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Department of Human Development and Family Studies

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Job Title: Lecturer & Certified Child Life Specialist

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (https://hdfs.illinois.edu/) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (http://illinois.edu/) is searching for an outstanding candidate for a nine-month, benefits-eligible non-tenure track appointment at the rank of Lecturer. This non-tenure-track position is an annually renewable contract with a promotion pathway (see policies #25-26 at https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/).

We seek a dynamic and compassionate Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) with a strong academic background in child development to join our department. Furthermore, we seek a colleague who shares our commitment to a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible scholarly community. This unique role combines clinical expertise with academic instruction and community engagement. The successful candidate will oversee a new clinical community internship program for students in our Master of Science in Child Health degree program and teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses. Summer clinical supervision responsibilities would be compensated as an additional summer salary.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach 1-2 classroom-based courses each fall and spring semester.

• Coordinate and supervise a year-round community-based Child Health Internship program for students (HDFS 558). Provide training, evaluation, and support for student interns in accordance with the CCLS internship syllabus.

• Develop course materials and assessments aligned with program learning outcomes.
• Mentor and advise students pursuing careers in child life and related careers.

• Cultivate partnerships with local hospitals, clinics, and child-focused organizations.
• Ensure compliance with academic and professional standards for experiential learning.
• Collaborate effectively with other faculty involved in this degree program.
• Attend and contribute to department meetings and related activities.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies, Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential and clinical supervisor status.
• Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience in a pediatric healthcare setting.
• Experience in teaching
• Experience supervising student interns.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Human Development & Family Studies, Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities.
• Demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching about child development (e.g. infancy and early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence) and child life-related topics (e.g. hospitalized children, bereavement, play therapy, professional ethics).
• Experience collaborating with health and community agencies.

Work Environment:

• Split between clinical settings (e.g., hospitals, clinics) and academic environments (e.g., classrooms, offices).
• Occasional evening or weekend hours for community events or student supervision.
• Car travel to internship sites is required (mileage reimbursed).

Available: June 16, 2026

Salary and appointment details: This is a full-time 100% 9 month position paid over 12 months specialized faculty position.  The expected start date is as soon as possible after 6/15/2026.  Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.  The budgeted base salary range for this 9-month position is $65,000 to $75,000. Any summer supervision responsibilities would be compensated as an additional summer salary (one summer month is calculated as 1/9 of the base salary). Work for this position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy.  This is a non-budgeted position that will be reappointed annually, contingent upon funding and the department's needs. 

Application Instructions

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting on https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three professional references.  To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on January 1, 2026. All requested information must be submitted via the online system for your application to be considered.  For further information about this position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Elissa Thomann Mitchell, at thomann2@illinois.edu.  For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1033947
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu.