Director of Professional Licensing

South Dakota State Government; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) seeks a Director of Professional Licensing to lead licensing programs across agencies. The role oversees executive staff, ensures efficient service delivery, and guides policy, rulemaking, and stakeholder communications.

Travel across the state is required; preferred location is Pierre, SD, with possible assignments at a Job Service Office. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field and 5+

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, or related field.
• Experience drafting legislation, rules, and policies; lobbying government bodies; leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead professional licensing programs and agencies within DLR.
• Provide policy guidance and education; draft legislation and rules; engage with stakeholders.

Skills

Policy & Legislation

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Negotiation

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Tools

Licensing case management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job ID: 38405

Agency: Department of Labor & Regulation - Professional Licensing

Location: Pierre, SD preferred - Statewide out of any Job Service Office - https://dlr.sd.gov/localoffices/location.aspx

Salary: $99,305.28 - $124,110.72/annually, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: N

Closing Date: 11/18/2026

With a mission to promote economic opportunity and financial security for individuals and businesses through quality, responsive, and expert services, fair and equitable employment solutions, and safe and sound business practices, the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) is seeking a team member to lead professional licensing programs within DLR.

Director of Professional Licensing

is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring effective professional licensing and permitting within DLR. This position will lead the executive and program directors and other staff at multiple licensing agencies within DLR. This role requires a strategic thinker, an experienced administrator, effective leadership and communication skills, and the ability to ensure effective and efficient delivery of services by staff and contractors.

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Policy and Legislative: support and guide legislation and administrative rulemaking for the Department's professional licensing agencies, including but not limited to, drafting, testifying, lobbying, and education. Provide accurate information, opinion, and guidance to the Cabinet Secretary on all issues affecting the professions and work closely with the Cabinet Secretary on various topics, as assigned. Maintain a high level of knowledge and understanding about national issues and topics affecting professional licensing.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and actively engage with stakeholders regarding policy changes and statewide issues affecting all programs. In a timely and effective manner, address all program-related customer service and board member concerns which unable to be resolved by program staff. Maintain daily contact with applicants, licensees, board members, school owners, professional associations, and the public to answer questions, interpret rules, and receive complaints. Coordinate with universities, training programs, licensing associations, other states, and national organizations to share best practices and track emerging trends. Ensure the programs publish clear, plain language guidance, newsletters, and FAQs to improve compliance and transparency.
• Administration and Financial Management: work in consultation with all relevant staff to ensure professional licensing agencies are properly budgeting to sustain their mission. Partner closely with program staff to ensure contracted resources and services are successfully procured and reviewed. Ensure each program maintains adequate and appropriate financial and data internal controls in compliance with applicable laws and policies.
• Leadership: serve as a central point of leadership for professional licensing agencies and their executive directors and other staff, to ensure commitment to the values and mission of DLR and relevant agencies. Supervise the executive and program directors who lead the various licensing programs, including ensuring compliance with DLR and BHRA policies. Advise and work closely with board executive and program directors to ensure compliance with DLR policies and procedures and individual program licensing standards, set goals, and develop metrics to assess success toward developed goals. Ensure all programs are reviewing and pursuing efficient and effective operations, including modernization through available technologies.

This position is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient implementation of laws and rules, processing of applications for licensure, and investigation of complaints to ensure compliance with statutory requirements in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. This position supports licensing agencies by coordinating meetings, administrative rulemaking, overseeing financial activities, and staying up to date on issues affecting the regulated professions.

This position works with various other stakeholders, staff in other DLR divisions and others to ensure the success of professional licensing agencies.

This is a full-time position with the Department of Labor & Regulation. The majority of this position's time is spent in the office. Travel to events across the state with occasional out-of-state travel is required. Preferred location of this position is Pierre but will consider locating the position at a DLR Job Service Office with at least five days per month in Pierre Central Office. For more information on the Department of Labor & Regulation, please visit https://dlr.sd.gov/ .

Licenses and Certifications:

A bachelor's degree in public administration, business, or a related field or a related advanced degree preferred.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Preferred five years experience drafting legislation, rules, and policies; lobbying legislative and government bodies; project and change management; relationship building; government affairs; and managing a team and leading others.

Knowledge of:

• applicable laws and rules pertaining to professional licensing in South Dakota;
• open meetings laws and procedures;
• public records and retention laws;
• supervisory and office procedures;
• continuing education principles and techniques;
• examination techniques;
• professional licensing processes and best practices;
• investigative methods and standards;
• legislative processes;
• administrative rulemaking;
• general office computer applications, including Microsoft Office suite;
• licensing case management systems;
• general office computer databases.

Skill to:

• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a diverse public;
• draft legislation, rules, contracts, and policies;
• successfully lobby and testify on behalf of changes to statutes, rules, and policies;
• negotiate effectively;
• deal tactfully with persons in emotionally charged incidents;
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders;
• budget and make sound financial decisions;
• assess, review, and implement new technologies;
• make sound management decisions;
• speak before large groups of people.

Ability to:

• manage staff and direct projects;
• provide timely and relevant supervisory guidance to staff and assist them in solving problems;
• handle customer service complaints with discretion, empathy, and fairness;
• recruit, develop, and retain talent;
• create accountability and continuous improvement;
• develop an annual budgets and monitor fund expenditures;
• prepare meeting notices and materials in a timely manner;
• conduct research and establish standards of conduct for licensees;
• interpret statutes and rules for staff, licensees, and consumers;
• carry out disciplinary action;
• take decisive action;
• maintaining and update office procedures and policies;
• review, evaluate, recommend, and implement new office technology;
• carry out agency directives;
• ensure compliance and complaint resolution.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

'An Equal Opportunity Employer'

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