Background And Concerns Specialist

Overview

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona. DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona. DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.
BACKGROUND AND CONCERNS SPECIALIST Job Location:
Division of Developmental Disabilities, 1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. Posting Details:
Salary: $31,110.00 - $55,763.00;
Grade: 18;
Closing Date: 03/15/2026.

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or view Our DES video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Habilitation Services Project Coordinator (Background and Concerns Specialist). DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high quality, and member driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• The Habilitation Services Project Coordinator (Background & Concerns Specialist) performs a variety of functions related to the developmental home licensing process and conducting background checks.
• Reviewing incidents from the Division of Developmental Disabilities' incident management system to identify licensing compliance issues.
• Recommending approval, denial, suspension or revocation of developmental home licenses.
• Provide technical assistance and drafting correspondence to licensing agencies, licensees and internal stakeholders.
• Documenting, reviewing, and conducting significant licensing compliance concerns in the licensing database. Examples include licensing complaints, investigations by protective services, and investigations by law enforcement.
• Reviewing initial, renewal or amendment developmental home license applications for compliance with the Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) and the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), and Child Developmental Certified Homes.
• Processing Department of Child Safety (DCS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) background checks. Processing Level I Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) issues and providing technical assistance to Qualified Vendors to correct the card.

Knowledge in:

• Regulations and Arizona Administrative Codes governing Developmental Home Licensing (Articles 10 and 11)
• Arizona Revised Statues related to regulatory enforcement and due process
• Regulatory Administrative Principles concerning enforcement and regulatory authority
• Investigative techniques and procedures that result in effective organization of ideas, delivery, and resolution of questions and concerns

Skills in:

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to clearly convey complex regulatory issues in a concise and effective manner
• Interpersonal relations, conflict resolution, facilitation of group interaction for staff members
• Organizational/workload management
• Interviewing techniques

Ability to:

• Formulate, interpret, and explain policies, rules, and regulations
• Understand and address the concerns of individuals regulated by OLCR
• Make recommendations that are supported by licensing requirements of contractual mandates
• Conduct…