Early Learning Program Certification Representative

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning seeks an Early Learning Program Certification Representative to promote high standards in child care settings. You will inspect facilities, guide operators, and apply regulatory standards to ensure safe environments for children.

This role requires travel across urban, suburban, and rural counties, with a 37.5-hour work week, and adherence to state regulatory procedures.

Qualifications

• Two years of professional experience providing direct services to children and youth and a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of college level courses in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, psychology, or human development; or an equivalent combination including one year of experience and 24 credits.

Responsibilities

• Respond to questions from the public and provide guidance about certification requirements.
• Conduct inspections for new applications, renewals, unannounced visits, and complaint investigations.
• Determine whether providers meet regulatory standards and make certification decisions.
• Offer assistance to facilities to help meet health and safety regulations.
• Collaborate with other offices and agencies on child care initiatives and regulatory matters.
• Prepare reports, update system records, and draft materials according to procedures.

Skills

Public Assistance

Facility Inspection

Compliance Review

Technical Support

Interagency Work

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 24 credits in ECE/related fields

Job description

Are you excited to support safe and healthy environments for young children? The Early Learning Program Certification Representative position with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning offers a meaningful way to promote high standards in child care settings. This role allows you to help providers understand important requirements while building positive working relationships. Become part of a team dedicated to protecting children and improving early learning programs!

This role focuses on inspecting child care facilities, guiding operators, and applying regulatory standards to ensure secure and compliant environments. As an Early Learning Program Certification Representative, you will perform the following duties:

• Public Assistance:Respond to questions from the public and provide guidance to operators about certification requirements
• Facility Inspection:Conduct inspections for new applications, renewals, unannounced monitoring visits, and complaint investigations
• Compliance Review:Determine whether providers meet regulatory standards and make certification decisions based on established procedures
• Technical Support:Offer assistance to facilities to help them understand and meet health and safety regulations
• Interagency Work:Collaborate with other offices and agencies on child care initiatives and regulatory matters
• Program Documentation:Prepare reports, update system records, and draft materials according to departmental procedures

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch.
• You must be willing to travel frequently to facilities in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Commonwealth, including overnight stays. Travel expenses will be paid.
• You will have the ability to request home headquartering after 6 months on the job.
• Telework:You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Two years of professional experience providing direct services to children and youth and a bachelor’s degree that includes 24 semester hours of college level courses in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, psychology, or human development; or
• An equivalent combination of professional experience and training, which includes one year of professional experience providing direct services to children and youth and 24 semester hours of college level courses in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, psychology, or human development.

Other Requirements:

• You must reside in or be willing to relocate to one of the following counties within the Southeast Region within your first 6 months of employment: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirement:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.