BCBA Program Director

A hands-on clinical role for BCBAs who are inspired by kids, understand the importance of purpose-driven, individualized treatment plans, and enjoy mentoring teams.

You didn’t become a BCBA to supervise from a laptop or sign reports for children you rarely see.

Most of us entered this field because we wanted to really know our clients, support the teams working with them, and see learning happen in real time.

Many experienced BCBAs tell us they miss that kind of work.

That’s the kind of work we protect at FirstSteps for Kids.

Our BCBAs spend most of their time in the room - observing sessions, coaching RBTs in the moment, and collaborating closely with families and clinical partners.

What you won’t find here

• Oversized caseloads
• Supervision done entirely through telehealth
• A culture driven purely by billable hours

Instead, our Program Directors maintain manageable caseloads and a strong center-based presence, allowing you to provide thoughtful supervision and meaningful care.

Compensation

$85,000 – $95,000 annual salary (depending on experience)

PLUS:

• Monetary Signing award
• Ongoing Incentive opportunities

Why Many BCBAs Stay at FirstSteps

A Clinical Home

Our Walnut Creek center provides a collaborative environment where clinicians support one another and deliver thoughtful, compassionate ABA.

FirstSteps has long been a clinician-led organization, and maintaining strong clinical integrity continues to guide how we grow and serve families.

We also believe that our BCBAs doing the work every day should have a meaningful voice in how clinical care evolves.

Learn from Leaders Advancing the Field

You’ll collaborate with expert behavior analysts who are helping to shape modern ABA, including:

• Courtney Tarbox— Chief Clinical Officer
• Dr. Jonathan Tarbox— Director of Research

Our team has helped to initiate and advance the movement toward Compassionate Care, prioritizing both learning and wellbeing for every child receiving ABA services.

Caseloads Designed for Quality Care

We intentionally keep caseloads manageable so you can:

• Truly know each child and family
• Actively monitor and update treatment plans
• Provide meaningful supervision to your team

Because the progress our clients make depends on the quality and thoughtfulness of the treatment we deliver.

The Role: Program Director (BCBA)

Our Program Directors are skilled behavior analysts and compassionate leaders who guide clinical programs and support the growth of their teams.

Clients are primarily children ages 2–12, served at our Walnut Creek center and/or in their homes and schools.

A Typical Week Includes

• Conducting assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
• Observing sessions and coaching RBTs in real time
• Providing active supervision and mentorship to RBTs
• Leading caregiver training and family coaching
• Collaborating with SLPs, OTs, educators, and physicians
• Participating in clinical trainings and research initiatives
• Mentoring junior clinicians

Benefits

• Health insurance with employer contribution
• Dental and vision insurance with employer contribution
• 401(k) with company match
• Ample Paid time off including floating holiday
• Company-sponsored CEUs
• Conference stipend and PTO for attendance
• Tuition discounts for advanced degrees
• Employee assistance program
• Wellness incentives
• Monthly Referral bonuses
• Team events and community gatherings

Qualifications

We are seeking clinicians who:

• Hold an active BCBA or BCBA-D credential
• Have a master’s or PhD in ABA, psychology, special education, or a related field
• Bring 5+ years of clinical experience, including supervising clinical programs
• Are passionate about compassionate, person-centered care
• Enjoy collaboration and teamwork
• Are authorized to work in the United States

Ready to Apply?

If you're looking for a BCBA role where you can grow clinically, collaborate with thoughtful colleagues, and make a meaningful impact, we’d love to meet you.

Even if you’re not actively job searching, we’re always happy to connect with clinicians who care deeply about the future of our field.

If this position resonates with the kind of work you want to be doing as a BCBA, we encourage you to apply or reach out for a conversation.

We move quickly for the right candidates.

Apply today.

Clinical Impact

There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child. As a Program Manager at FirstSteps you will have the great privilege of helping our little ones learn to say their first words and sentences, to develop their first friendships, to be successful in their first classrooms, and ultimately, to learn to love learning.

