Child Life Specialist for Psychology, 40 hrs​/wk

Primary Location

College Hill Campus

Department

Child Life & Integrative Care

Shift

Day (United States of America)

Schedule

Full time

Weekly Hours

40

FTE

1

Employee Status

Regular

* Expected Starting Pay Range

$53,705.60 - $67,142.40

* Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply.

Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

• This Child Life Specialist will serve Inpatient Psychiatry, primarily supporting the adolescent patient population.
• Location:
  
  College Hill Campus, 5642 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati OH 45224
• Status:
  Full-time, 40 hours per week, 1.0 FTE
• Schedule:
  
  Monday-Friday, 6:00am-2:30pm, no weekends, rotating holidays
• Benefits and paid time off eligible.
• Pay starts at $48,335.04 annually (as a salaried/exempt employee working 36 hours per week). Pay can increase based on years of experience.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required
  .
• Completion of child life internship under the supervision of a certified CLS required.
  
  Please note:
  
  Candidates who have not completed the required internship will not be considered for this position.
• Must be Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within one year of hire.

At Cincinnati Children’s we want to ensure every visit is as safe, convenient, and comfortable as possible. Providing an exceptional level of care means reaching far beyond our medical expertise - that's where our Child Life Specialists come into action: promoting play, education, developmental progress, coping skills and psychosocial support. Whether it is a trip to the Emergency Department, a short follow-up appointment or an inpatient stay, a visit to the hospital can be a scary and overwhelming experience – for patients, siblings and for their families.

The Child Life Program works with patients of all ages in different medical settings to help support emotional safety and normalize the process of receiving medical care.

Child Life Specialists are certified and have significant clinical expertise in the developmental impact of illness and injury. This helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and healthcare experiences. In addition, Clinical Assistants provide important opportunities for play-based activities that promote coping and normalization.

• Patient Care
• Professional Responsibility
• Departmental Responsibility
• Data Management
• Teamwork

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a
  top 10
  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025) ,
  America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
• One of the nation's
  America’s Most Innovative Companies
  as noted by Fortune
• Consistently certified as great place to work
• A Leading Disability Employer
  as noted by the
  National Organization on Disability
• Magnet designated for the fourth consecutive time by the
  American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

We Embrace Innovation-Together.

We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability