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Direct Support Professional Jobs in Ruston, LA (NOW HIRING)

What to Expect High tempo, mission critical work supporting around the clock operations and watch ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Hodge, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Ruston, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Vienna, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Simsboro, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Claiborne, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Grambling, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Banks Springs, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Jonesboro, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Bernice, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Farmerville, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Choudrant, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Gibsland, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Lakeshore, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

IT Support Specialist

Chatham, LA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Information Technology Professional (IT/CTN/IS) Category / Component: Enlisted Both Overview ... Direct enlistment into IT, CTN, or IS pipelines from civilian life based on aptitude, security ...

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Showing results 1-20

Direct Support Professional information

See Ruston, LA salary details

$7

$13

$16

How much do direct support professional jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for direct support professional in Ruston, LA is $13.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.63 and $14.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a direct support professional?

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are caregivers who assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their daily lives. They help with personal care, medication management, meal preparation, and transportation, while also supporting clients in achieving personal goals and participating in community activities. DSPs play a vital role in promoting independence, dignity, and quality of life for those they support.

What are some common challenges direct support professionals face when supporting individuals with disabilities, and how can they effectively handle them?

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) often encounter challenges such as managing behavioral outbursts, ensuring effective communication with nonverbal individuals, and balancing the need for independence with safety. Handling these situations requires patience, empathy, and strong problem-solving skills. Many DSPs find it helpful to use individualized behavior support plans, maintain clear communication with team members, and participate in ongoing training. Building trust and understanding the unique needs of each individual also play a key role in overcoming daily challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a direct support professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Direct Support Professional, you need a high school diploma or equivalent, basic caregiving knowledge, and an understanding of developmental disabilities. Familiarity with documentation systems, incident reporting tools, and sometimes CPR/First Aid certification is typically required. Patience, strong interpersonal skills, and empathy are crucial soft skills for effectively supporting individuals and building trust. These skills are vital for ensuring client safety, promoting independence, and delivering compassionate care tailored to each individual's needs.

What is the difference between Direct Support Professional vs Personal Care Assistant?

AspectDirect Support ProfessionalPersonal Care Assistant
CertificationsCPR, First Aid, sometimes specialized trainingCPR, First Aid often required
Work EnvironmentAssisting individuals with disabilities in community or residential settingsProviding personal care in private homes or facilities
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providersHome care agencies, private clients

Both roles involve assisting individuals with daily activities, often requiring similar certifications like CPR and First Aid. However, Direct Support Professionals typically work in community or residential settings supporting people with disabilities, while Personal Care Assistants mainly provide personal care services in private homes. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the role that best matches their skills and career goals.

Where do direct support professionals get paid the most?

Direct Support Professionals tend to earn higher wages in regions with a higher cost of living and greater demand for healthcare and social services, such as certain metropolitan areas. States or cities with a strong focus on healthcare, social services, or specialized care often offer higher pay rates for this role. Factors like experience, certifications, and the specific employer also influence salary levels.

What job categories do people searching Direct Support Professional jobs in Ruston, LA look for?

The top searched job categories for Direct Support Professional jobs in Ruston, LA are:

What cities near Ruston, LA are hiring for Direct Support Professional jobs?

Cities near Ruston, LA with the most Direct Support Professional job openings:

Infographic showing various Direct Support Professional job openings in Ruston, LA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $27,342 per year, or $13.1 per hour.

Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Coast Professional

West Monroe, LA โ€ข Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Benefitsย ย 

  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • AD&D insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid sick time
  • Paid time off
  • Paid training
  • Referral program
  • Vision insurance

ย Job typeย ย 

  • Full-time.

Locationย ย 

  • This is an in-office opportunity located at 651 Downing Pines Rd West Monroe, LA 71292.
Scheduleย ย 
  • ย Monday - Fridayย 
Job Summaryย ย ย ย ย 

The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) leads the Companyโ€™s budgeting, forecasting, pricing, financial modeling, profitability analysis, and operational financial analysis function.ย  This role serves as a key financial partner to the President & CFO and business leadership, translating operational assumptions and financial data into actionable analysis that supports pricing decisions, resource allocation, contract performance, growth opportunities, and long-term planning.ย  The Director of FP&A has primary responsibility for the annual budget and forecasting processes and leads financial pricing and modeling for new and existing business opportunities.ย  The role works closely with the Director of Accounting/Controller, while maintaining a distinct forward-looking focus on planning, pricing, performance analysis, and decision support.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Budgeting & Financial Planning

  • Lead the Companyโ€™s annual budgeting process across departments, contracts, locations, and lines of business.
  • Partner with operations and department leaders to build budgets based on revenue, staffing, productivity, compensation, operating expenses, and other business drivers.
  • Develop and maintain consolidated Company budgets and detailed budgets by contract, department, location, and line of business.
  • Maintain rolling forecasts and update financial expectations based on actual performance and changing business conditions.
  • Develop long-range financial plans, headcount plans, labor models, and capital expenditure analyses.

