination and intervention planning.
• As part of an interdisciplinary evaluation team identifies developmental delays and dysfunction involving motor development, sensory processing, feeding, self-care, and participation in daily activities.
• Provides recommendations and consultations to support IFSP outcome development and service planning.

15% - Administration

• Writes professional quality and timely evaluation reports, session notes, project updates, and miscellaneous correspondence in compliance with Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) procedures and AZ Occupational Therapist licensure regulations.
• Assists in addressing the mission and objectives of the IHD and NAU which may include grant writing relevant to the project.
• Complies with HIPAA/FERPA regulations.
• Assists with university student training by mentoring students involved in IHD training activities; when applicable instructs and supervises occupational therapy interns, practicum students, etc.; trains on proper client care, assessment, use of equipment, and occupational therapy techniques and objectives; follows legal and ethical requirements for direction and supervision.
• Maintains current professional licensure, certifications, and standards of ethical practice required by the therapist's discipline.
• Arizona Occupational Therapy licensure and NBCOT certification.
• 10% - Community Engagement
• Works collaboratively with other IHD projects as appropriate to maintain and develop innovative, evidence-based practices.
• Promotes dialogue and practices that support positive and collaborative relationships with Part C team members and community-based partners.
• Engages in relevant, and as available, evidence-based professional development both as a recipient and as a provider of training and technical Assistance (TA) to the early intervention team.

5%% - Other

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides outreach.
• Attends trainings.

Early Intervention Therapist - Speech-Language Pathologist

40% - Direct Client Services

• Responds to the training and technical assistance needs of families and community-based service providers and programs as it applies to engaging community members in referral and service delivery for children birth to three and their families.
• Works with families to develop goals for their children that promote engaged participation in family and community routines and events.
• Provides discipline-specific early intervention services within the therapist's scope of practice:
• Provides speech-language pathology interventions that may include communication development, social communication, cognitive communication, feeding and swallowing disorders, language development, and caregiver training.
• Supports the development of plans of care and provides evidence-based interventions under a transdisciplinary coaching model for children eligible for AzEIP services, to support progress toward IFSP outcomes; consults with providers in developing individual plans of care.
• Travel to family homes or meeting locations throughout the Navajo Nation in northern AZ.

30% - Evaluation

• Works with tribal, local, and state Part C (AzEIP) programs to provide eligibility evaluations, program planning, and IFSP development and consultation to families with children birth through 2 years, 11 months.
• Administers and scores standardized assessments related to developmental functioning and discipline-specific areas of practice to assist with eligibility determination and intervention planning.
• As part of an interdisciplinary evaluation team, identifies developmental delays and disorders involving speech, language, communication, social communication, feeding, and swallowing.
• Provides recommendations and consultations to support IFSP outcome development and service planning.

15% - Administration

• Writes professional quality and timely evaluation reports, session notes, project updates, and miscellaneous correspondence in compliance with Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) procedures and AZ Occupational Therapist licensure regulations.
• Assists in addressing the mission and objectives of the IHD and NAU which may include grant writing relevant to the project.
• Complies with HIPAA/FERPA regulations.
• Assists with university student training by mentoring students involved in IHD training activities; when applicable instructs and supervises occupational therapy interns, practicum students, etc.; trains on proper client care, assessment, use of equipment, and occupational therapy techniques and objectives; follows legal and ethical requirements for direction and supervision.
• Maintains current professional licensure, certifications, and standards of ethical practice required by the therapist's discipline.
• ASHA certification/credential eligibility for Speech-Language Pathologists.

10% - Community Engagement

•  Works collaboratively with other IHD projects as appropriate to maintain and develop innovative, evidence-based practices.
• Promotes dialogue and practices that support positive and collaborative relationships with Part C team members and community-based partners.
• Engages in relevant, and as available, evidence-based professional development both as a recipient and as a provider of training and technical Assistance (TA) to the early intervention team.

5% - Other

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides outreach.
• Attends trainings.

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Minimum Qualifications

Services Early Intervention Therapist - Occupational Therapist

• Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy
• 5 years of relevant experience
• Licensure in occupational therapy issued by the state of Arizona or a state that has standards that are equivalent to those in Arizona.

Early Intervention Therapist - Speech-Language Pathologist

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology
• 5 years of relevant experience
• Licensure in occupational therapy issued by the state of Arizona or a state that has standards that are equivalent to those in Arizona.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

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Preferred Qualifications

Services Early Intervention Therapist - Occupational Therapist

• OTD (Doctor in Occupational Therapy) in Occupational Therapy
• 3+ years of occupational therapy experience with a pediatric population, preferably infants and toddlers; will consider a new graduate with relevant fieldwork/clinical experience.
• At least one-year experience in Part C early intervention or three years of experience working with children and their families.
• In-depth knowledge of motor/oral motor/feeding development, sensory processing, and age-appropriate occupational performance skills, assessment and intervention procedures for infants and toddlers.
• Familiarity with standardized motor, feeding, sensory integration and/or developmental tests for children.
• Experience working with tribal populations.
• Cultural curiosity and humility about the Navajo culture.
• Willingness to provide community-based services.

Early Intervention Therapist - Speech-Language Pathologist

• At least one-year speech therapy experience with pediatric population, preferably infants and toddlers; will consider new grad with relevant fieldwork/clinical experience.
• At least one-year experience in Part C early intervention or three years of experience working with children and their families.
• In-depth knowledge of social communication and cognitive communication assessment and intervention procedures for infants and toddlers.
• Familiarity with standardized communication and/or developmental tests for children.
• Experience working with tribal populations.
• Cultural curiosity and humility about the Navajo culture.
• Willingness to provide community-based services.

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Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current occupational therapy topics and research for 0–3-year-old children.
• Knowledge of IDEA Parts B and C and the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP).
• Knowledge and skill in a specialty area such as evidence-based autism interventions, feeding assessment and interventions, sensory integration experience, for babies and children.
• Familiarity with a Primary Service Provider model and the early intervention coaching model or similar evidence-based models of practice and experience consulting with or training other professionals and/or families.

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Active listening skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrates confidentiality, sensitivity, and concern during all client/family interactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Drive, Sheets)
• Interest in developing and implementing training relative to addressing the needs of children with disabilities and their families for local, state, and national audiences.

Abilities

• Willingness to work collaboratively to reflect on and modify practices through a process of peer support and professional development activities.
• Grant writing experience and/or experience working for a University Center on Developmental Disabilities.
• Ability to understand and speak Navajo and/or experience with American Indian populations.
• Promote a diverse, inclusive environment.

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Compensation

Salary range begins at $77,871.00 - 97,116.00. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

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Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

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Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

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Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

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Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.