Child Care Licensor - Social and Health Program Consultant 2 (SHPC2) - Richland

Full Job Description

Job Title: Child Care Licensor (SHPC2)
Location: Richland, WA - This position is full-time/flexible hybrid
Job Type: Full-Time, Non-Permanent (through February 2027)
Closes: Tuesday February 3rd, 2026
Salary: $5,271 - $7,082 Monthly

Do you want to be part of an organization that is purpose driven and passionate about its work? The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a Child Care Licensor to support the Richland office, with licensing and oversight of childcare homes, centers, and school age programs. This position plays a key role in ensuring childcare and early learning environments are safe, healthy, and compliant with state requirement

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
As a Child Care Licensor, you will administer uniform procedures in accordance with RCWs, WACs, and DCYF policies for recruitment, development, licensing, technical assistance, monitoring, complaint inspections, and legal activities for required childcare and early learning environments, including but not limited to Child Care Centers, School Age programs, and Family Home Child Care programs.

Some of what you'll do:

• Conduct initial and annual evaluations of required childcare and early learning environments to determine compliance with WAC 110 and DCYF policies and procedures.
• Assess childcare facilities to ensure the environment is safe and healthy.
• Evaluate childcare activities and equipment for developmental appropriateness, use of anti-bias practices, and cultural relevancy of early learning services.
• Verify licensing qualifications in MERIT for applicants, licensees, family members, and staff, including coordination of background clearance information
• Complete licensing applications within required timelines and submit initial, non-expiring, and probationary licenses for supervisory review..
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to early learning providers.
• Establish and/or maintain a file for each required early learning provider in accordance with DCYF‘s agency specific schedule and Child Care policies and procedures.
• Update assigned licenses per DCYF policy and procedure to ensure they do not expire in the licensing management system.
• Complete licensing complaints in accordance with DCYF Child Care policies and procedures and documents in the licensing management system activities.
• Initiate adverse actions when necessary, in consultation with the Child Care Licensing Supervisor.
• Appear and provide testimony as the Department’s representative during licensing-related administrative hearings.
• Work collaboratively with applicants and licensees to resolve licensing violations and achieve compliance.

Required Qualifications:

• Equivalent education and experience doing planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health or chemical dependency treatment services programs totaling four (4) years.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 1.

OR

• A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, AND three (3) years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

OR

• A master's degree or higher in early childhood education, social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, AND two (2) years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Notes:
Above experience may include:

• Professional level child care licensing or early childhood education in a licensed child care setting or formal early childhood setting.
• Child Care compiling and evaluating facts to recommend for management action or decide compliance with program guidelines and regulations.
• College-level course work may substitute for degree type if 30 semester or 45 quarter credits are in social services or child development disciplines.

Note:
*A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Demonstrated experience in effective and clear communication with all levels including management, peers, clients, and the public.
• Demonstrated experience explaining both in writing and verbally, complex technical and regulatory information in a clear and concise non-threatening but factual manner to clients and the public of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Experience in monitoring or overseeing licensed child care, Head Start or ECEAP performance standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Principals of Child Development; risk assessment and decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply law and regulations.
• Demonstrated interviewing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to serve the role of expert representative in both court proceedings and multi-disciplinary team service delivery.
• Demonstrated knowledge of group work and group dynamics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current literature on early care and education practices as well as concepts of community organization as applied to the development of community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risk.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office products and the use of mobile computing devices.
• Demonstrated ability to explain in writing and verbally; complex technical and regulatory information in a clear and concise manner to clients and the public of diverse cultural backgrounds

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:

• Cover Letter
• Resume (current/updated)

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position requires at least a minimum of two (2) years driving experience and a valid driver's license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one (1) year of their appointment.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran’s Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service. Please black out (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran’s Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Veronica Jones (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at veronica.jones@dcyf.wa.gov. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (360) 664-1960.

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