Child Life Services Manager

Work Schedule: 

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position scheduled to work Monday through Friday, with core hours between the hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Applicants hired into this position will work at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI. 

Be part of something remarkable

It can be scary when a child needs to go to the hospital. Child Life Services helps promote positive experiences for children throughout their hospital visit. You can lead this remarkable team of 28 staff as they help ease the anxiety kids have while receiving difficult treatments at American Family Children’s Hospital.

As the manager, you will support teams and programming that have a direct impact on the wellbeing of children and their families in a variety of settings, including inpatient units, clinics, Emergency Department, procedural areas, Burn Unit, and palliative care. These services focus on coping and developmental support to protect patient’s emotional safety, leading to long lasting benefits that empower children and families throughout their healthcare journey. Last year our certified child life specialists provided more than 23,000 interventions with patients.
 

These robust services are in place to help support children and families:

• Special events/activities
• Music therapy
• Tyler’s Place - sibling care
• The Positive Image Center
• Playroom 
• Hospital School
• Canine Health and Medical Pals (CHAMPS) program 
   

A seasoned child life specialist with demonstrated leadership experience or an individual with health care leadership experience would succeed in the Child Life Services manager role at American Family Children’s Hospital. 

At UW Health, you will have:

• An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans.
• Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.
• Access to UW Health’s Wellness Options at Work that support employee/family well-being.
• Tuition reimbursement - UW Health invests in your professional growth by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement.

Education:

Minimum – Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant subject area such as Child Life, Child Development, Therapeutic Recreation, Psychology or other related field 

Preferred – Master’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or Therapeutic Recreation. Master’s degree in Business Administration or Health Care Administration acceptable if Bachelor’s degree is in Child Life, Child Development or Therapeutic Recreation. 

Work Experience:

Minimum – Three years of managerial experience related to child life services for a children’s hospital or five years managerial experience in a healthcare setting. 

Preferred – Experience in an academic setting including both inpatient and outpatient. 

Licenses and Certifications:

Preferred – Certification as a Child Life Specialists by Association of Child Life Professionals 

American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin—also a Magnet®-designated facility—provides specialized care in a healing environment designed especially for pediatric patients and their families. American Family Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric medical and surgical center, with nationally recognized pediatric specialists in a wide range of fields. It is also home to our Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and Level IV NICU, which cares for the tiniest patients throughout Wisconsin and beyond.