1

Human Development Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Uses a human-centered approach and human development best practices to meet the needs of the community and program participants. Provides overall administration, supervision, and leadership to placed ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Human Development Specialist information

See salary details

$33.5K

$81.6K

$141K

How much do human development specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for human development specialist in the United States is $81,632.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $99,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a human development specialist do?

A Human Development Specialist focuses on improving the well-being, skills, and potential of individuals and communities, often through research, program development, and policy initiatives. They may work in areas like education, social services, public health, or international development to design and implement programs that support growth and empowerment. Their work may involve needs assessments, planning interventions, monitoring outcomes, and collaborating with stakeholders to address challenges related to human growth and development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a human development specialist?

To thrive as a Human Development Specialist, you need a background in psychology, education, or social sciences, often supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with assessment tools, data analysis software, and program management systems is common in this role. Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication help you connect with diverse individuals and drive developmental initiatives. These skills and qualities are essential for designing impactful programs and fostering positive growth in individuals or communities.

What are some common challenges faced by human development specialists when implementing new programs within organizations?

Human Development Specialists often encounter challenges such as resistance to change from staff, limited resources for training initiatives, and aligning new programs with existing organizational goals. Successfully overcoming these challenges requires strong communication skills, adaptability, and the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels. Collaborating closely with management and team members helps ensure that new programs are tailored to the organization's needs and are more readily embraced by employees.

How to become a human development specialist?

To become a human development specialist, typically a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, education, or a related field is required, often followed by relevant experience or advanced degrees such as a master's. Developing skills in counseling, program management, and research, along with certifications in areas like child development or counseling, can enhance job prospects. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level roles in social services or community programs is also beneficial.

What can I do with a human development specialist degree?

A human development specialist degree prepares individuals for roles focused on improving personal and community well-being, such as counseling, social services, education, or program coordination. Graduates often work in schools, non-profits, healthcare settings, or government agencies, utilizing skills in communication, assessment, and program planning.

What cities are hiring for Human Development Specialist jobs?

Cities with the most Human Development Specialist job openings:

Who are the top companies hiring for Human Development Specialist jobs?

The top employers for Human Development Specialist jobs are:

What states have the most Human Development Specialist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Human Development Specialist jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Human Development Specialist jobs?

For Human Development Specialist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Human Development Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,632 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Human Development Specialist III

Fairfax, VA • On-site

Fairfax County
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

$60K - $106K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 13 days ago


Fairfax County rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 68 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Announcement This announcement will fill a position at the community center within Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) at the following location: Reston Teen Center, located at 12196 Sunset Hills Rd, Reston, VA 20190. Join our team at the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and help support our mission to partner with communities, families, and individuals to provide opportunities to access a continuum of resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. Our vision is to see connected communities where all individuals and families are supported and empowered to thrive.

Work as part of the Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections (CRCC) Division to manage the daily activities and planning of Teen programs at assigned center-based site(s). Provide overall administration, supervision, and leadership to placed-based efforts for the population served and comply with training and licensure requirements established by state and local guidelines. Provide strategic leadership in program development, personnel development, fiscal management, community engagement, and facility quality assurance.

Plan, coordinate, and evaluate outcome-based inclusive programs for diverse populations, including recreational, educational, health and wellness, social, civic, and cultural programs for inclusive prosperity. Use a human-centered design framework to create data-driven strategies within communities. Practice a human-centered approach and use human development best practices to meet the needs of the community and program participants.

This position requires morning, day, evening/night, weekend work, and related work as required to meet community needs. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. Learn more about the work we do in NCS here Illustrative Duties (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list

A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.) Supervises a team of fulltime, temporary, part-time, seasonal staff and volunteers; Plans, coordinates, and evaluates programs, activities, and events with the end result of Inclusive Prosperity using a Human-centered approach to ensure equitable outcomes for all, in a co-located or stand-alone site that address identified gaps; Identifies practices or policies that create unintended consequences for marginalized or non/under-represented communities using a Trauma Informed Lens; Ensures that programming is inclusive of the county's goals and initiatives; Manages the daily overall facility operation; Participates in the hiring, training, and scheduling of staff; Completes and submit required financial, data and statistical and other reports as requested; Adheres to revenue and expense limits; Inspects facilities and grounds for safety hazards and operational deficiencies and initiate corrective actions; Responds to public inquiries and concerns as appropriate; Participates in the development and implementation of school-based, community center-based, and community outreach plans that targets all communities with targeted strategies for marginalized communities; Facilitates, distributes, or participates in evaluation processes such as surveys, focus groups, program and activity benchmarking. Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list). Knowledge of Human-centered and human development practices; Knowledge of basic fiscal management, record keeping, and inventory processes; Knowledge of culture, community strengths and assets, and relationship building strategies; Ability to use a personal computer, applicable software, and peripheral equipment; Ability to direct and coordinate the work of subordinate staff and volunteers; Ability to plan, develop, and administer programs, activities, and events in collocated or stand-alone facilities and the community; Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; Ability to establish and maintain a warm and supportive relationship with participants, parents, staff, school officials, and citizen groups, in a group or individual setting; Ability to provide a wide variety of experiences to meet a participant's individual intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs

Employment Standards MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a human services *related field; plus, one year of supervisory experience in program development, community engagement, child-related programmatic experience or human services *related experience. *A related field/experience is based solely on the position description. CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment.

The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement. Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license; First Aid/CPR/AED certifications (within 3 months of appointment) Food Handler Certification (within 3 months of appointment) NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in a human development related field such as elementary education, nursing, social work, sociology, or recreation.

Experience developing and implementing programs for youth, adults, older adults and families; ensuring a safe recreational environment; making oral presentations to groups; developing activity and service strategies to achieve desired community outcomes; and supervising and coaching employees. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Position is active in nature. Must be able to monitor and observe the activities of program participants.

Regularly moves about or positions self to supervise and interact with participants at their level. Occasionally lifts, transports, positions, push/pulls or moves up to 50 pounds. Must be sufficiently mobile and possess a range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting.

Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of program participant. Requires the ability to apply CPR and First Aid skills as needed and respond to emergency situations. Administrative and supervisory activities will require ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment.

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include exercise. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY. #LI-LD1


What Fairfax County employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom