BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST

Requisition No: 880895


Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST - 67012938

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67012938


Salary: $1,730.40 - $1,903.44 Biweekly


Posting Closing Date: 08/21/2026


Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

POSITION: Behavioral Specialist

POSITION'S LOCATION: Tacachale - Gainesville, FL

POSITION NUMBER: Multiple Vacancies

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

CANDIDATE POOL: Future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months.

This posting may close prior to closing date.

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
• $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurances available at state rates
• State of Florida retirement package
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• 10 paid holidays a year
• Career advancement opportunities
• Tuition waiver for state college/university courses
• Training opportunities
• For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and support for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency.

Join APD's TACACHALE and be part of the team that MAKES A DIFFERENCE - NOT JUST A LIVING, impacting the lives of developmentally disabled adults!

SALARY RANGE

$44,990.40 - $49,489.44 Annually $1,730.40 - $1,903.44 Biweekly

The hiring salary may exceed the maximum posted salary.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Evaluates and assesses residents utilizing functional behavior assessment tools, record review, direct observation, behavioral data analysis and consultation with other interdisciplinary members. Develops behavior support plans that incorporate the required ABA elements, including results of functional behavior assessment and specific strategies to teach replacement behaviors.


Makes daily rounds on homes of assigned caseload, to visit residents, gather feedback from direct care staff and collect ABC data sheets. Graphs data for analysis and write narrative notes for summarization in various reports.

Provides in-service training to direct care staff and monitors for appropriate implementation of behavior supports. Provides adequate follow-up of residents both directly and via consultation with other disciplines and direct care staff.

Attends interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss resident progress including Individual Support Plan meetings, and Interdisciplinary Team meetings. Attend placement/transition meetings related to resident admissions and discharge.

Develop reports and graph data to present during Psychiatric Clinic reviews.

Coordinates regulatory mandated attendance of guardians and community representatives to attend Human Rights Advocacy Committee meetings. Performs role of committee chairperson, to include the development and presentation of written reports that summarize prescribed restrictive or intrusive techniques to manage inappropriate behavior and the use of prescribed medications to manage behavior.

Participates in Tacachale's Local Review Committee presenting and completing peer reviews for behavior support plans with restrictive components.

Attends Behavior Specialist professional meetings, facility management meetings, and other meetings as required.

Provides direct observation across settings, modeling, and providing consultation for assigned residents, working to facilitate behavioral stability and improved quality of life.

Remains current with research literature in the behavior analysis field and other areas that may benefit individuals receiving services.

Other related duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Florida Driver's License.
  • Corrective Lenses Restricted license are acceptable provided the driver wears the corrective lenses while operating a state vehicle.

• A bachelor's degree in a human services field, (including, but not limited to sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology)

• Must have at least one (1) year of experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities; and is one of the following professionals listed in the State Operations Manual W161 through W 180.
• Must maintain certification in Advanced Prevention and Safety Strategies (PASS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

This position may be required to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency per APD OP 2-0035.

This position is critical to the safety and supervision of residents and may require the incumbent to work beyond their normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels in the facility.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of :

• the methods of instructing and providing care to others

Ability to:

• lift up to 40 pounds

• understand and apply the methods and practices used in medical, psychiatric, nursing or childcare or in working with developmentally disabled person
• carry out instructions for implementing prescribed treatment plans including behavior modification activities
• communicate effectively verbally and in writing

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFILE COMPLETION

Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year.

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and "see resume" will not be considered an acceptable response.

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but this will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

All applicants should complete the online application process. If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.

RETIREE NOTICE

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

DIRECT DEPOSIT PROGRAM

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government's employment eligibility verification program (E-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

You may be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO REASONABLE SUSPICION DRUG TESTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 112.0455, F.S., DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ACT.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on click.appcast.io). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.


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