Licensing Specialist

Licensing Specialist

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field (Required).
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in licensing, compliance, or regulatory management, preferably within the childcare, education, or youth services sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of New Jersey DCF Office of Licensing regulations and childcare licensing processes (Preferred).
• Strong organizational, project management, and follow-up skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Comfort working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and familiarity with database management.
• Ability to travel throughout New Jersey (local fieldwork up to 80%).

Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of site licensing: new applications, renewals, amendments, closures, and corrective actions.
• Research and communicate updates to New Jersey licensing regulations to internal teams as needed.
• Act as Apollo After School’s primary liaison with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Licensing and other local regulatory agencies.
• Monitor license status across all New Jersey sites and proactively manage timelines for renewals and updates.
• Familiar with licensing requirements in all states of operation; NJ, NY, DC, CA, OH, MA.
• Maintain a centralized, organized database of licensing documentation, inspection reports, and compliance records.
• Coordinate with the Apollo After School Human Resources team on all staff-related licensing requirements, including background checks, fingerprinting, staff rosters, and personnel files.
• Ensure that all employee and staffing documentation required for licensing is complete, accurate, and updated according to DCF standards.
• Support site teams during pre-licensing visits, scheduled inspections, and unannounced audits.
• Provide coaching and support to Site Directors and Area Coordinators on compliance expectations and licensing readiness.
• Partner with HR, Operations, and Customer Service to address any licensing deficiencies or corrective action plans.
• Work closely with our Licensing Admin team for timely and accurate document submission to all relevant licensing agencies.
• Provide regular status updates and reporting to the Director of Business Operations and relevant Apollo leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing licensing for multiple after-school, childcare, or youth enrichment program sites.
• Familiarity with New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing platforms and inspection procedures.