DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALIST 2 - UNDERFILL

***THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

Job Summary

The Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) is seeking to fill multiple Developmental Specialist 2 positions in Las Vegas. This recruitment will be used to underfill positions within the Developmental Specialist series. Advancement to the next level may occur after meeting the minimum qualifications, satisfactory performance, and with endorsement of the appointing authority. This recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies as they occur in the following program: Desert Regional Center (DRC). The incumbent will oversee case management for 45-55 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism, Seizure Disorders, and Cerebral Palsy. These individuals live either with family or in community-based supported living arrangements. This role requires strong writing and communication skills, the ability to work independently with minimal training, and collaboration within an interdisciplinary team. Responsibilities include developing, coordinating, and monitoring individualized support plans to help clients achieve personal goals while ensuring safety in the least restrictive environment. Travel throughout the Las Vegas area is required. ADSD fosters a positive, inclusive, and diverse work environment that values innovation, teamwork, and collaboration. The mission of ADSD is to empower individuals and their support systems by providing resources for disabilities and aging - connecting Nevadans to services and improving their quality of life.
Developmental Specialists provide individual and group developmental and support services for individuals of all ages who have, or who may be at risk for, developmental delays, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or related conditions, and social, emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Incumbents develop and implement programs and treatment and service plans, provide direct services and case management, develop financial and community resources, and provide education, information and technical assistance to family members, other agencies and service providers regarding human growth and development.

Essential Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, special education, human growth and development, psychology, counseling, social work or a closely related field and one year of professional experience providing developmental, special education, intervention, treatment-oriented, child/adult care, and/or instructional guidance services for individuals who have or may be at risk for developmental delays, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities or related conditions; OR one year of experience as a Developmental Specialist I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education at or above a Bachelor's degree and experience as described above.

Job Duties

Developmental Specialists may be assigned to one of many specialized programs and facilities, and duties may be performed in the home, clinic, hospital, residential, outpatient, and community facilities, or similar settings. Duties performed and the population served vary. Some representative examples include:

Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: Incumbents develop, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of individual’s support plans to facilitate achievement of identified goals for the specific developmental and behavioral management needs of each individual served in the least restrictive environment possible. They may provide case management services, be responsible for needs assessment, coordinate and monitor supports, and supervise the activities of supported living arrangement providers.

Early Intervention Program: Incumbents provide early intervention diagnostic and treatment services and case management for children under the age of three who are medically fragile and/or exhibit developmental delays; develop and implement service plans with families to remediate delays and facilitate development of social, motor, communication, cognition, self-help, and behavioral skills in home and community settings; and function as a service coordinator to assist families with accessing services and resources in a clinic and/or the community.

Early Childhood Program: Incumbents provide consultation and guidance to family specialists and collaborate with community organizations and agencies to share resources and expertise in providing training to families of infants under the age of one regarding best practices in the care of infants to encourage optimal child growth and development.

Assess individuals using appropriate assessment tools to evaluate and determine eligibility for services, program planning, and individual and family needs; establish a base line and document progress in meeting objectives.

Develop treatment and service plans by interviewing the individual, family members, and care providers; identify goals based on individual/family objectives and available resources; review client’s social history, report observations and recommend changes; remediate deficits and provide intervention strategies; assist care providers in learning behavioral techniques to enhance the care provider/client relationship.

Implement treatment and service plans to support and strengthen family/care provider functioning; evaluate with the family/care provider the appropriateness of desired outcomes of the treatment/service plan and the effectiveness of the plan in meeting the client, family, and care provider needs; review plan with client and family/care provider and revise as needed.

Provide case management services; develop treatment/service plans and monitor client and family progress; identify, obtain, coordinate, monitor and evaluate resources and services to meet client and family/care provider needs; assist clients in obtaining financial assistance; coordinate treatment and services with outside agency service providers; monitor work sites, school, and community-based placements; advocate for the client to ensure goals are accomplished and prepare and submit reports to courts and other agencies.

Develop external resources required to achieve identified treatment/service objectives; coordinate and facilitate services between agency, client, family, and community organizations; provide information to providers regarding agency policy, procedure, and guidelines. Identify funding sources and participate in writing grant proposals to expand services; participate on program review teams, provide technical assistance, prepare federal and State reports, and meet with professionals in local communities to develop program awareness and partnerships.

Conduct home visits; negotiate and write contracts for housing, in-home and other services; monitor providers to ensure services are provided; monitor quality of the living environment; train care providers as necessary; review billing forms for accuracy of services provided.

Provide crisis intervention including responding to emergency calls; search for missing clients; report instances of neglect and abuse to appropriate authorities; coordinate emergency services such as respite; restrain client or utilize appropriate behavioral and environmental controls for clients who may be hostile, combative, aggressive or assaultive; follow established protocols and policy to protect clients, staff, family and others potentially at risk due to client behavior or family dynamics.

Consult with clinicians, medical personnel, vendors, contractors, school districts, other public agencies, community organizations, employers, and professionals in the legal system to exchange information; serve as motivator and negotiator to arrange and resolve service delivery issues.

Develop training curriculum regarding early childhood development, parenting skills and developmentally appropriate activities; organize training and present information to clients and family/care providers regarding methods to achieve developmental objectives in the treatment/service plan.

Develop and implement activities and therapeutic techniques; provide feedback, monitor treatment plans, and document client progress; function as primary or co-therapist in group therapy sessions and other treatment groups offered by the agency; assist family/care providers in learning behavioral techniques; guide care provider participation in treatment/service programs and meet with families/care providers to discuss client progress.

Prepare a variety of written reports related to the evaluation of clients and therapeutic services provided; document case notes in client files; provide information to treatment/service team members, other professionals, family members, care providers, and administrators regarding current evaluations and client progress; prepare and submit forms and documentation for billing purposes as required.

Supervise lower-level professional, paraprofessional and support staff, teachers, university students and volunteers as assigned.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Under general supervision, incumbents continue to receive training and gain experience in performing the duties described in the series concept.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Working knowledge of: human growth and development; behavior management techniques.

General knowledge of: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Americans with Disabilities Act; laws governing abuse and neglect of clients; client rights and confidentiality of information; specific developmental skills such as fine and gross motor, social skills, communication, cognition and self-help; case management practices and procedures; treatment team dynamics; interrelationships between the characteristics, disabilities, strengths, and special needs of the client; elements of the environment which may support or impede development and learning; crisis intervention techniques; symptoms, characteristics and treatment of clients with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, or developmental delays; family functioning and dynamics; medical issues related to disabilities; individual, marital, group and family counseling techniques; psychotropic medications including desired effects, common side effects, and drug interactions; family dynamics and cultural awareness applicable to interpersonal relationships and social interaction; community systems including schools, Social Security, courts, Medicaid, employers and others, and their impact on the client and family; communicating with colleagues, clients and others.

Ability to: analyze and interpret functioning level of clients; recommend therapeutic/developmental intervention strategies to improve functioning; enable families to enhance their abilities and competencies to meet the needs of the family; function as a service coordinator in assisting clients and families with accessing services and resources in the community.

Recruiter Contact Information: Melissa Pontillo - mpontillo@admin.nv.gov

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP) .
  
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
  
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
  
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
  
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) . Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication .
  
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program .
  
• No Nevada state income tax.
  
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
  
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.
  

Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU) .

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF) .

*** State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The following are legal holidays:

January 1.............................................. New Year's Day

Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday

Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day

June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day

July 4.................................................... Independence Day

First Monday in September.............. Labor Day

Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day

November 11........................................ Veterans' Day

Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day

Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day

December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255

Closing Date/Time: 3/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• STATE OF NEVADA

Show more