Occupational Therapist (OT/OTR) - Pediatric & Neurodevelopmental in Aspen, Colorado at Thrive Collaborative

Bring your occupational therapy experience to a small, multidisciplinary practice where play, participation, family partnership, and meaningful relationships guide care. Thrive Collaborative is seeking an experienced occupational therapist to provide individualized services for neurodiverse children and their families in Aspen and throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

You will combine independent clinical practice with close interdisciplinary collaboration: evaluating occupational performance, developing individualized plans, providing skills-based intervention, coaching families and educators, and helping clients participate more fully in the routines and activities that matter to them. Our model brings together occupational therapy, behavioral science, communication, human development, and trauma-informed care, with respect for each client's identity, strengths, interests, autonomy, and sensory preferences.

This position is designed for an occupational therapist who is prepared to practice independently and provide discipline-specific clinical leadership. Thrive does not currently have capacity to provide ongoing OT mentorship or clinical supervision. Interdisciplinary consultation is available, but the occupational therapist is responsible for independently evaluating clients, selecting appropriate OT methods, maintaining professional competence, and recognizing when outside consultation or referral is needed.

What makes this opportunity different

• Time for individualized care: An average caseload of 5-10 clients and 25-hour weekly billable expectation create space for preparation, collaboration, documentation, and thoughtful clinical decision-making.
• A defined workweek: 40 total work hours per week, with work-from-home options for indirect work and telehealth meetings and sessions as clinically indicated.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Collaborate with speech-language, ABA, and Early Start Denver Model specialists while independently leading occupational therapy assessment and intervention.
• Professional growth built into the role: Paid training, continuing education, and support for discipline-specific professional development.
• Work rooted in everyday life: Partner with clients, families, and educators across home, school, clinic, community, and telehealth settings.
• A relationship-centered model: Support meaningful participation without requiring compliance, masking, or normalization of harmless neurodivergent traits.

Your clinical role

• Complete occupational therapy evaluations and translate findings into functional, measurable goals aligned with client and family priorities.
• Develop and implement individualized, skills-based plans that support participation in daily routines, play, learning, self-care, community life, and other meaningful occupations.
• Provide evidence-informed, play-based and naturalistic skills intervention addressing areas such as sensory processing and regulation, fine- and gross-motor participation, visual-motor and praxis skills, executive functioning, and activities of daily living, according to each client's assessed needs.
• Coach parents, caregivers, educators, and team members to embed supportive strategies into everyday routines and environments.
• Use clinical observation, standardized or criterion-referenced assessment when appropriate, and ongoing data to evaluate progress and adapt intervention.
• Recommend and help implement environmental adaptations, visual supports, positioning strategies, assistive tools, or other supports within occupational therapy scope.
• Collaborate with BCBAs, speech-language pathologists, interventionists, educators, physicians, and other providers while maintaining clear professional roles and scopes of practice.
• Lead or contribute to client team meetings and coordinate with community partners.
• Complete timely documentation, reports, treatment plans, and clinical recommendations consistent with professional and payer requirements.
• Participate in peer consultation, shared learning, program development, and professional training.

Experience and qualifications
Required

• Graduate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program.
• Current Colorado occupational therapist license, or ability to obtain it before the start date.
• Current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) and licensed by DORA.
• At least 3 years of independent occupational therapy practice, including experience with pediatric or neurodevelopmental populations.
• Experience completing evaluations, developing plans of care, providing direct intervention, and coaching caregivers or other providers.
• Strong clinical judgment, communication, organization, documentation, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to practice independently, establish OT clinical processes, remain within professional scope and competence, and seek external consultation or referral when needed.
• Readiness to serve as Thrive's independently practicing occupational therapist without ongoing discipline-specific mentorship or clinical supervision.
• Reliable transportation for services across the assigned area.
• Ability to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, including active participation in intervention and lifting up to 40 pounds where essential to the role.

Especially valuable

• Experience supporting autistic and otherwise neurodivergent individuals through affirming, participation-focused care.
• Experience providing services in home, school, clinic, and community settings.
• Experience with caregiver coaching and interdisciplinary treatment planning.
• Experience with sensory-motor development, self-care and daily living skills, executive functioning, play, assistive technology, or environmental adaptation.
• Training in naturalistic, developmental, relationship-based, or trauma-informed approaches.

Location and schedule
This is a 40-hour-per-week position serving clients across the Roaring Fork Valley, with the majority of clients in Aspen. Hybrid includes work-from-home options for indirect work, as well as telehealth meetings and sessions as clinically indicated, alongside in-person client services.

We use a block schedule organized around three service blocks between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Evening sessions are scheduled only for clients who need targeted support during evening routines. The service window describes appointment availability; total work is 40 hours across the week.

Candidates considering relocation should plan housing and commuting around regular services in Aspen and travel across the valley. More attainable housing is generally found down valley, including Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, and Rifle; actual availability and commute suitability vary. Relocation assistance and/or a housing stipend are negotiable.

Mileage between clients is reimbursed at the IRS rate; the usual commute is excluded. Thrive groups services geographically when feasible and supports remote indirect work and clinically appropriate telehealth, but this role requires reliable in-person access to the assigned service area.

Compensation and benefits

• Annual base salary of $90,000-$110,000.
• Quarterly bonus opportunities contingent on both company and individual billable goals being met.
• Negotiable relocation assistance and/or housing stipend.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; dependent-care and medical flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) with discretionary employer match.
• Vacation: Accrues at 0.0385 hours per hour, up to 80 hours annually for a 40-hour workweek, beginning the first of the month following 60 days of employment. Vacation balances are capped at 120 hours.
• Sick leave: Accrues at approximately 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours annually, subject to applicable law and carryover rules.
• Five paid holidays: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, December 24, and December 25, paid in eight-hour increments. Eligibility begins the first of the month following 60 days of employment.
• Additional leave: Up to three paid bereavement days for an immediate family member; paid jury-duty leave and inclement-weather pay under company policy; Colorado FAMLI benefits subject to program eligibility.
• Paid training, continuing education, and professional development support.
• Flexible scheduling across the calendar year, including advance scheduling of billable hours where appropriate.
• Employer-sponsored wellness programs and additional benefit options, including pet insurance, supplemental life insurance, and long-term disability coverage.
• Tenure-based benefits that may include up to $5,250 annually toward qualified educational expenses or student loan repayment, employer-sponsored benefit premiums, and increased PTO.

About Thrive Collaborative
Thrive is a small, multidisciplinary practice serving neurodiverse children and their families, with continuity of care into adulthood. Our work centers on individualized support, authentic relationships, respectful collaboration, and shared learning. This opening is focused on our Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley services.
Apply

Submit your resume using the application form on this page. A cover letter is optional; you are welcome to share a brief note about your clinical interests and interest in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis; there is no fixed application deadline.