Do you enjoy engaging with people and want a career that has a positive impact? As an Early Learning Program Certification Representative with the Department of Human Services, you help child care providers meet state standards that keep children safe. This role gives you the chance to educate operators, complete inspections, and make informed certification decisions. Your work helps build trust between families, providers, and the community. Be part of a mission that promotes strong early learning experiences for every child.

This position inspects child care providers, offers technical assistance, and ensures compliance with state laws and regulations. It involves evaluating facilities, documenting findings, and supporting operators in meeting safety and certification requirements. As an Early Learning Program Certification Representative, you will perform the following duties:

Facility Inspection: Conduct inspections of child care sites to assess compliance with state standards
Technical Assistance: Provide guidance to operators on meeting regulatory and safety requirements
Complaint Review: Investigate reports involving regulated and unregulated facilities
Certification Decisions: Determine compliance and prepare documentation for certification actions
Regulation Input: Review and comment on draft policies, procedures, and regulatory proposals
Program Collaboration: Work with partners and agencies to support statewide child care initiatives

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

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 will have the ability to be home headquartered after 6 months on the job.
You must be willing to travel frequently, including overnight to facilities located in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Commonwealth. Travel expenses will be paid.
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 Western Region within the first 6 months of employment: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, or Westmoreland.
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.

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 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.

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