About this role
About Children’s Minnesota
Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children’s Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids Experts™ in our region, Children’s Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children’s hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.
Children’s Minnesota is proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023’s Top Diversity Leaders. The national honor recognizes the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influencing public policy, care delivery, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and the industry.
Department Overview
The Child Life/Music Therapy department supports the emotional, developmental, and psychosocial needs of children and families throughout their health care experience. Through Child Life, Music Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Medical Dog programming, the team provides therapeutic interventions designed to reduce stress and trauma, promote coping and resilience, support development, and enhance the overall patient and family experience.
Team members use developmentally appropriate play, preparation, education, music, creative expression, recreation, and other evidence-informed therapeutic approaches to help children and families understand and navigate illness, hospitalization, procedures, and treatment. As integral members of the interdisciplinary health care team, staff partner with patients, families, and clinical teams across inpatient and ambulatory settings, advocate for the unique needs of children and families, and serve as resources on child development, coping, psychosocial care, and family-centered care.
Position Summary
Provides system-wide leadership, operational oversight, and strategic direction for Child Life and Music Therapy services, including Child Life, Music Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Medical Dog programming. The Manager is responsible for ensuring high-quality, patient- and family-centered services that support coping, development, emotional well-being, and the overall patient and family experience.
Leads the day-to-day operations of the department, including staff supervision and development, staffing and scheduling, program development, quality and performance improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, policy and practice standards, and resource stewardship. Partners with clinical and operational leaders across the organization to ensure services are effectively integrated into patient care and responsive to the needs of patients, families, and care teams.
Provides leadership and clinical expertise to support complex patient and family needs and may provide direct therapeutic or Child Life interventions as appropriate. Serves as an active member of Child and Family Services leadership and promotes collaboration, innovation, professional development, and consistent standards of practice across the system.
- Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Music Therapy, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
- Current Child Life Specialist (CCLS) or Music Therapist (MT-BC) certification required.
- Current BLS certification required.
- Minimum of five years of professional experience in Child Life, Music Therapy, or a related pediatric therapeutic field.
- Minimum of two years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage programs and operations, foster staff development, and collaborate effectively across clinical and operational areas.
Physical Demands
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The posted salary represents a market competitive range based on salary survey benchmark data for similar roles in the local or national market. Annual salaries displayed are based on full-time employment (40 standard hrs per week). Annual salaries for part-time positions will be prorated based on the employee’s scheduled weekly hours in relation to the full-time standard. When determining individual pay rates, we carefully consider a wide range of factors including but not limited to market indicators for the specific role, the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate, internal equity and organizational needs.
In addition to your salary, this position may be eligible for medical, dental, vision, retirement, and other fringe benefits. Positions that require night, weekend or on-call work may be eligible for shift differentials or premium pay.
All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of an occupational health assessment, drug screen, background investigation, and compliance with the U.S. Government Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
Children’s Minnesota is proud to be an equal opportunity employer whose staff is representative of its community and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.