Licensing Specialist

Overview

Job ;
Agency:
Department of Social Services/Office of Licensing and Accreditation;

Location:

Rapid City, SD;
Salary: $26.62, depending on qualifications;
Pay Grade: GI;
Closing Date: 02.26.2026. This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the Department of Social Services, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Office of Licensing and Accreditation within the Department of Social Services is looking for an individual who is committed to service, has excellent communication and organizational skills, and is dedicated to ensuring the safety, well-being, and quality of care for children receiving services.

This position is responsible for assessing foster and adoptive families for children; recommending placements; recruiting foster and adoptive homes; providing foster/adoptive parent training; conducting home studies; assessing the needs of resource families and providing support services; retention work with resource families and monitoring and evaluating existing foster and adoptive homes. This position will work closely with the Division of Child Protection Services to match children requiring placement with foster families.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have A general qualification guideline is a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, public administration, or other human service-related fields. Professional writing skills will be considered when selecting candidates for interviews.

Knowledge

• theories and concepts related to best practices in the area of licensing;
• impact of Childhood Trauma;
• healthy family dynamics;
• conflict resolution and problem-solving techniques.

Skills

• communicate effectively and efficiently;
• strong work ethic and comprehension of critical thinking and problem-solving techniques;
• exercise independent judgment within established guidelines;
• demonstrate quality time management to complete tasks.

Ability To

• establish and maintain effective and collaborative work relationships and demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact when interacting with others;
• actively listen, elicit needed information, and communicate information effectively and accurately;
• develop and implement administrative policies and procedures and evaluate individual and team efficiency and effectiveness;
• gather and analyze data;
• reason logically and accurately;
• solve problems using common sense, reasoning and resourcefulness;
• successfully plan and organize work activities, adjust to multiple demands, and prioritize tasks to complete assignments and meet schedules and deadlines.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: -stateofsout

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone:  Email: careers.us

/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"