<p>THE POSITION</p> <p>Do you want children to learn, grow, and play in safe and healthy environments? Are you ready for a career move that utilizes your analytical skills and strong commitment to regulatory compliance? The Department of Human Services (DHS), Bureau of Certification Services is seeking a dedicated Early Learning Program Certification Representative. This is a rewarding opportunity to ensure that child daycare providers and facilities follow standards and are safe. If you want children to thrive in a culture of operational excellence, then we encourage you to apply today!</p> <p>DESCRIPTION OF WORK</p> <p>As an Early Learning Program Certification Representative, you will inspect child daycare providers and facilities to certify compliance with DHS laws, regulations, and written procedures. You will conduct initial, renewal, and unannounced monitoring inspections. You will also investigate allegations of regulatory violations and illegally operating facilities. This role requires solid knowledge of regulatory requirements and the ability to provide technical assistance (TA) to child daycare operators to fulfill certification, health, and safety standards. In addition, you will testify at hearings and prepare documents for new certificates, renewal certificates, negative sanctions, and fines.</p> <p>Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.</p> <p>Work Schedule and Additional Information:</p> <ul> <li>Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week </li><li>Work hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch. </li><li>Travel may be frequent and possible overnights required. Travel expenses are reimbursed. </li><li>Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position. </li><li>Training: During the first six months of employment you will report to 801 Market Street, Suite 5132, Philadelphia, PA 19107 when not in the field. </li><li>Home Headquartered: You will have the ability to be home headquartered after six months of employment. You will be headquartered at your home and travel to worksites within Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties to complete your work duties. In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. </li><li>Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable. </li><li>You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices. </li></ul> <p>REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY</p> <p>QUALIFICATIONS</p> <p>Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:</p> <ul> <li>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 </li><li>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. </li></ul> <p>Other Requirements:</p> <ul> <li>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. </li><li>You must reside in or be willing to relocate to one of the following counties within the Southeast Region within the first 6 months of employment: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia. </li><li>You must be able to perform essential job functions. </li></ul> <p>Legal Requirements:</p> <ul> <li>This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law. </li><li>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. </li></ul> <p>How to Apply:</p> <ul> <li>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). </li><li>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. </li><li>Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted. </li><li>Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position. </li><li>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. </li></ul> <p>Veterans:</p> <ul> <li>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. </li></ul> <p>Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):</p> <ul> <li>711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals). </li></ul> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>EXAMINATION INFORMATION</p> <ul> <li> <p>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).</p> </li><li> <p>Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.</p> </li><li> <p>Your score is valid for this specific posting only.</p> </li><li> <p>You must provide complete and accurate information or:</p> </li><li> <p>your score may be lower than deserved.</p> </li><li> <p>you may be disqualified.</p> </li><li> <p>You may only apply/test once for this posting.</p> </li><li> <p>Your results will be provided via email.</p> </li></ul> <p>Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!</p> <p>See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.</p> <p>Health & Wellness</p> <p>We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*</p> <p>Compensation & Financial Planning</p> <p>We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.</p> <p>Work/Life Balance</p> <p>We know there's more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*</p> <p>Values and Culture</p> <p>We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.</p> <p>Employee Perks</p> <p>Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.</p> <p>For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.</p> <ul> <li>Eligibility rules apply. </li></ul> <p>01</p> <p>How many years of full-time professional experience do you possess providing direct services to children and youth?</p> <ul> <li>2 years or more </li><li>1 but less than 2 years </li><li>Less than 1 year </li><li>None </li></ul> <p>02</p> <p>If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.</p> <p>03</p> <p>Have you completed 24 semester hours of college-level courses in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, psychology, or human development?</p> <p>If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.? You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.? You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.</p> <p>If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report.? We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.</p> <p>You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>04</p> <p>Have you completed any graduate coursework in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, psychology, or human development?</p> <p>If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.? You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.? You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.</p> <p>If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report.? We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.</p> <p>You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>05</p> <p>Additional Requirement - Do you reside in or are you willing to relocate to the Southeast Region within their first 6 months of employment: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia?</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>06</p> <p>You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.</p> <p>All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.</p> <p>Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.</p> <p>If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.