Occupational Therapist Jobs in North Dakota

Date posted:  August 24, 2026

Pay: $68,000.00 - $78,000.00 per year.

Job description:

Position Type: Early Intervention

Location: Central Regional Education Association

Job Title: Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE) and/or Occupational Therapist

Supervisor: Kim Frohlich

Employees under their Direct Supervision: 0

Terms of Employment: 4 Days Per Week

FTE 1.0 Full Time, Exempt

Salary Range: $68,000 - $78,000 DOE

Closing Date: Open until filled

Decision Making Authority: Responsible for best interests of CREA and its clients using what has been budgeted for assigned responsibilities. Approval required from Operations Director and/or Executive Director on specific matters as outlined in policies and procedures.

Position Overview: The Early Interventionist- ECSE and/or Occupational Therapist is responsible for working with families in natural environments to ensure that children receive the necessary services as outlined by North Dakota Early Intervention Guidelines and CREA. This job reports to the Early Intervention Director

Position Accountabilities, Responsibilities and Essential Functions

A critical part of every position is achieving the goals set for the position while delivering high levels of satisfaction to internal and external stakeholders. This is realized by building positive relationships with internal individuals and teams as well as with external partners, and by exhibiting behaviors that contribute to the success of short- and long-term goals of the agency. These behaviors include a focus on timely completion of tasks and high quality of work (with or without supervision) while following all legal, compliance, departmental, documentation, safety, timeline, program and other standards per organizational policies and procedures. Will adhere to North Dakota Early Intervention Guidelines and Part C of IDEA. Will maintain confidentiality on every child/family.

Position requires close collaboration with: CREA CEO, COO, CoS, CFO, Early Intervention Director; Caregivers: and ND Agency Employees, Partners, Community and Funding Agencies, including, but not limited to West Central Human Services Center Region VII and NDDHHS.

Performance is equally a function of goal attainment; timely and accurate completion of assignments; building positive internal and external relationships; and planning, communicating, and coordinating work to avoid last-minute confusion while adhering to legal/compliance guidelines and organizational policies/procedures.

It is expected this position will inherit and demonstrate the values of the CREA:

· Integrity

We believe that we must be dedicated to our communities and our work in order to assist clients in a responsive manner. This requires an assurance to our members that they can trust us to deliver.

· Support

We work tirelessly to help our communities, to assist our educators, and to keep improving for their children. Each action we take should answer the question, “How can I help you?”

· Collaborative Independence

Based on the wide variance of our programs and services, we must be able to work at high levels with partners, participants, and colleagues. Simultaneously, we must strive to complete tasks and lead as individuals.

· Action/Reflection

Continuous improvement is a necessity for our organization. We must be able to act quickly to serve our members while engaging in frequent reflection to increase our effectiveness.

· Relevance

We believe that our clients deserve the very best, and that means getting meaningful assistance that can help them when they return to their communities. We must constantly strive to reach all learners, adults, and children alike through innovative measures.

• Collaborates with internal and external personnel (e.g. other administrators, auditors, public agencies, community members, etc.) for the purposes of implementing and/or maintaining services and programs.
• Provide home visiting services to infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old) in their natural environment (home, daycare, etc.). Recommend and model strategies during home visits so parents/caregivers can support their child’s development through natural routines. Early Intervention embraces the parent coaching model.
• Evaluate and assess children’s development in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, early literacy, cognition, communication, social emotional development, adaptive/self-help, as well as vision and hearing through a combination of standardized evaluation tools, parent report, and observation as required in program guidelines. Evaluation results will determine a child’s eligibility for services.
• Coordinates program components, support needs and material for the purpose of delivering services which conform to established guidelines.
• Collaborates with family and program manager to write Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for each child for the purpose of insuring the state and federal guidelines are met.
• Complete Periodic Reviews and Annual IFSP progress review meetings with members of the IFSP Team.
• Maintain written home visit progress notes. Provide home visits and ensure that consultations for each child on caseload occur on time, as determined by the IFSP Team and as stated on the Infant Development Authorization.
• Follow North Dakota State guidelines for implementation of transition activities and timelines for each child on caseload. Work in collaboration with local education agencies during transition planning.
• Will provide consultations to staff and families of designated children in program as identified on IFSP and Infant Development Authorization.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, seminars, consultation, etc. (e.g. due process hearings, special education parent groups, etc.) for the purpose of identifying issues, developing recommendations, supporting parents, and supporting other staff.
• Implement services outlined in the IFSP in accordance with the parent coaching model of service delivery.
• Maintains daily files and reports associated with services provided to ensure accurate records for the purpose of timely and accurate billing in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
• Participates in meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Participates in a wide variety of meetings (e.g. IFSPs, weekly referral meetings, IEPs, Board meetings, training, hearings, etc.) for the purpose of providing and/or receiving information.
• Prepares a wide variety of often complex materials (e.g. plans, reports, recommendations, procedures, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities and issues, meeting compliance requirements, providing audit references, making presentations, and/or providing supporting materials for requested actions.
• Researches a variety of topics required to manage assignments (e.g. relevant policies, new federal and state statutes, staffing requirements, financial resources, etc.) for the purpose of recommending new programs/services, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, securing general information and/or responding to requests.
• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

