Child Development Specialist Jobs

Child Development Specialist jobs are open across early childhood education, healthcare, nonprofits, and government agencies, from entry-level to senior program director roles, with specializations in infant and toddler care, intervention services, and family support. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles145+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerHeartland ABA
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Work type88% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 145+ Child Development Specialist jobs

Special Ed Toddler Teacher's Assistant / Child Development Specialist
We won't show you this job again
New 2h ago
Special Ed Toddler Teacher's Assistant / Child Development Specialist
Buonora Child Development Centers
Reseda, California
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
$19 - $24/hr
On-Site

Have you applied for this role?

Speech Pathologist, Center For Child Development, Full Time, Day
We won't show you this job again
New 20h ago
Speech Pathologist, Center For Child Development, Full Time, Day
Valley Health System (New Jersey)
Paramus, New Jersey
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Speech Therapy
$43.35 - $54.19/hr
Master's degree in speech-language pathology (SLP)
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Program Director - Child Development Center
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Program Director - Child Development Center
YMCA
Louisville, Kentucky
Business Development
Events & Tourism
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
CPR Certification
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

RBT Role Focused on Child Development and Growth
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
RBT Role Focused on Child Development and Growth
Heartland ABA
Kansas City, Missouri
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$20 - $26/hr
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Child Development Coordinator
We won't show you this job again
Added 2d ago
Child Development Coordinator
Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Loma Linda, California
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
$22 - $24/hr
BLS Certification
201-500

Have you applied for this role?

See All 145+ Child Development Specialist Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs

Child Development Specialist Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Heartland ABA15
  • Bright Pathways8
  • YMCA5
  • Magellan Health4
  • Virtua Health3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in child development specialist jobs.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in child development, early childhood education, or a related field
  • Child Development Associate credential or equivalent state licensure
  • Experience conducting developmental screenings using tools such as the ASQ or Bayley Scales
  • Knowledge of Individualized Family Service Plans and early intervention documentation standards
  • Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including therapists, educators, and social workers
  • Proficiency with case management or early childhood data systems for tracking developmental progress

Tips for Your Child Development Specialist Job Search

Tailor your resume to developmental frameworks

Hiring managers in this field look for explicit mention of developmental frameworks like Ages and Stages, Erikson, or Vygotsky. Name the frameworks you've applied in practice and tie them to measurable outcomes, such as improved developmental screenings or reduced referral delays.

Highlight certifications beyond your degree

A bachelor's degree alone rarely differentiates you. Credentials like the Child Development Associate, Early Intervention certification, or state-specific licensure signal readiness. List these prominently above your work history so screeners see them without scrolling.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists child development specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Filter openings by population served

Job postings for this role vary widely by age group and setting. Narrow your search by the population you're most experienced with, such as infants in home-visiting programs versus school-age children in clinical settings, to avoid wasted applications and mismatched interviews.

Prepare scenario answers for assessment situations

Interviewers frequently ask how you'd handle a child who isn't meeting milestones or a family resisting referral. Prepare two or three concrete examples from your experience that walk through your assessment process, the action you took, and the outcome.

Negotiate scope before accepting an offer

Caseload size and documentation requirements vary dramatically between employers and directly affect your capacity to serve children well. Ask directly how many children you'd carry and what tools are used for documentation before you accept, not after.

Child Development Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most child development specialists?

The most active employers for child development specialists right now are Heartland ABA, Bright Pathways, and YMCA, and the most openings are in California, Texas, and Missouri, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Early intervention programs, Head Start grantees, and children's hospitals consistently post the highest volume of openings.

How many child development specialist jobs are remote?

About 13% of child development specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most roles in this field. Positions focused on curriculum development, program coordination, or parent coaching are more likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements than direct-service or assessment-based roles.

How do you become a child development specialist?

Most employers require at least a bachelor's degree in child development, early childhood education, psychology, or a closely related field. From there, earning a Child Development Associate credential or pursuing state early intervention certification strengthens your candidacy. Practical experience through internships, home-visiting programs, or early childhood classrooms is essential before applying to specialist roles.

Can you get hired as a child development specialist with little experience?

Entry-level positions do exist, particularly in Head Start programs, early intervention support roles, and nonprofit family resource centers that hire recent graduates. Emphasize coursework in developmental assessment, any supervised practicum hours, and volunteer work with children in your application materials. Some employers will hire candidates who commit to completing a Child Development Associate credential within a set timeframe.

What does the child development specialist interview process look like?

Most hiring processes include an initial phone screen, a structured in-person or video interview with behavioral and scenario-based questions, and sometimes a practical component such as reviewing a mock developmental screening or discussing a case study. Some employers, particularly those in clinical or early intervention settings, also require reference checks and background clearances before extending an offer.

Where can I find and apply to child development specialist jobs?

You can find and apply to child development specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your experience, credentials, and preferred setting, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 145+ Child Development Specialist Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs