Child Care Licensing Specialist

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Community Care Worker

Opening Date: June 12, 2026


Closing Date: June 26, 2026


Job Class Code: 5088

Grade: 21 (Pro & Tech. Svcs.)

Salary: $21.54 - $30.14 per hour

Position Number: 02000-3864

Location: We have a current vacancy based out of our Portland or Sanford Office covering portions of Cumberland and York counties, that is full time telework/field from home position.


-Limited Period Position-

Core Responsibilities:

As a Child Care Licensing Specialist, you will be working in Children's Licensing and Investigation Services within the Office of Child and Family Services, and will perform the functions of licensing, monitoring, conducting complaint investigations, and providing technical assistance and support to child care facilities and family child providers in Cumberland and York Counties. This is a critical vacancy as the regulatory oversight of child care programs ensures the health and safety of children receiving out of home care.


You will also:


o Explain program policies, guidelines, rules and regulations to potential applicants for child care licenses;

o Inspect residences and other places of business to ensure compliance with applicable rules;

o Inspect License-Exempt residences and other places of business to ensure compliance with Child Care Subsidy Rules;


o Assess individuals' personal characteristics, emotional stability, and social characteristics;

o Analyze and evaluate applicant and facility information;

o Advise applicants of rule violations, discuss possible corrective action, and explain appeal rights and procedures when applicable;

o Investigate and document complaint investigations;

o Assist a specialized team of Investigators in completing investigations of child abuse and neglect;

o Conduct informational meetings and/or training for child care providers and/or stakeholders;

o Collaborate with the public and professionals in the field of child care;

o Provide support and technical assistance to applicants and licensees throughout the licensing and renewal process;

o Participate in the appeals hearing process;

A Child Care Licensing Specialist does professional services work under limited supervision, with significant travel and field activities, in addition to some office-based administrative functions. Your work may require a flexible work schedule beyond the typical 8-5, Monday-Friday standard work week.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or a Behavioral Science area -OR- a four year combination of education, training, and/or professional experience providing services to and working directly with children and/or families. Experience must demonstrate proficiency in public contact work, information gathering, analysis, documentation, and collaboration.

In order to properly evaluate your experience, please respond to the following performance areas in your cover letter:

1. You will spend most of your time in the field where direct supervisory support is not immediately available. You will operate with considerable autonomy in establishing day-to-day work activities and priorities. Describe the positions you have held in which you had minimal supervision.


2. In determining whether or not to issue or approve a facility's license, you must be able to observe and document pertinent information about facilities and staff, assess this information in order to reach valid conclusions concerning regulatory compliance, and make sound recommendations as to whether or not to issue a license. Briefly summarize those aspects of your background that demonstrate you possess a high level of observational and assessment skills.

3. You will be responsible for investigating complaint allegations. This is a process that involves conducting interviews, making personal observations, and assessing information in order to determine findings. Briefly describe your experience in gathering information through observation and interviews and making a determination based on that information.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS), within DHHS is responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families through community networks, local resources, and life-long family connections throughout Maine.


Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Jennifer Welch, at View phone number on click.appcast.io, Child Care Licensing Supervisor at View email address on click.appcast.io


To apply, please upload a recent resume (if available) and cover letter addressing each of the preferred skills/experience areas above.


Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage - The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costsfor you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance - The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan - The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including non-birthing and adoptive parents-receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.


As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.


If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.