Child Care Consultant

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Child Care Consultant serves as a regional program specialist responsible for monitoring licensed and unlicensed child care programs to ensure compliance with North Carolina child care laws and regulations. This position provides technical and administrative assistance to child care providers, interprets and applies program rules and standards, and supports quality assurance through data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Work includes conducting investigations of alleged violations, evaluating compliance with programmatic and administrative requirements, and implementing best practices to enhance service delivery across assigned counties. The consultant operates independently in the field, manages workload from a home office, and collaborates with agencies, service providers, and stakeholders to strengthen child care services statewide.

Key Duties Include

• Conduct monitoring visits to child care centers and homes to assess compliance with child care licensing requirements and program standards.
• Investigate complaints and reports of violations, including allegations of unlicensed child care operations.
• Interpret and apply child care laws, rules, and policies to providers, stakeholders, and partner agencies.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to child care programs on administration, health and safety, caregiving practices, and quality improvement strategies.
• Deliver training and guidance on program policies, procedures, and best practices to providers and stakeholders.
• Collect, analyze, and report program compliance data to support quality assurance and regulatory decision‑making.
• Coordinate with other agencies, service providers, and advocacy groups to enhance child care service delivery in assigned regions.
• Assist providers with achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance, including corrective action planning when needed.
• Utilize required computer software tools, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, to complete documentation and reporting tasks.
• Manage independent fieldwork and scheduling from a home‑based work location while maintaining professional communication and workflow.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $52,592.00 - $92,036.00

Recruitment Range: $52,592.00 - $65,277.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred :

• Demonstrates intermediate proficiency applying child development principles across physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains within regulated child care settings.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance drawn from at least one year of hands‑on experience supporting child care program administration, health and safety practices, caregiving activities, and behavior guidance.
• Applies expert‑level skill in coordinating or evaluating comprehensive child care service programs, including program oversight within social services or higher‑education instructional environments.
• Utilizes structured methods to deliver evidence‑informed guidance on nutrition, prevention of child abuse and neglect, parent engagement, and age‑appropriate practices that promote high‑quality care.
• Maintains consistent use of professional coaching and evaluation techniques to improve child care program performance across diverse provider types and operational models.

• The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date
• This Position Is 100% Federally Funded
• This Position Is Eligible For A Remote Work Option

About Child Development and Early Education (CDEE)

The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) ensures that the health and safety of children in child care programs, to promote quality child care by implementing evidenced-based standards and to increase access to quality child care to families and children across North Carolina.

About Regulatory Services

The Regulatory Services Section ensures safe, high‑quality child care in North Carolina by licensing and monitoring programs, conducting background checks, and supporting rulemaking.

Compensation and Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website for State Benefits .

Supplemental Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ .

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303 , our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.
• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members .

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov . Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application .

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master's degree in a discipline relative to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of related experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relative to the program area from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of related experience

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

T he State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter

Tresha Walker

Email

talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov