General Responsibilities

The Lead ABA Counselor-Residential acts as an assistant administrative representative for the residential program and is responsible for managing the operations of the home. They ensure ABA Counselor-Residential staffing meets regulatory requirements, oversees physical plant concerns of the home, and assigns responsibilities to each shift of Residential ABA Counselors for habilitative services and activities.

Melmark New England serves children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury, neurological diseases and disorders, comorbid mental health disorders and severe challenging behaviors. Populations served are intensely physically challenging. The Lead ABA Counselor position requires that staff be aware that students who are served may exhibit aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior. Students served may have had multiple treatment failures prior to this placement. Lead ABA Counselors are expected to implement highly technical clinical and teaching programs that require Lead ABA Counselors to be constantly alert, attentive and ready to respond to student’s needs.

All employees must achieve satisfactory performance in orientation and onsite training before assuming full ability to complete essential functions. Failure to successfully pass orientation and onsite training can/will result in termination of employment.

All staff are expected to adhere to Melmark’s Code of Conduct and Standards of Professionalism included in the Employee Handbook. In addition, all management/supervisory positions are expected to adhere to Melmark’s Management Competencies included in the Employee Handbook. It is the responsibility of each staff member to read and familiarize themselves with the contents of the Employee Handbook and ask questions relative to the application of these standards in the workplace if unclear to the employee.

Essential Functions

1. Reports on duty at assigned time; reports absence as far in advance as possible, but in no case later than normal reporting time.
2. If resigning from the position, all positions require a minimum of four weeks’ notice. Management positions are required to give additional time dependent on the size and scope of the position but six weeks would be considered minimum. Melmark New England retains the right to refuse professional reference except as legally required to those employees who do not give proper notice.
3. Rotates schedule, including assistance on weekends and holidays per advanced request from direct supervisor.

Education/Training: Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Human Service Field, or Psychology. Will be required to enroll in Master’s focusing on ABA program within one (1) year of hire.

Certifications/Licensure: Board certification at the Associate’s level (BCaBA) required.A valid US driver’s license and a minimum age of twenty-one (21) years old. Must be capable of attaining approved Melmark driver status. Must meet Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check requirements. Successful completion of employer provided certification in CPR, First Aid, Crisis Intervention, and Melmark’s Orientation Program and New Hire Onsite training program.

Skill(s): Must demonstrate strong reading, written and oral language skills. Strong teaching skills with emphasis on students who are emotionally, behaviorally, physically and/or developmentally challenged. Experience or interest in the principles and application of Applied Behavior Analysis, curriculum and special education (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Strong interpersonal skills are required.

Experience: Prefer at least one (1) year experience with specialized populations. Advanced skills in educational and clinical services will be required in this role.

Interrelationships:Individuals served, Residential ABA Counselors, families and all other departmental staff.