Licensing Specialist

Summary

Join Apollo After School as a Licensing & Compliance Specialist in New Jersey! This full-time, exempt position involves managing all licensing and compliance activities for New Jersey locations, including obtaining new licenses, ensuring compliance with state regulations, and supporting renewals. You will act as the primary liaison with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) and other agencies. The role requires collaboration with internal teams, including HR, to maintain accurate licensing documentation and ensure compliance with DCF standards. You will also provide support to site teams during inspections and audits. This position requires significant travel throughout New Jersey (up to 80%).

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
• 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

• In-depth knowledge of New Jersey DCF Office of Licensing regulations and childcare licensing processes (Preferred)
• 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

Benefits

• Competitive salary: $60,000–$70,000 , commensurate with experience
• Health insurance options
• Paid time off (PTO) and observed holidays
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities
• Supportive, mission-driven team environment