Join us as a Field Operations Director (Compliance & Regulatory Manager 2) and help shape the future of child care licensing in Oregon! You'll drive results, provide support to regional managers that oversee child care licensing specialists statewide, ensuring safe, accessible, and high-quality child care. If you are a strategic leader with expertise in a regulatory environment, have a passion for continuous improvement, and the ability to foster collaboration across different groups, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.
This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both remotely and in the Salem office approximately once per week for meetings and to oversee staff. Additionally, travel is required, at a minimum of annually, to Field Offices throughout the state. However, in office requirements may fluctuate during legislative session or if emerging needs arise.
Join Our Virtual Informational Session! Have questions about the role or application process? Join us for an Informational Session on Wednesday, April 2nd, from 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM (PDT). Speak directly with the hiring manager, learn more about the position, and get your questions answered! Drop in anytime during the session using the link below and feel free to share it with others who may be interested. Click here to join the meeting
The informational session will be conducted using TEAMS. If you're new to TEAMS or joining from a mobile device, check out these instructions beforehand. We look forward to connecting with you!
About the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC):
At DELC, we are dedicated to helping Oregon’s young children and families learn and thrive. As the state agency responsible for early learning programs, child care licensing, and family support services, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of Oregon’s children from birth to kindergarten.
We administer state-funded early learning programs, including home visiting and site-based infant, toddler, and preschool services. We also develop coordinated systems through Early Learning Hubs and collaborate with Child Care Resource and Referral organizations to provide training, coaching, and quality improvement opportunities for early learning providers.
Child Care Licensing develops, implements, monitors and provides technical assistance for child care licensing for Registered Family (RF), Certified Family (CF), Certified Center (CC), School-age Center (SC) and Outdoor Nature-Based (NB) programs with a focus on foundational health, safety and well-being of children and their child care environments.
With over 275,000 young children in Oregon, we have a unique opportunity to transform early childhood support systems, creating a brighter future for families across the state. Research shows that investing in early childhood has lifelong benefits, and now is your chance to be part of an agency making a lasting impact for generations to come.
Why Join Our Team? We are passionate about equity in early childhood education. At DELC, we value dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace where all employees can thrive. We challenge ourselves to lead with courage, refine practices, and drive meaningful change for children and families statewide.
What We Offer:
- Comprehensive Benefits: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional benefits like life and disability insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending accounts.
- Work-Life Balance: 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 1 special day, monthly sick leave, and vacation accruals that increase every 5 years.
- Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential federal loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.
- Inclusive Culture: A diverse, welcoming workplace committed to equity and continuous improvement.
Our Commitment to Equity: Equity is at the heart of our mission. We strive to remove barriers, foster inclusiveness, and create meaningful change for underrepresented communities. Our goal is to ensure all DELC employees and the children and families we support thrive. If you are ready to make a difference and help shape Oregon’s future, we would love to have you on our team!
What you will do:
The Field Operations Director leads Oregon’s child care licensing system, ensuring safe, accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care across the state. This role oversees statewide regulatory processes, manages licensing teams, and drives continuous improvement through professional development, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making. They are responsible for ensuring consistent rule interpretation, training, and coaching. The Field Operations Director supervises licensing managers and collaborates with legal, compliance, and community partners to align regulatory functions. Additionally, this position develops policies, procedures, and performance metrics to enhance licensing effectiveness and ensure compliance with state standards. Staying updated on best practices and industry regulations, the director plays a key role in maintaining a high-quality licensing system and representing DELC in public meetings and collaborative discussions.
To view a complete job description, click here
What we are looking for (minimum qualifications):
Six years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience; OR three years of related experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills):
- Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, particularly in regulatory and compliance environments. Experience overseeing a team of five or more across multiple locations, including managing supervisors.
- Familiarity with Oregon's Early Learning System and the integration of child care services.
- Ability to think strategically and develop long- and short-term goals that align with the mission of DELC.
- Strong commitment to fostering equitable practices in all aspects of work, ensuring services are culturally appropriate and accessible to diverse communities.
- Exceptional communication skills, with experience articulating complex regulatory requirements clearly to diverse customers.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to oversee large projects and budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation and cost control.
- Experience managing ambiguity and navigating complex regulatory or policy challenges.
- Experience setting clear objectives, developing action plans, and tracking progress toward the achievement of program goals.
The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Candidates of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as bilingual/multicultural individuals, are encouraged to apply.