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 click on the link here to 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.

Job Duties:

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' (DDD/Division)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, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

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 independent investigations
  

Selective Preference(s):

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Management, Human Services, Legal, Social Work, or another closely related field from an accredited college or university. Regulatory, Investigative, and/or Developmental Disabilities experience is highly desirable.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the
  agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following
  requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting Brenda Simpson at (520) 307-5579 or at brendasimpson@azdes.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.