Investigations Specialist

Initial Posting Date:

10/06/2025

Application Deadline:

10/20/2025

Agency:

Department of Early Learning and Care

Salary Range:

$4,833 - $7,407

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Investigations Specialist (Compliance Specialist 2) - Redmond

Job Description:

Join the Department of Early Learning and Care as a Child Care Investigations Specialist and help ensure safe, nurturing environments for Oregon’s children. You will partner with families, child care providers, and agencies like the Department of Human Services (DHS) and law enforcement to support quality child care across the state. From responding to concerns and helping facilities meet health and safety standards to documenting findings and contributing to important decisions, your work will make a meaningful difference in children’s lives. If you are naturally curious and skilled at connecting with people to uncover important details, we’d love to hear from you!

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for an Investigative Specialist (Compliance Specialist 2) in Redmond.

This position will work a hybrid schedule of working in the office, in the field, and at an alternate location (home). You will be expected to come into the office as needed to prepare for facility visits. This position will work in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and other surrounding counties occasionally depending on need.

About the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC):

At DELC, we are dedicated to helping Oregon’s young children and families learn and thrive. As the state agency responsible for early learning programs, child care licensing, and family support services, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of Oregon’s children from birth to kindergarten.

We administer state-funded early learning programs, including home visiting and site-based infant, toddler, and preschool services. We also develop coordinated systems through Early Learning Hubs and collaborate with Child Care Resource and Referral organizations to provide training, coaching, and quality improvement opportunities for early learning providers.

With over 275,000 young children in Oregon, we have a unique opportunity to transform early childhood support systems, creating a brighter future for families across the state. Research shows that investing in early childhood has lifelong benefits, and now is your chance to be part of an agency making a lasting impact for generations to come.

Why Join Our Team? We are passionate about equity in early childhood education. At DELC, we value dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace where all employees can thrive. We challenge ourselves to lead with courage, refine practices, and drive meaningful change for children and families statewide.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Benefits: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional benefits like life and disability insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending accounts.
• Work-Life Balance: 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 1 special day, monthly sick leave, and vacation accruals that increase every 5 years.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential federal loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.
• Inclusive Culture: A diverse, welcoming workplace committed to equity and continuous improvement.

Our Commitment to Equity: Equity is at the heart of our mission. We strive to remove barriers, foster inclusiveness, and create meaningful change for underrepresented communities. Our goal is to ensure all DELC employees and the children and families we support thrive. If you are ready to make a difference and help shape Oregon’s future, we would love to have you on our team!

What you will do:

The primary purpose of this position is to promote the health, safety, and well-being of children in child care facilities. Staff conduct unannounced visits, assess regulatory complaint allegations against licensed facilities, allegations of possible unlawful care against unlicensed facilities, conduct tandem investigations with the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) on assessments having to do with abuse occurring in child cares, and in conjunction with the legal and compliance unit, take legal action against facilities. Staff apply complex federal, state, and local statutes, codes, rules, and policies related to child care licensing. In addition to investigating regulatory compliance, the Investigative Specialists provide technical assistance to providers and facility staff, to aid in compliance with regulations and provide consultation and resource information on state quality initiatives intended to improve child outcomes. There is considerable contact with collateral agencies such as the ODHS (Child Welfare and Office of Training, Investigations, and Safety), law enforcement, and the public. The position serves one or more counties. This position ensures that child care licensing functions are carried out in conjunction with DELC equity policies and practices.

To view a complete job description, click here

Check out our “Day in the life of an Investigative Specialist” flyer

What we are looking for (minimum qualifications):

Four years of experience doing administrative research that included compiling and evaluating facts to recommend management action, or decide compliance with program guidelines and regulations. Two of the four years must be above the technical support level. Note: college-level course work may substitute for experience on the basis of 45-quarter units per year, up to a maximum of three years.

In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills):

• Demonstrated passion for supporting early learning environments in the face of difficult situations
• Demonstrated ability to navigate difficult conversations with angry or emotional individuals.
• Experience and skill in building rapport.
• Experience or training in objective observation and documentation; ability to collect information, document facts, open up dialog and dig into responses.
• Experience or training in active listening and motivational interviewing.
• Ability to analyze and use multiple perspectives and facts to arrive at a well-informed conclusion.
• Highly organized with the ability to handle and maintain composure and professionalism in stressful situations.
• Proficient in reading, understanding, interpreting, and clearly articulating and explaining policies, state statutes, and procedures.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.  Candidates of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as bilingual/multicultural individuals, are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

The screening of candidates will be based on a review of an attached resume (limit to two pages). While a cover letter is not required, it is highly encouraged. If you submit a cover letter, please tailor it to the position and address your experience with the desired attributes listed above. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely match the desired attributes and experience section as outlined in this announcement will be invited to interview. For helpful tips on putting together your application materials and interviewing, visit our Resources for Job Seekers page.

Additional Information:

This recruitment announcement will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

This position is subject to both a Child Protective Services and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) check, including FBI fingerprinting, and will be required to enroll in the Central Background Registry. Both of these checks must be completed and approved prior to starting with the agency. Adverse background data will be grounds for immediate disqualification.

This position will require travel to field offices and for licensing visits, therefore, a valid driver license and acceptable driving record is required, unless the successful applicant can provide a satisfactory alternate mode of transportation.

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources.

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The Department is an E-Verify employer.

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.

The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

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Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation requests, please contact the agency recruitment team at [email protected]

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to a diverse workforce. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our desired attributes listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.