Advocates for Life Skills & Opportunity

Title: Lead Behavior Support Specialist

Department: Quality Improvement

Wage Band: Professional

Level: 2

FLSA Classification: Salary Exempt

Position Description: The Lead Behavior Support Specialist contributes to the success of ALSO’s mission by ensuring consistent, informed oversight of behavior supports across the organization. This role advances inclusion by strengthening the skills, systems, and partnerships needed to deliver effective, ethical, and person-centered behavioral services. The Lead Behavior Support Specialist mentors, oversees, and provides direct support to the Behavior Support team, aligning practice with ALSO’s Core Values, Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs), and best-practice Positive Behavior Support (PBS).

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Core Values

• Trust: Is transparent, direct, and honest, fostering a safe and kind environment.
• Teamwork: works in unison to support others to unleash the power and potential of everyone
• Innovation: puts imagination, creativity, and passion to work, embracing novel ways of doing and thinking.
• Dignity: defends each person’s worthiness and ability to direct their own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
• Respect: demonstrates admiration and positive regard for everyone.
• Accountability: owns their actions and delivers results in the continuous pursuit of excellence.
• Humility: acknowledges that they are part of something larger than themselves, learning from others and growing together with gratitude.

Responsibilities and job functions include but are not limited to:

• Maintain current, detailed knowledge of behavior support authorizations to guide planning and maximize billing efficiency.

• Coach advocates on accurate forecasting and ethical use of authorized service hours.

• Track upcoming ISP dates and coordinate proactive collaboration with team and ancillary services.

• Ensure SPAs are accurate, timely, and properly uploaded to Xpress.

• Develop and sustain strong partnerships with county and state teams through consistent communication.

• Drive team development by introducing new trends, learning opportunities, and specialized training topics.

• Conduct routine audits and pre‑licensing reviews to verify documentation quality and OAR compliance.

• Provide coaching and supervision to Behavior Support Specialists to uphold mission, values, and OARs.

• Maintain OIS Instructor certification; deliver 1‑day and 2‑day OIS classes as needed.

• Carry a caseload to model high‑quality PBSP practice and provide flexibility in coverage.

• Partner with Advocate Relations to organize community OIS classes to increase access and revenue.

• Coordinate and track PBSP trainings to ensure timely, consistent instruction for advocates.

• Promote organization‑wide awareness of free/low‑cost community trainings aligned with ALSO’s mission.

• Continuously improve documents and templates for clarity, efficiency, and compliance.

• Lead and collaborate on initiatives that strengthen inclusion and service innovation.

Program Requirements

• Maintain certification as a Positive Behavior Support Specialist and OIS Instructor.

• Demonstrate working knowledge of OAR 411‑304 and OAR 411‑323 standards.

• Ensure behavioral documentation and training meet state, county, and organizational requirements.

• Attend leadership, licensing, and audit meetings as required.

• Participate in performance evaluations, supervision, and team development planning.

              Leadership

• Provide direct coaching, and mentorship to the Behavior Support team.

• Model ethical, person‑centered PBSP’s consistent with ALSO’s mission and values.

• Foster collaboration, inclusion, and constructive problem‑solving within the team.

• Demonstrate professionalism and accountability in all interactions.

• Cultivate a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

             Planning and Execution

• Coordinate development, implementation, and review of Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs).

• Track authorizations, SPAs, and training compliance to meet deadlines.

• Maintain systems that monitor program quality, outcomes, and compliance.

• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to streamline workflows and communication.

• Plan and schedule trainings, audits, and plan reviews proactively and efficiently.

Position Requirements

Schedule and Scope of Position

• Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week (Exempt). Typical hours Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:00pm; flexibility for urgent program needs. Some travel required to meet needs of organization and for training. 
• Scope of Duties: Accountable and/or responsible for multiple functions in one department or considered a subject matter expert. Consulted on procedures or projects related to multiple departments, but not responsible.
• Supervision Exercised: Responsible for leading, assigning or overseeing the work of a group of employees on an organizational level, but no official supervisory authority. Full Organizational impact.
• Professional Skills: Position requires formal education, an advanced certificate, years of progressive experience working under an experienced professional, or years of dedication to a craft or skill in order to perform the duties of this role.
• Computing Skills: Strong ability to produce moderately complex or complicated work product using computer systems generally found in the duties and responsibilities for this position. Ability to be a resource to coworkers with basic skills in the same programs.
• Margin for Error: Positions where there may be shared responsibility, but some quality controls are still in place. Inattention or carelessness may result in serious lost time or injury to others.
• Mental Load: Varied duties, requiring sustained, continuing mental effort with careful organization or planning.
• Initiative Required: Frequent independent judgement while following instructions and procedures and making routine decisions based upon established precedent.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Physical Requirements: Regular sitting, standing, walking, computer use; occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.

• Work Environment: Office, training, and on‑site service settings with occasional travel. May work remotely with supervisor approval, based on organizational and program needs.

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This description has been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to this position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the position. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. The CEO, as deemed appropriate, may assign additional functions and requirements. Advocates for Life Skills & Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity Employer.