Overview of our Program Manager / Mid-Tier Supervisor Position:

A FirstSteps Program Manager has the experience and clinical skills to immediately assist in case management under the direct supervision of FirstSteps BCBAs. As a new Program Manager, you will provide some direct work with children served by FirstSteps to ensure you are familiar with our model of compassionate ABA. Once fluent, you will enter our comprehensive Program Manager training program and learn from the best and brightest in our field. Following this training, the Program Manager will exclusively assist our BCBAs with case management, provide center based supervision, lead and manage social skills groups, collaborate with and support our caregivers, regularly analyze client data, and support our team of RBT Instructors in their clinical and professional growth.

 Core Responsibilities: 

• Provide some direct 1:1 Compassionate ABA to our incredible kids
• Assist BCBAs with case supervision and management 
• Mentor instructors and trainees by providing constructive and positive feedback that supports professional development and clinical success
• Management and oversight of Social Skills Groups
• Overlaps with Instructors as needed to promote highest quality service delivery and clinical development
• Positively contribute to all FirstSteps client treatment programs

FirstSteps on Diversity & Equity

We are an equal opportunity employer which means that we value diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of our work - in our service delivery with our clients, in collaboration with families and communities, and in our organizational culture and practices with our staff. We strive to serve a diverse population of children and their families and see a responsibility to address the issue of inequity in access to ABA services across different cultures. 

As a service provider employing hundreds of staff to support our children and their families, we believe that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to social change and a kinder and more compassionate world by living our values of diversity and equity in all our daily operations. When we provide a more diverse learning environment for our clients and their families, we provide a more meaningful experience for all and contribute toward a more equitable future for everyone.

Being part of team FirstSteps affords many opportunities and benefits, including (but not limited to):

• $500 signing bonus for credentialed Registered Behavioral Technician (RBTs)
• Compensation for drive time and mileage
• Health Insurance with generous employer contribution
• Access to discounted dental and vision Insurance with employer contribution
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous company match
• Monthly Data Stipend
• Employment Assistance Program
• Wellness Incentives
• Access to discounted Pet Insurance
• Employee referral bonus program
• Employee discounts on movies, theme parks, hotels, etc.
• Ongoing team building and community events during and outside of work hours
• Fun, team approach and work atmosphere developed via the Prosocial Model of collaborative work
• Exceptional on-going training and career development opportunities offered by our team of over 40 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) at FirstSteps
• BACB Supervision for eligible Lead RBTs who are working towards earning their BCBA credential

Program Manager Wage Info

Our Program managers receive between $28 and $31 per hour.

To APPLY for this position, we ask that you:

Share our Values & Mission:

• Understand the incredible significance of the position and show up with enthusiasm and dedication, knowing that your work is creating more life-long opportunities for those we serve
• Be inspired by the wonder of childhood and committed to provide compassionate care to our beautiful FirstSteps kids
• Believe that our kids (and all kids) are wonderfully unique and capable of communicating what is important to them and achieving their goals

Completed Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in progress or completed
• Active RBT certification preferred
• A minimum of two years delivering high quality ABA to individuals diagnosed with autism
  • We are happy to provide additional clinical training and BACB eligible supervision hours for those working towards their BCBA credential 

Health & Safety Requirements:

• Given our work with potentially medically vulnerable individuals, we require proof of vaccinations and non-reactive Tuberculosis results
• Our team delivers services to our kids in their schools, homes, and FirstSteps centers. We zone our treatment teams to avoid excessive driving but do require reliable transportation, a valid California driver’s license, and proof of auto insurance
• To care for our kids and ensure their safety, you must be willing and able to lift up to 50 lbs, feel comfortable sitting on floors and or child-sized furniture, and be capable of moving from a seated position to running stance when needed

The Position (full and part-time schedules available)

There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child. As a FirstSteps Behavior Technician:

You will have the great privilege of teaching our little ones diagnosed with autism meaningful skills including communication, socialization, self-care, and school readiness 

• Experience first-hand a child’s first words, first friend, first shoe tie, and much more
• You will work closely with and learn from teachers, parents, FirstSteps BCBAs, and behavioral health/ mental health specialists 
• You will become a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with all initial credentialing fees paid by FirstSteps in conjunction with our paid training program

*Want to hear straight from our RBTs about the job and their experiences? Check out our reel series ChatRBT and Day in the Life on IG @firststepsforkids

FirstSteps on Diversity & Equity: 

We believe that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to a kinder and more compassionate world by living our values of diversity and equity in all our daily operations. As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our service delivery with our clients, in collaboration with families and communities, and in our organizational culture and practices with our wonderful Behavior Technicians and support staff.  

