Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

21d • $4,250 - $5,094 • Remote

About The Position

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is hiring a Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector to monitor and investigate residential child-care facilities across Texas, including general residential operations, child-placing agencies, and selected agency homes. The role helps ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children by conducting inspections and investigations, evaluating permit applications, providing training and technical assistance, and responding to high-risk complaints. The position may be filled at Inspector III, IV, or V level depending on the applicant’s experience.

The position is based in Austin and is eligible for telework, potentially up to 100% telework, with most work conducted using mobile technology. Travel may be up to 75%, including occasional travel outside the headquartered geographical area. Work hours are flexible and are not limited to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

The role requires a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation with insurance as required by the State of Texas. Candidates must pass a background check, including criminal history and Texas Child Abuse and Neglect Registry checks, and provide verification of degrees and/or licenses. The role is full-time, regular, nonexempt, and paid monthly at a stated range of $4,250.00 to $5,094.16.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, or experience equivalent to a four-year degree; education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-to-year basis.
• Valid driver’s license; applicants must have reliable transportation and insurance as required by the State of Texas.
• Knowledge of Texas laws and regulations.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to apply emotional intelligence, think critically, identify risk and mitigation measures, work with diverse groups respectfully, de-escalate situations tactfully, self-start, organize priorities, operate basic office equipment including camera/AV equipment, and travel.
• Must attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Must pass a background check, including criminal history and Texas Child Abuse and Neglect Registry checks.
• Must provide verification of degree(s) and/or license(s).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in regulatory services such as inspections and investigations is preferred.
• Inspector IV: Experience in regulatory services, including work as a regulatory inspector; experience performing highly complex inspection or investigation work under limited supervision; experience may include setting evidence-gathering priorities and assessing programs and procedures to improve operations.
• Inspector V: Experience in regulatory services as a regulatory inspector or investigator; experience performing advanced inspection or investigation work under minimal supervision; experience leading, mentoring, or supervising a team; experience may include testifying at administrative hearings or courts and developing or delivering specialized inspection training or educational sessions.

Responsibilities

• Monitor general residential operations, child-placing agencies, and selected agency homes; document compliance and noncompliance and notify providers of required corrective actions.
• Plan and complete monitoring and follow-up inspections, evaluate standards, identify and cite deficiencies, document findings and photographs, assess risk, review waivers and variances, and provide technical assistance.
• Monitor application and permit fee payments, background-check results, controlling-person identification, and permit renewals.
• Investigate complaints and alleged minimum-standards violations, completing investigation initiations, actions, notifications, and documentation accurately and within required time frames.
• Perform regulatory tasks associated with DFPS investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, including participating in risk assessments and evaluating investigation information for timely citations of minimum-standards violations.
• Evaluate applications for general residential operations and child-placing agencies and process permit decisions and issuances within applicable time frames.
• Identify risk and recommend referrals to Child-Care Enforcement when appropriate; process provider plans of action and conduct follow-up inspections after enforcement actions.
• Provide training and technical assistance to residential child-care providers; attend or present at provider meetings, conduct inquiry sessions and minimum-standard trainings, and collaborate with providers, stakeholders, and the public.
• Respond to emergency complaints involving high-risk situations in residential child-care facilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned to maintain unit operations.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• Defined benefit pension plan and lifetime monthly retirement annuity
• Generous time off benefits
• Career advancement and promotional opportunities
• 401(k) and 457 programs
• Eligibility as a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level