Program Therapist (Senior)
Listed compensation
$51.3K - $72.1K
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Program Therapist (Senior)
- Requisition ID req37628
- Working Title Program Therapist (Senior)
- Position Grade 13
Position Summary
The Center for Development and Disability (CDD), established in 1990, is New Mexico's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service. These centers, authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, build the capacities of states and communities to respond to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
The NM START model is a crisis prevention and intervention model for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health concerns.
Join our interdisciplinary team and make a meaningful impact on the lives of people with IDD and mental health needs.
As a START coordinator, you will deliver and coordinate START clinical services for an assigned caseload, applying the nationally recognized START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment) Model.
In this role, you will collaborate with individuals, families, providers and systems of care to strengthen supports, promote stability and well being, prevent crisis and reduce reliance on emergency and inpatient services for the people enrolled.
Why You Will Love This Role
*Support meaningful, lasting change for people, their families and communities;
*Strengthen collaboration across families and service systems;
*Promote person centered, trauma informed and strength based care;
*Advance your skills through training and collaboration with the National Center for START Services Network.
See the Position Description for additional information.
Conditions of Employment
Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
- ## Address in your cover letter how your experience and skills align with our preferred qualifications
- Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling or a related human services field.
- At least 2 years of experience working with people with IDD and MH needs and their families.
- Strong communication, writing and organizational skills.
Ability to navigate complex systems, collaborate across disciplines and work effectively with diverse teams and individuals with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
Ability and commitment to complete START Coordination Certification within 12 months of hire.
- Additional Requirements This position requires passing a background check and fingerprinting.
- Campus Health Sciences Center (HSC) - Albuquerque, NM
- Department Pediatrics Center for Development (997H)
- Employment Type Staff
- Staff Type Term - Full-Time
- Term End Date 06/30/2027
- Status Exempt
- Pay $4,277.87 to $6,009.47 Monthly
Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.
ERB Statement As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than.25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.
Background Check Required Yes
For Best Consideration Date
Eligible for Hiring Incentive No
Eligible for Remote Work No
- Eligible for Remote Work Statement
- Application Instructions
Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.
To Be Considered for This Position, Please Submit the Following:
- Completed Application: Include all relevant work experience and clearly note the number of hours worked per week for each position.
- Current Résumé: Your résumé should include three professional references, preferably current and/or former supervisors.
- Cover Letter: Please address how your experience and skills align with our preferred qualifications.
- Note: Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.
The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.
The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment.
For more information about background checks, visit policy.unm.edu. Refer to policy.unm.edu for a definition of Regular Staff.
Key Responsibilities
The Program Therapist will deliver and coordinate clinical services using the START model for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health concerns. They will collaborate with families, providers, and systems of care to promote stability and prevent crises.
Requirements
Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of directly related experience. A master's degree in a human services field and experience working with IDD and mental health needs are preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 36% have no call, 58% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for New Mexico is 92.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$62k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $67k in an average-cost state. 61.4% of New Mexico clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $51k–$72k | Mental Health Therapy median $74k (middle half $63k–$84k)321 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$67k in purchasing power | New Mexico index 92.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Therapy listings in New Mexico | 70 active | 7,493 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 62% remote · 36% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | New Mexico counselor listings (all specialties): 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 39% offer loan repayment148 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Therapy listings | 2,629 in the last 30 days | 1,390 the 30 days before (+89%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
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