Drug and Alcohol Licensing Specialist, DDAP - Allegheny County

Drug and Alcohol Licensing Specialist

Are you looking for a rewarding career with a powerful mission? Do you enjoy making a difference and being a part of a great team? The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented professional with data reporting, technical assistance, and problem-solving skills to join our team as a Drug and Alcohol Licensing Specialist in Allegheny County.

As a licensing specialist in the Bureau of Program Licensure, Division of Licensing Inspection, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives people in Pennsylvania receiving treatment for substance use disorder. This position helps create positive change by ensuring treatment facilities meet important safety, professional, and quality standards. Join our office and help us make a positive impact throughout the community!

As a Drug and Alcohol Licensing Specialist, you will travel the Commonwealth inspecting substance use treatment facilities to ensure quality care is being provided to Pennsylvanians struggling with addiction. Facilities range from hospital-based detoxification programs to free-standing outpatient programs.

With our team, you will be responsible for determining regulatory compliance and providing technical assistance to any of the 800+ treatment facilities across the commonwealth. Work utilizes a high degree of analytical ability to ensure consistent application of state and federal regulatory requirements to each unique facility. Your duties in this role will include:

• Field Inspections: Conduct on-site licensing inspections and complaint/incident investigations of facilities providing drug and/or alcohol treatment services to individuals with complex addictions and co-occurring disorders
• Chart Audits: Conduct clinical and medical chart audits to verify that programs meet required standards including staffing ratios, appropriateness of each patient's care level, and other required metrics
• Licensing Review: Evaluate staffing qualifications, experience, and training documents to determine compliance with licensing regulations
• Facility Safety: Physically inspect facilities for fire safety, emergency exits, dietary safety, sanitation, and other requirements for a physically safe environment
• Report Writing: Prepares deficiency reports that substantiate areas of non-compliance with regulations identified during inspections and investigations, including official documents for use in legal proceedings and court hearings
• Verbal Communication: Take complaint calls; interview staff and clients; serve as a witness and provide testimony for the Commonwealth in proceedings against providers when necessary
• Technical Assistance: Provide guidance to various stakeholders including consumers, families, program administrators, and other professionals on issues regarding the interpretation of regulations, provision of services, and implementation of new program activities

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch. Overtime as needed. Field work may require individuals to work irregular hours for early morning or evening inspections.
• Frequent travel required, including some overnight travel.
• Telework: This position is home headquartered. In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.
• 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.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year of professional experience gathering and analyzing information in a social services, human services, healthcare services, or law enforcement program; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

Special Requirement:

• You must possess an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements:

• 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 currently reside in or be willing to relocate to Allegheny County within six months after hire.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

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 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.