</p> <p>If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li></ul> <p>07</p> <p>WORK BEHAVIOR 1 - CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS</p> <p>Conducts inspections of potential and participating childcare related service providers such as child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes, to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements. This includes gathering information through observation, assessing facility records, counting number of children and teachers, and measuring area of rooms, depth of mulch, etc. Determines appropriate actions to resolve violations when applicable.</p> <ul> <li>A. I have conducted THIRD-PARTY inspections of CHILD CARE RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS such as child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements. </li><li>B. I have conducted THIRD-PARTY inspections of other regulated businesses/facilities where persons are cared for (i.e hospitals, nursing homes, personal care homes, etc.) to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements. </li><li>C. I have conducted INTERNAL inspections of (a) CHILD CARE RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER(S) for which I was employed to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements (Quality Assurance, Supervisor, day care owner). </li><li>D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to investigation procedures, criminal investigations, or rules of evidence. </li><li>E. I have no education or experience related to this work behavior. </li></ul> <p>08</p> <p>In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.</p> <ul> <li>The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience </li><li>The type(s) of businesses or facilities you inspected </li><li>The actual duties you performed </li><li>Your level of responsibility (third-party inspector or internal inspector) </li></ul> <p>09</p> <p>If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.</p> <ul> <li>College/University </li><li>Course Title </li><li>Credits/Clock Hours </li></ul> <p>10</p> <p>WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - INTERVIEWING</p> <p>Interviews complainants, witnesses, children, parents, and daycare staff to ascertain facts and secure information in order to substantiate or disprove allegations of violations of law, rules or regulations relative to childcare related service providers. This may take place in cooperation with other agencies such as the local police or the Office of Children and Youth.</p> <ul> <li>A. I have conducted interviews to ascertain facts and secure information in order to substantiate or disprove allegations of violations of law, rules or regulations relative to child care related service providers. </li><li>B. I have conducted interviews to ascertain facts and secure information in order to substantiate or disprove allegations of violations of law, rules or regulations NOT RELATIVE TO child care related service providers. </li><li>C. I have conducted interviews for purposes OTHER THAN to substantiate or disprove allegations of violations of law, rules or regulations (employment interviews, in-take interviews). </li><li>D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to interviewing methods, counseling, or developmental listening. </li><li>E. I have no experience or training related to this work behavior. </li></ul> <p>11</p> <p>In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.</p> <ul> <li>The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience </li><li>The type(s) of interviews you conducted </li><li>The purpose of the interviews you conducted </li><li>Your level of responsibility </li></ul> <p>12</p> <p>If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework or training, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.</p> <ul> <li>College/University </li><li>Course Title </li><li>Credits/Clock Hours </li></ul> <p>13</p> <p>WORK BEHAVIOR 3 - TECHNICAL GUIDANCE</p> <p>Reads and interprets laws, regulations, policies, and department standards governing child care related service providers. Provides explanations and technical guidance to potential and participating providers, illegal operators, governmental agencies and the public.</p> <ul> <li>A. I have read and interpreted laws, regulations, policies, and department standards governing child care related service providers. I provided explanations and technical guidance to potential and participating child care related service providers, illegal operators, governmental agencies and the public. </li><li>B. I have read and interpreted laws, regulations, policies, and department standards governing OTHER REGULATED BUSINESSES/FACILITIES WHERE PERSONS ARE CARED FOR (hospitals, nursing homes, personal care homes). I provided explanations and technical guidance to potential and participating patient care providers, illegal operators, governmental agencies and the public. </li><li>C. I have read and interpreted laws, regulations, policies, and department standards governing child care related service providers. I provided explanations and technical guidance to SUBORDINATE STAFF within the facility where I was employed. </li><li>D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to child development, early childhood education, or elementary education. </li><li>E. I have no education or experience related to this work behavior. </li></ul> <p>14</p> <p>In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.</p> <ul> <li>The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience </li><li>The type(s) of laws, regulations, policies and standards you read, interpreted and explained. </li><li>To whom you provided technical guidance </li><li>The subject for which you provided technical guidance </li><li>The actual duties your performed </li></ul> <p>15</p> <p>If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.</p> <ul> <li>College/University </li><li>Course Title </li><li>Credits/Clock Hours </li></ul> <p>16</p> <p>WORK BEHAVIOR 4 - WRITTEN COMMUNICATION</p> <p>Composes written narrative documentation such as investigation reports, inspection reports, notices of deficiency, professional letters, memos, e-mails, and information requests to early learning childcare facilities and other interested parties.</p> <ul> <li>A. I have composed detailed narrative technical reports such as inspection/investigation reports, incident reports, intake reports, etc. and professional letters, memos, e-mails, and responses to inquiries. </li><li>B. I have composed professional letters, memos, e-mails and responses to inquiries. I have NOT composed detailed narrative technical reports such as inspection/investigation reports, incident reports, intake reports, etc. </li><li>C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to professional writing, report writing, technical writing, or non-fiction writing. </li><li>D. I have no experience or training related to this work behavior. </li></ul> <p>17</p> <p>In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.</p> <ul> <li>The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience </li><li>The type(s) of narrative documentation you composed </li><li>The actual duties you performed </li></ul> <p>18</p> <p>If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.</p> <ul> <li>College/University </li><li>Course Title </li><li>Credits/Clock Hours </li></ul> <p>Required Question</p> <p>Employer Commonwealth of Pennsylvania</p> <p>Address 613 North Street</p> <p>Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120</p> <p>Website http://www.employment.pa.gov</p>