Regulatory Compliance Specialist

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period.

Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year

Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave

Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)

Retirement systems including Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

All answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education provided on your civil service application. Attachments will not be considered as part of your application.

Selection devices such as a structured interview, proficiency instrument, and/or assessment may be required for this position. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency with a passing score of applicable selection device to be considered for this position. Regardless of a passing or failing score, all results will be maintained for 6 months. Applicant with a passing score will be retained and utilized for a 6-month period. Applicant with a failing score in the same position may not re-take the same selection device for a 6-month period.

Travel required, as needed. Must provide own transportation or in order to operate a state vehicle, you must have a valid driver’s license.

24 mos. exp. working in school, community, &/or home-based early care & education settings or child welfare settings (experience commensurate with program area to be assigned per approved Position Description on file); 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in agency, state &/or federal laws, rules, standards & regulations governing early care & education &/or child welfare programs (e.g., staffing, management, licensure, certification & operation of school, community, or home-based early care & education settings &/or child welfare settings); 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in inspection & investigation techniques pertinent to evaluating compliance (i.e., early care & education &/or child welfare programs, public/private agencies, caregivers & operations); valid driver's license.

-Or completion of undergraduate core program in early childhood/human development, social & behavioral sciences or related field; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in agency, state &/or federal laws, rules, standards & regulations governing early care & education &/or child welfare programs (e.g., staffing, management, licensure, certification & operation of school, community, or home-based early care & education settings &/or public/private child welfare settings); 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in inspection & investigation techniques pertinent to evaluating compliance (i.e., early care & education &/or child welfare programs, public/private agencies, caregivers, & operations); valid driver's license.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Note\: Applicants for positions in the Department of Children & Youth (early care & education licensing) must also meet one of the trainer requirements cited in Administrative Rules 5101\:2-12-10 or 5101\:2-13-10.

We are seeking a dedicated Early Care and Education Licensing Specialist to independently conduct on-site monitoring visits and desk audits of early care and education programs. This role ensures compliance with Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), focusing on health, safety, and developmentally appropriate care for children. This position involves travel to community-, school-based, and facility settings across the state.

Key Responsibilities

Conduct on-site inspections and desk audits of early care and education programs.

Review documentation such as agency policies, handbooks, staff and child files, and incident reports.

Interview current/former staff and community members.

Inspect physical environments (indoor/outdoor), observe staff-child interactions, and monitor for compliance and quality standards.

Identify non-compliance issues and best practices; make recommendations for licensure, certification, or enforcement actions.

Gather evidence and documentation for enforcement cases; provide legal testimony as needed.

Prepare detailed reports and summaries of findings using electronic systems.

Meet with agencies and caregivers to review violations, clarify regulations, and provide technical assistance for achieving compliance.

Conduct follow-up visits, establish compliance timelines, and support agencies in meeting standards.

Maintain confidential records for both licensed and unlicensed facilities.

Analyze field data to inform the development and revision of departmental policies, procedures, and regulations.

Participate in or conduct training sessions for childcare providers.

Coordinate with state, county, and community partners to exchange regulatory information and support aligned service delivery.

Pay Information

Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be step 1 of the salary range associated with this position. New hires advance to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Based on collective bargaining and legislative activity, there may be cost of living increases awarded annually. Additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below.

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 months

18 months

30 months

42 months

54 Months

66 Months

78 Months

Pay Range

1199/12

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Hourly

$31.74

$33.35

$34.96

$36.65

$38.49

$40.32

$42.29

$44.39

Annual

$66,019

$69,368

$72,717

$76,232

$80,059

$83,866

$87,963

$92,331

Background Check Information

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Status of posted positions

You can check the status of your application online be signing into your profile and clicking the “My Jobpage” tab to view completed submissions and submission details. If you have questions other than your applications status, please direct them to .

The State of Ohio is a drug free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

About us

Our mission is to promote positive, lifelong outcomes for Ohio youth through early intervention, quality education, and family support programs. At DCY, we offer our employees a rewarding work experience in public service helping Ohioans achieve a sustainable lifestyle that includes generous benefit options and a flexible work life balance making our agency a great place to work! To learn more about DCY, please visit our website at Department of Children and Youth Ohio.gov.

Location Requirements

This position is designated as a field position. As a field worker, an employee spends the majority of his/her time traveling for their position performing duties to include, but not limited to inspections, monitoring, observing, training, technical assistance, site visits, conducting interviews, reviewing records, and data collection in various environments. Field workers are expected to manage their daily itineraries, report progress, and coordinate their travel schedule with their supervisor. This designation is determined and approved only by management. Field workers are also required to report to the DCY Office Space on a quarterly basis and based on operational need. Frequent travel within assigned regions in Ohio, some with overnight stays, is required for this position.

The selected candidate must provide their own transportation or, to operate a state vehicle, must have a valid driver’s license. This position will serve the Columbus Region which includes the counties of Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Union, Vinton, Washington. This position will serve these counties, so the applicant MUST reside within one of the aforementioned counties.