Job Title: Occupational Therapist
Location: Mountainside (MTN)
Department Name: SPF - School Based Therapies
Req #: 0000259033
Status: Salaried
Shift: Day
Pay Range: $68,200.00 - $79,300.00 per year
Pay Transparency:
The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.
The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.
School Services Occupational Therapist
At Children's Specialized Hospital, part of RWJBarnabas Health, School Services Occupational Therapists play an essential role in helping students achieve meaningful participation and success in their educational environments. As a member of our School Services team, you will collaborate with educators, families, and interdisciplinary professionals to deliver school-based occupational therapy services that support students' academic achievement, functional independence, and participation in school activities. This position offers the opportunity to work within a collaborative, student-centered educational model while making a lasting impact on the lives of children and adolescents with a wide range of developmental, physical, and behavioral needs. Joining Children's Specialized Hospital means becoming part of an organization committed to clinical excellence, innovation, and empowering every therapist to grow professionally while improving outcomes for students and families.
A typical day for a School Services Occupational Therapist may include:
- Conducting comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations, re-evaluations, and assessments to determine students' educationally relevant therapy needs
- Developing and implementing individualized, goal-oriented intervention plans that support students' participation, independence, and success in the school environment
- Collaborating with teachers, special educators, related service providers, administrators, and families to develop comprehensive educational plans that promote student achievement
- Participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and other school team meetings, either in person or through virtual platforms, to provide clinical recommendations and support educational planning
- Providing consultation, instruction, training, and ongoing support to school personnel regarding therapeutic strategies, adaptive equipment, and classroom accommodations
- Utilizing educational service delivery models while ensuring therapy services align with students' educational goals and district requirements
- Maintaining timely and accurate documentation, evaluation reports, treatment records, scheduling, billing logs, and other required documentation in accordance with Children's Specialized Hospital and school district policies
- Managing therapy equipment and maintaining accountability for assigned inventory and materials
- Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration through regular communication with school staff, families, and Children's Specialized Hospital School Services leadership
- Participating in continuing education, mandatory training, and professional development activities while maintaining clinical competencies
- Supervising occupational therapy fieldwork students, when applicable, and contributing to the development of future clinicians
- Meeting productivity expectations while representing Children's Specialized Hospital with professionalism and a commitment to exceptional school-based care
This role might be for you if:
- You are passionate about helping children succeed in their educational environment through meaningful occupational therapy interventions
- You enjoy collaborating with educators, families, and multidisciplinary teams to support student achievement and participation
- You understand the unique differences between educational and medical models of occupational therapy service delivery
- You communicate effectively with students, caregivers, teachers, administrators, and healthcare professionals
- You are organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities while meeting required timelines
- You enjoy problem-solving and developing creative, student-centered interventions that promote independence and functional success
- You are committed to lifelong learning, professional growth, and evidence-based pediatric practice
- You value collaboration, compassion, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families
To Be Considered:
To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:
- Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited Occupational Therapy program.
- Licensure: Current and unrestricted New Jersey Occupational Therapist license issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
- Certification: Appropriate New Jersey School Certification required.
- Experience: Previous pediatric or school-based clinical experience is preferred; new graduates with strong pediatric clinical affiliation or fieldwork experience are encouraged to apply.
- Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of school-based occupational therapy evaluation techniques, educationally relevant treatment planning, IEP development, documentation standards, student and family education, assistive technology and adaptive equipment, and interdisciplinary collaboration within an educational setting.
- Schedule: Ability to work a Full-time schedule (37.5 hours/week) and travel between assigned school locations as needed.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.