Behavior Technician Wage Info 

Our new team members receive between $21 and $22 per hour on average and are eligible for multiple $1 wage increases throughout the year. 

Behavior Technicians at FirstSteps access benefits including: 

• Exceptional training, on-going support, & career development opportunities 
• Health Insurance with generous employer contribution 
• Access to discounted dental and vision insurance 
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous company match 
• Paid time-off (PTO) & anniversary PTO awards 
• Compensation for drive time, mileage, and data usage
• Tuition discounts with our partner universities offering Bachelor's, Master's, and doctorate degree programs
• Employment Assistance Program
• Employee referral bonus program
• Ongoing team building and community events during and outside of work hours
• Fun, team approach and work atmosphere 

To APPLY for the Behavior Technician position, we ask that you: 

Share our Values & Mission: 

• Show up with enthusiasm and dedication, knowing that your work is creating more life-long opportunities for our kids diagnosed with autism 
• Believe that our children (and all children) are wonderfully unique and capable of communicating what is important to them and achieving their goals 

Have some "Kid" Experience: 

• We look for "kid people" and related work, study, or volunteer experience demonstrating an interest in child development and commitment to the care and well-being of all children 

Completed Education: 

• College enrollment or degree preferred 
• We will consider your application with proof of high school graduation and an interest in psychology / behavioral health / child development / mental health 
• Graduate students in ABA may apply as Behavior Technicians and be eligible to receive clinical training and supervision hours toward BACB requirements, based on performance, role alignment, availability, and program needs.

Health & Safety Requirements: 

• Childhood vaccinations and non-reactive TB test 
• Reliable transportation 
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, sit on floors and/or child-sized furniture, and quickly move from a seated position to running stance 
  
  #firststepper 
  
  

There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child. At FirstSteps this is our mission! 

We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals who are eager to learn and dedicated to helping our team in providing exceptional services to children diagnosed with autism who are receiving ABA intervention at our beautiful learning center. This un-paid internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with both the direct therapy and administrative aspects of clinical practice and positively contributing to the success of our summer service offerings. The ideal candidate will be passionate about working with children, eager to learn, and capable of multitasking in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities:

1. Assist Clinical Teams: Support clinical teams in preparing, organizing, and implementing our annual FirstSteps for Friends, Summer Social Skills Intensive program.

2. Client Interaction: Interact with our amazing children and their families in a supportive and engaging manner, ensuring they feel welcome and comfortable in our clinic environment.

3. Data Collection: Learn and assist with taking data during therapy sessions, ensuring accurate and detailed documentation of progress.

4. Administrative Duties: Help with administrative tasks such as notifying our families and team members of scheduling changes, organizing medical records, updating client files, and maintaining clinic organization.

5. Check-in and Check-out: Assist in the smooth check-in and check-out process for kids and families attending therapy sessions, providing assistance and support as needed.

6. Collaboration: Collaborate with clinical teams and administrative staff to ensure seamless delivery of services and a positive experience for all clients.

7. Learning and Development: Take advantage of countless learning opportunities throughout the internship period and and gain valuable skills and knowledge about developmental learning challenges, treatment assessment and intervention, practice management, health care, and administrative functions.

Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in a relevant undergraduate or graduate program (e.g., Psychology, Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, Healthcare Administration).
• Passion for working with children and supporting their development.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new tasks and responsibilities.
• Previous experience in a clinical or educational setting is a plus, but not required.

Duration and Schedule:

• This is a summer internship position with potential for future employment
• The internship will require a minimum of 20 hours per week, with scheduling flexibility based on clinic needs.

Benefits:

• Hands-on experience in a dynamic ABA clinic environment.
• Opportunity to work closely with experienced clinical professionals and Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
• Exposure to both clinical and administrative aspects of clinical practice.
• Potential for professional growth and development, including future employment.
• Academic credit may be available, depending on individual circumstances.
• Exceptional interns who are considering graduate school will be provided strong letters of recommendation.

Application Process:

• To apply, please use the Apply link and submit your resume or CV.
• Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
• We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

FirstSteps on Diversity & Equity:

We believe that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to a kinder and more compassionate world by living our values of diversity and equity in all our daily operations. As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our service delivery with our clients, in collaboration with families and communities, and in our organizational culture and employment practices.