Child Life Specialist - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. 

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Exciting Opportunity at MSK: We are recruiting for a Child Life Specialist to join Memorial Sloan Kettering's pediatric program.

Comprised of leading experts in the research and treatment of pediatric malignancies and immune deficiencies, faculty members in the Department of Pediatrics collaborate with specialists in other MSK departments to offer comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and survivorship care. Combining the latest science with compassionate care, MSK Kids partners with families and multi-disciplinary care teams that include schoolteachers, therapists, and other specialists to provide support throughout their treatment. With MSK's unmatched expertise in cancer and a dedicated focus on kids and young adults, no one fights harder for people facing pediatric cancer than MSK Kids. We recognize that the whole family is affected by a cancer diagnosis. The goal of our Child Life Program is to help young patients and their families develop strategies for coping with and adjusting to treatment. We target therapies to the age as well as the social and emotional needs of our patients and their siblings to reduce fears, encourage positive approaches to treatment requirements, and normalize the hospital environment.

Are you passionate about our mission and supporting our leaders? We want you to join us!

Click here to view "A day in the life of a Child Life Specialist at MSK"!

Role Overview:

• Provide Child Life services to pediatric patients based on an understanding of child development and the impact that illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization have on this process
• Develop and execute group activity programs
• Plan interventions specific to the impact of the care provided
• Provide guidance for the family in understanding and dealing with hospital regulations and procedures, while facilitating opportunities for parents to actively continue their parenting role
• Maintain records, statistics, activity calendars, schedules, and other appropriate documentation

 Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Special Education, Psychology, or Health Related Field required for Child Life Certification
• 1-2 years of related experience
• Child Life Specialist Certification OR completed requirements (including child life internship) with plans to take the exam within one year of hire

 Core Skills:

• Capable of building positive relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
• Adept at creating partnerships and working collaboratively to meet shared objectives and goals
• An effective communicator, capable of determining how best to reach different audiences and executing communications based on that understanding

 Additional Information: #LI-Onsite

• Hours will vary between 6:00 am - 7:00 pm and include a weekend rotation as well as some holidays.
• Location: 1275 York Avenue
• Pay Range: $27.80-$43.08

 Reporting to the Child Life Supervisor.

Click to hear directly from our child and young adult patients

Helpful Links:

• MSK Compensation Philosophy
• Review Our Greats Benefits Offerings

MSK is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.  

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