Child Life Specialist - Austin, Texas | Ascension Job

Your future role at a glance 

Location: Austin, TX

Facility: Dell Children's Specialty Pavilion

Department/Specialty: Pediatric Neurosciences

Schedule: Full Time | Monday-Friday | 8am-5pm

Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 97,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Benefits that help you thrive

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
• Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
• Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more

How you’ll make an impact in this role

• Deliver direct patient care as a Pediatric Child Life Specialist, providing emotional and developmental support during hospitalization.
• Assess pediatric patient and family needs to implement individualized care plans that improve coping, safety, and overall patient care outcomes.
• Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team to ensure seamless care coordination and consistent support throughout treatment.
• Provide therapeutic interventions that reduce anxiety, promote normal development, and enhance the hospital experience for pediatric patients.

What minimum requirements you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

• Child Life Professional obtained within 12 Months (1 year) of hire date or job transfer date required.

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's
  degree/Technical degree OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.

What additional preferences we're seeking

• 600-hour Child Life clinical internship completed by start date.

Equal employment opportunity employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud prevention notice

Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

E-Verify statement

Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.