Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector

About the role

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) as a Residential Child Care Licensing Inspector III. This role involves monitoring and investigating residential child‑care facilities, conducting inspections, investigating complaints, evaluating permit applications, providing training and technical assistance to providers, and responding to emergency complaints. The position offers the opportunity to protect the health, safety, and well‑being of children in Texas while enjoying a collaborative team environment, flexibility, and clear paths for advancement.

Responsibilities

• Monitor general residential operations, child‑placing agencies, and selected agency homes; document compliance or noncompliance; complete monitoring and follow‑up inspections; track application and permit fees, background check results, controlling persons identification, and permit renewals (30%).
• Investigate complaints and allegations of minimum‑standards violations; ensure timely, thorough investigations that address risk to children and comply with laws, rules, and standards; support DFPS investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (25%).
• Evaluate new applications for general residential operations and child‑placing agencies to issue permits within required time frames (15%).
• Identify risk and recommend referral to Child‑Care Enforcement when necessary; process provider plans of action; conduct follow‑up inspections after enforcement actions (10%).
• Provide training and technical assistance to residential child‑care providers; attend or present at provider meetings; conduct outcome‑oriented trainings and inquiry sessions; network with providers, stakeholders, and the public (10%).
• Respond to emergency complaints of high‑risk situations in residential child‑care facilities (5%).
• Perform other duties as assigned to maintain unit operations (5%).

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Proof of Texas automobile insurance as required by the state.
• Successful completion of a background check, including criminal history and Texas Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check.
• Verification of degree(s) and/or license(s).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Eligibility for telework (up to 100% with mobile technology) and willingness to travel up to 75% of the time.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university, or equivalent experience (education and experience may be substituted year‑for‑year).
• Preferred experience in regulatory services such as inspections and investigations.
• For consideration at the Inspector IV or V levels, additional experience as a regulatory inspector/investigator, advanced inspection/investigation work under limited or minimal supervision, and/or experience leading, mentoring, or supervising a team.

Skills

• Knowledge of Texas laws and regulations.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Skill in applying emotional intelligence to all situations.
• Ability to critically think, identify risks, and develop mitigation measures.
• Ability to work with diverse groups while promoting cultural respect.
• Ability to de‑escalate situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to self‑start, organize, and manage priorities.
• Proficiency with basic office equipment, including camera/AV equipment.
• Ability to travel as required.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full‑time eligible employees.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time off benefits.
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement.
• Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (remaining balance on Direct Loans forgiven after 120 qualifying monthly payments).
• Lifetime monthly retirement annuity.
• Access to 401(k) and 457 programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Pay

Salary range: $4,250.00 – $5,094.16 per month (Monthly pay frequency; Salary Group: TEXAS‑B‑16).

Schedule

• Day shift; additional shift listed as Days (First).
• Work hours are flexible; not strictly 8:00‑5:00.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
• Eligible for telework (up to 100% with mobile technology such as tablet and cell phone).
• Travel required up to 75% of the time.