Pricing & New Business Analysis

  • Lead financial modeling and pricing for new business opportunities, contract renewals, expansions, modifications, and other significant opportunities.
  • Develop detailed pricing models incorporating labor, benefits, payroll taxes, overhead, technology, facilities, subcontractors, capital requirements, and other direct and indirect costs.
  • Work with Operations and business leaders to develop appropriate staffing, productivity, utilization, training, ramp-up, and performance assumptions.
  • Analyze proposed pricing for expected contribution margin, operating margin, break-even points, and return to investment.
  • Perform sensitivity and scenario analysis for changes in staffing, wages, productivity, volume, pricing, contract terms, and other assumptions.
  • Support pricing for government contracts, commercial contracts, BPO opportunities, and other Company lines of business.
  • Compare actual contract performance with original pricing assumptions and use findings to improve future pricing models.

Forecasting & Financial Performance

  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial forecasts.
  • Analyze actual results against budget, forecast, prior periods, and original pricing assumptions.
  • Identify and explain significant revenue, labor, operating expense, and margin variances.
  • Develop forecast for revenue, labor, headcount, operating expenses, contribution margin, and operating income.
  • Identify emerging financial risks and opportunities and communicate them to the President & CFO and appropriate business leaders.

Contract & Business Unit Profitability

  • Develop and maintain profitability reporting by contract, client, location, and line of business.
  • Analyze contract-level revenue, direct labor, benefits, operating costs, allocated overhead, contribution margin, and profitability.
  • Partner with Operations to understand the operational drivers behind financial performance.
  • Identify underperforming contracts or business units and help leadership understand root causes and potential corrective actions.
  • Evaluate the financial impact of staffing changes, wage adjustments, incentive programs, remote/hybrid work arrangements, facility utilization, and other operational decisions.
  • Develop appropriate cost allocation methodologies in coordination with the President and CFO and Director of Accounting/Controller.

Executive Decision Support

  • Serve as financial business partner to the President & CFO and executive leadership.
  • Translate financial and operations data into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Prepare financial analysis supporting major operations and strategic decisions.
  • Evaluate potential investments, acquisitions, new locations, contract opportunities, facility decisions, and other strategic initiatives.
  • Develop scenario models and executive-level financial presentations for senior leadership and ownership as requested.
  • Provide independent financial challenge to operational assumptions when appropriate.

Management Reporting & Process Improvement

  • Work closely with the Director of Accounting/Controller following monthly close to analyzing actual financial results.
  • Prepare management reporting packages including budget-to-actual results, forecasts, KPIs, trends, and variance explanations.
  • Develop dashboards and reporting tools that improve visibility in business performance.
  • Connect operational metrics such as staffing, hours worked, productivity, utilization, collections, call volumes, and other performance measures to financial results.
  • Develop and maintain standardized models for budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and profitability analysis.
  • Identify opportunities to automate and improve the accuracy, efficiency, and consistency of financial planning and analysis.

Qualifications

  • Bachelorโ€™s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or related field required.
  • MBA, CPA, CMA, or other relevant advanced degree or certification preferred but not required.
  • 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in finance, financial analysis, budgeting, pricing, operations analytics, or related disciplines preferred.
  • Significant experience developing complex budgets, forecasts, pricing models, and profitability analyses.
  • Experience in a labor-intensive service business strongly preferred; accounts receivable management, BPO/contract center operations, government contracting, or similar industry experience is highly desirable.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modeling skills required; experience with ERP, budgeting, business intelligence, and data analytics systems preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong financial modeling, analytical, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and profitability-analysis skills.
  • Ability to understand complex operations and translate operational assumptions into financial models.
  • Ability to challenge assumptions and identify financial risks while understanding operations realities.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex financial concepts to non-financial leaders.
  • Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain a broader business and strategic perspective.
  • High degree of judgement, discretion, confidentiality, and comfort working directly with senior executives.
Clearance

As a federal contractor, this position requires U.S. citizenship and security clearance granting access to classified information. The background investigation is conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and is an evaluation of the whole person to determine suitability. The suitability review begins after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted and will include a review of your employment, education, residences, references, criminal history and credit, as an example. ย Some of the most important factors in an investigation are the individualโ€™s honesty, candor, and thoroughness in the completion of their security forms. In rare instances, non-U.S. citizens with highly specialized skills and experience may also be considered for the security clearance process.

Security

Information and Physical Security is the responsibility of every employee.ย  In your position you are required to safeguard the computer systems by following proper username and password management which includes selecting challenging passwords and committing them to memory, they should not be written down or stored where others can freely have access.ย  This also includes securing your desk and workstation when you are not there. This includes locking your session and putting sensitive paperwork away when not physically at your desk.ย  You are not to share your username or password with anyone. The physical security of our offices of are equal importance, never shadow or let someone shadow your entry into a Coast Professional, Inc. facility. If this occurs quickly report this action immediately.ย  You are required to follow all Information Technology policies and procedures regarding the management of your system accounts and equipment. If you witness any security violation you should immediately report it to management.

Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the physical presence in the workplace is essential. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Disclaimer

This job description reflects managementโ€™s assignment of essential job functions but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties and responsibilities required by the job incumbent. Nothing in the herein restricts managementโ€™s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.ย 

Coast Professional, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other categories protected by applicable law.