Child Care Licensor | Social & Health Program Consultant 2 (SHPC2) Spokane

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Dual Language: The ability to pass a Spanish language certification test through DCYF is required to be eligible for this position. There is an additional 5% assignment pay for dual language based on the successful completion of the Language Certification Test.

Job Title: Child Care Licensor | Social & Health Program Consultant 2 (SHPC2) Location: Spokane, WA - This position is flexible/hybrid and can be done remotely; however, you will need to be in person in Spokane at least every month to attend meetings. Closes: Thursday, October 29th, 2026 Salary: $64,512 - $86,688 Annually

Are you someone who works well independently, is self-driven but able to work collaboratively with a team? Do you want to be part of an organization that is purpose driven and passionate about their work? We are looking for a Child Care Licensor (SHPC2) to join our team of licensors in our Spokane office to help ensure our communities have safe licensed childcare options. The ideal candidate will possess a history of effective communication and collaborative skills when communicating with peers, clients, and the public in regard to child care. This is a hybrid position working from home but also having office space at the DCYF Spokane Central office.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity: As a Child Care Licensor, you will administer uniform procedures for recruitment, development, licensing, technical assistance, monitoring, complaint inspections, and legal activities of all required child care and early learning environments, including but not limited to Child Care Centers, School Age, and Family Home Child Care programs.

Some of what you'll do:• Based on federal and state regulations, conducts initial and annual evaluations of required childcare and early learning environments.

• Assesses child care facilities to ensure the environment is safe and healthy. Assesses childcare activities and equipment to ensure developmental appropriateness, an anti-biased approach and cultural relevancy of early learning services.
• Responsible for communicating with cases of limited English proficiency clients from individuals whose primary language is Spanish, including interviewing, documenting and obtaining statements.
• Verifies care licensing qualifications in MERIT for applicants, licensees, family members, and staff for all required early learning providers.
• Completes all licensing applications within the required time frame in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 43.216.305. Submits initial, non-expiring, and probationary licenses and certifications to the Child Care Licensing Supervisor so the agency can meet the90-day deadline for action in response to each application.
• Provides ongoing technical assistance to early learning providers.
• Establishes and/or maintains a file for each required early learning provider in accordance with DCYF‘s agency specific schedule and DCYF’s Child Care policies and procedures. Updates assigned licenses per DCYF policy and procedure to ensure they do not expire in the licensing management system; maintains current and complete information for each licensee; documents licensing activities/observation notes in licensing module/tool in an objective, factual and timely manner, in accordance with DCYF Child Care policies and procedures.
• Completes licensing complaints in accordance with DCYF Child Care policies and procedures and documents in the licensing management system activities related to the complaint in accordance with DCYF Child Care policies and procedures.
• Evaluates complaints concerning both licensed and unlicensed early learning providers.
• Initiates adverse actions, when necessary, in consultation with the Child Care Licensing Supervisor.
• Consults with the Child Care Licensing Supervisor, initiates adverse actions against unlicensed providers who do not meet RCW and WAC requirements for child care licensing.
• Appears and provides testimony as the Department’s representative at hearings concerning child care licensing adverse actions.
• Reviews requests for variances and waivers, recommending approval or denial per DCYF Child Care policy and procedure.
• Works with applicants and licensees to resolve identified licensing violations to ensure compliance with child care licensing requirements, in accordance with DCYF Child Care policies and procedures.
• Supports management staff and the legal letter writer for licensing actions.
• Provides information on becoming licensed, including licensing orientation.
• Supports Early Achievers enrollment, orientation, and training activities.
• Provides consultation, technical assistance, and guidance to licensing regulations and Early Achievers requirements.
• Participates in families’ education on child care issues to parents, community partners and the local community through activities.

Required Qualifications:• 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.

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

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

AND• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in both English and Spanish for providing interpretation and translation to clients. Employee must be certified and proficient and be able to provide certification to perform duty within 6 months of appointment.

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• 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 history of and/or ability for effective and clear communication with all levels including management, peers, clients, and the public.

• Demonstrated history of and/or ability for explaining 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.

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 goal 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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

This position requires a valid driver's license when operating a state or privately-owned vehicle on official state business. Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S. This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email [email protected]. 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.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

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