· Travel required for home visits, assessments, consultations, stakeholder engagement, training, and meetings.

· Requires high-level interactions with clients requiring substantial mental, verbal, auditory and visual effort. Position requires a high degree of concentration with continuous and often intense mental and visual attention to documents, people, and digital devices.

· Numerous irregularities in schedules and complicated/complex tasks.

· Requires management of potential stress associated with work pace and deadline pressures while maintaining a professional demeanor.

· Frequent walking, sitting, standing, and reaching plus driving or riding to client sites. Occasional climbing, kneeling, lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling and transporting up to 30 lbs. for 8-10 hours a day. Some stooping, kneeling crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity.

· Work is primarily performed at the client’s residence. Work is occasionally performed in an office, home office, and/or family/childcare setting and community spaces. Occasionally exposed to dust, noise, odors, other irritants, and exposure to small quantities of hazardous chemicals found in office supplies.

Essential Skills, Experience and Expertise

• Job related experience within a specialized field is required.
• Ability to perform multiple, highly complex, technical tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions.
• Knowledge of early childhood development, early intervention strategies, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

· Demonstrate skills to assess muscle strength, muscle tone, joint stability, balance and coordination, and gait abnormalities in small children.

· Assist parents and Early Intervention staff with problem solving motor concerns and provide strategies to maximize the child’s independence in his natural environment through specific activities, positioning, or use of adaptive equipment such as seating devices, standers, walkers, etc.

· Assist parents and Early Intervention staff in assessment and intervention in feeding and sensory issues, fine and gross motor development, positioning, adaptive equipment, self-help/adaptive skills and use of technology and adaptive equipment to improve the child’s access to the environment and to more fully or independently participate in fine motor and self-help related routines.

· Adapting to changing work priorities; meeting deadlines and schedules; setting priorities; scheduling a number of activities, meetings and/or events; maintaining accurate records.

• Plan and manage paperwork.
• Working with detailed information/data and proficiency in data analysis and program evaluation.

· Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Requires excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Candidates effectively collaborate with diverse groups of individuals and develop high performing teams; yet smoothly manage individual and group conflicts. Candidates handle last-minute pressure and keep calm when faced with competing demands and priorities.

· Reading and Writing Skills: College Level; requires analysis, synthesis and evaluation skills in a variety of areas per Bloom's taxonomy.

· Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, and innovative approach to service development and delivery.

· Competency to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job such as operating standard office equipment including using a variety of software applications.

· Capacity, skill, and willingness to perform in and who may encounter safety concerns and dangers in a home visit.

· Ensure legal and ethical obligations for mandated reporting are met while providing leadership and participation in appropriate investigations.

Special Position Requirements and preferences

• Required degrees, licenses, and certificates in accordance with Early Intervention guidelines and licensure.

ECSE:

• A Bachelor’s degree in the area of Special Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Special Education and a valid North Dakota teaching certificate.
• The Early Childhood Special Education Teacher is responsible for maintaining North Dakota certification requirements.
• Experience working with infants and toddlers.

· Occupational Therapist:

Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate Degree from an approved and accredited professional Occupational Therapy Program.

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for maintaining North Dakota licensure requirements

· Experience working with infants and toddlers.

• Familiarity with CREA’s operational procedures and policies, preferred.
• Travel: Travel required as needed to service outlying counties: Burleigh, Morton, Grant, Mercer, Oliver, McLean, Kidder, Emmons, and Sheridan. Potentially in excess of 30-40% of work week.

· Personal vehicle shall be used for travel. Travel reimbursement is available.

Description Revised: CREA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

This information is provided as a general summary of key elements of this job. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities and duties or responsibilities required of the employee.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Travel reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Pay: $68,000.00 - $78,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person