This position focuses on responding to inquiries and complaints related to early care and education, child protection, and other child serving programs within the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY). The role combines policy interpretation, research, communication, and compliance monitoring.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently or collaboratively research and respond to complaints and inquiries from constituents, legislators, early care and education providers, CDJFS and PCSA staff, elected officials, and the Governor's Office.
• Provide clear program information and guidance by phone and in writing.
• Interpret and explain laws, regulations, and procedures, including eligibility requirements, redeterminations, and appeals processes.
• Track, research, and respond to statewide inquiries about early care and education and child protection policies.
• Make referrals to appropriate non-profit social service organizations when needed.
• Identify policy or implementation issues such as misapplication of statutes, worker errors, or training gaps.
• Help develop or revise standards and operational procedures to improve program consistency and accuracy.
• Maintain and use a call tracking system to monitor inquiries, analyze trends, and ensure county-level compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Research case information using multiple systems, including Ohio Benefits, SACWIS, OCLQS, DCY databases, and other internal resources.
• Prepare activity reports, statistical summaries, narrative explanations, and documentation on inquiry trends and corrective actions.

What Candidates Can Expect:

• Frequent communication with the public, elected officials, and county agencies.
• High volume of complex inquiries requiring careful research and detailed written responses.
• A need for strong policy understanding and the ability to interpret regulations accurately.
• Opportunities to identify operational issues and contribute to statewide policy improvement.
• Work that is both independent and collaborative, depending on the nature of the inquiry or project.
• Use of multiple data systems and tools to investigate cases and prepare reports.

Pay Information

Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be step 1 of the salary range associated with this position. New hires advance to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Based on collective bargaining and legislative activity, there may be cost of living increases awarded annually. Additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below.

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 months

18 months

30 months

42 months

54 Months

66 Months

78 Months

Pay Range

1199/13

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8
<
Hourly

$36.01

$37.75

$39.64

$41.53

$43.56

$45.72

$47.95

$50.37

Annual

$74,901

$78,520

$82,451

$86,382

$90,605

$95,098

$99,736

$104,770

Background Check Information

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Status of Posted Positions

You can check the status of your application online be signing into your profile and clicking the "My Jobpage" tab to view completed submissions and submission details. If you have questions other than your applications status, please direct them to [email protected].

Qualifications

Completion of undergraduate core program in social or behavioral science, health services public administration, public policy management or comparable field; 36 mos. exp. in researching, developing or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy or comparable field; 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in research methodology, measurement & testing, analysis of variance & survey sampling; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware & software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis, graphics presentation & word processing.

-Or completion of graduate course coursework in social or behavioral science, health services public administration, public policy management or comparable field; 24 mos. exp. in researching, developing or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy or comparable field; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware & software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis, graphics presentation & word processing.

-Or 24 mos. exp. as Human Services Specialist 2, 69452, with experience commensurate with duties to be assigned per posting of job opportunity (e.g., if assignment is in area of policy development for aid to dependent children, education, training &/or experience must have been in area of aid to dependent children).

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Human Services