Initial Licensing Specialist

Necco; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Necco is seeking an Initial Licensing Specialist to lead recruitment and retention strategies across all locations in the United States. You will drive certification processes, manage foster parent training, and ensure accurate CRM data and timely follow‑ups with prospective foster families.

You will educate communities and partner organizations, maintain foster parent records, and collaborate with teams to meet program goals while upholding Necco principles and culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 21 years of age.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field (Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio).
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in social work or related field, or a Board of Regents degree with human service concentration, or a bachelor’s degree and completed department‑approved training (West Virginia).
• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university. The degree must be supplemented by at least 7 hours in behavioral sciences (e.g., social work, psychology, sociology).
• One year of casework experience can substitute for the 7 hours.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in the human services field.
• 100/300/100 Auto Insurance Coverage and Valid Driver’s license.
• Experience with Training.
• Excellent Computer Skills along with the ability to learn new skills and/or programs.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Successful completion of all required criminal background checks.
• Travel/Training Willingness.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment and retention strategies across all locations in the United States.
• Mine existing and prospective parents for referrals and carry out the annual recruitment plan.
• Establish Necco brand as a leader in foster care by educating community and related organizations at events.
• Manage CRM to reflect accurate data and timely follow‑up with leads/opportunities.
• Provide foster parent training classes and oversee certification processes per state licensing requirements.
• Maintain all aspects of the foster parent records and ensure accuracy of pipeline numbers.
• Collaborate with staff, foster parents, and community‑based influencers to develop ongoing recruitment methods.
• Provide on‑call advisory and support to foster families on a rotating schedule.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Data analysis

CRM

Training

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field (Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio)

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in social work or related field

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university

7 hours in behavioral sciences requirement

One year of casework experience can substitute

Minimum of 2 years’ experience in human services

Auto Insurance Coverage and Valid Driver’s license

Job description

Necco has an opportunity for a career as an Initial Licensing Specialist. This position will add value to the company by leading, managing, and directing Recruitment & Retention policies, procedures, and practices across all locations in the United States. Responsible for creating and implementing recruitment and retention strategies and programs.

You Should Be Accurately Described As

A happy warrior who thrives on leading from the front with strategic thinking. A solid communicator in search of decisions that deliver real results. A problem‑solver, financial steward, and one who excels at collaboration. Ridiculously passionate about the company’s success, growth, and program quality.

Recruitment

• Ensuring targeted recruitment to meet current demand by utilizing data
• Carrying out the annual recruitment plan
• Mine existing and prospective parents for referrals
• Establish the Necco brand as a leader in foster care by educating the community and related organizations at events
• Build relationships with foster parents, local businesses, news media, churches, community organizations, and business leaders.
• Use data to collaborate with staff, foster parents, and community‑based influencers to develop and implement ongoing recruitment methods
• Ensure the CRM reflects accurate and timely data regarding leads/opportunities and activities
• Utilize CRM to manage follow‑up communication with prospective foster parents using phone, email, text, face‑to‑face, and direct mail
• Ensure inquiry responses are within 24 hours (excludes weekends)

Certification

• Lead the charge on the certification process as required by state licensing to include initial training, home study process and approval to be a foster home
• Maintain knowledge of current state regulations relating to foster homes
• Assess the family for ability to foster throughout the training and home study process
• Provide foster parent training classes for certification per state requirements
• Provide recommendations for needed training in growth areas
• Participate in the admissions process from youth referral to first placement
• Maintain all aspects of the foster parent record in the database
• Ensure the accuracy of pipeline numbers
• Working with the team on foster home capacity and utilization

Initial Training

• Manage all aspects of foster parent initial training
• Ensure training of Hobb’s principles of Re‑Education and Necco culture

Corporate Citizen

• Provide (on a rotating schedule) on‑call advisory and support to foster families, report and document activities
• Practice Ruthless Pragmatism
• Engage in peer‑to‑peer feedback
• Know and live the Necco Corporate Culture Principles
• Embody the 3 essential virtues of Humble, Hungry and Smart
• Drive your Individual Performance Scorecard
• Adhere to and contribute to the Necco meeting structure

Position Qualifications

• Minimum of 21 years of age
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field (Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio)
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in social work or a related human service field, or a Board of Regents degree with human service concentration, or a bachelor’s degree and have completed department‑approved training provided by the child placing agency (West Virginia)
• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university (Tennessee)
• The degree must be supplemented by at least 7 hours in behavioral sciences, such as social work, psychology, and sociology
• One year of casework experience can be substituted for the 7 hours
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in the human services field
• 100/300/100 Auto Insurance Coverage and Valid Driver’s license
• Experience with Training
• Excellent Computer Skills along with the ability to learn new skills and/or programs
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Successful completion of all required criminal background checks
• Travel/Training Willingness

At Necco, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment. We embrace individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that a diverse team fosters innovation and creativity, and we actively seek candidates from all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages to join our organization. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for employment and advancement to all qualified individuals, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.