Initial Licensing Specialist

NECCO (ED Necco & Associates Inc.); Somerset, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Necco seeks an Initial Licensing Specialist to lead recruitment and retention strategies across the United States. You will drive program quality by managing licensing, training, and certification processes for foster families, while maintaining accurate data and collaborating with staff and community partners.

The role requires strong communication, organization, and a proactive approach to growth. Willingness to travel to various locations is expected as part of program expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services or related field is required.
• One year of casework experience is preferred; can substitute for 7 hours of behavioral sciences.
• Must have valid driver’s license and auto insurance coverage.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills are essential.
• Willingness to travel for training and fieldwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment and retention initiatives across US locations using data-driven plans.
• Manage certification processes, home studies, and licensing requirements.
• Oversee initial training and onboarding of foster families and staff.
• Maintain accurate foster parent records and pipeline data.
• Collaborate with community partners, foster parents, and staff to meet targets.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Training experience

Driver’s license

Computer skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services or related field

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

Board of Regents degree with human service concentration

Additional degree requirement by state (West Virginia, Kentucky, etc.)

Job description

Necco has an opportunity for a career as an Initial Licensing Specialist. This position will add value to the company by lead, manage and direct Recruitment & Retention policies, procedures, and practices across all locations in the US. 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 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
• Provide (on a rotating schedule) on‑call advisory and support to foster families, report and document activities
• Practice Ruthless Pragmatism
• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.