SUPERVISOR CHILD CARE QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
To land Supervisor Child Care Quality Assurance Inspections in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2027 range lands between $91,628 and $134,900, and state payroll currently lists about 23 people in the title, most of them at Children and Families.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Children and Families posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 23 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $126,158. The agencies employing the most are:
- Children and Families (23)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under general direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Children and Families, administers the licensure and enforcement provisions of the Child Care Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 30:5-1) and the Resource Family Parent Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 30:4C-27.3); assigns, instructs, directs, and supervises inspection staff responsible for inspections and evaluations of physical facilities and residential treatment center programs, pregnant and parenting adolescent programs, children's residential adventure programs, juvenile sex offender programs, partial care programs, youth case management programs, children's shelters and shelter homes, children's group homes, supervised transitional living homes, treatment homes, teaching family homes, psychiatric community residences for youth, resource family homes and parents, child care centers, registered family care homes, sponsoring organizations, and adoption agencies to ensure their compliance with State and federal statutes and regulations and with department standards; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Assigns, instructs, directs, and supervises inspection staff responsible for field inspections and evaluations of physical facilities and programs. Supervises and conducts field inspections and evaluations of child care facilities and homes/parents to determine and ensure compliance with the physical facility and programmatic criteria of appropriate State law and applicable regulations governing child care and residential facilities and homes. Supervises the investigation of complaints regarding the physical condition, program, and operation of licensed or certified child care facilities, homes, and agencies to ensure that conditions do not exist which present a potentially dangerous hazard to the health, safety, and proper development of enrolled children; takes appropriate follow-up action to ensure immediate compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Supervises resource family parent, child abuse, and criminal history background checks and the onsite inspection of child care facilities, homes, and agencies for initial and renewal licenses or Certificates of Approval. Provides knowledge, expertise, and technical assistance in the review of new legislation/regulations and the amendment or repeal of existing legislation/regulations affecting licensing constituencies and the children and families they serve. Participates in the preparation and review of federal mandates such as the Child and Family Services Review and/or the Child and Family Services Plan; in consultation with the manager, renders complex decisions of a substantive or critical nature. Makes determinations on the denial, suspension, and revocation of licenses based on assessment of licensing violations and compliance histories; approves licensing waivers. Supervises the investigation of complaints against unlicensed or uncertified facilities, homes, and agencies that may be operating contrary to State law; takes appropriate follow-up action to ensure compliance with the law. Ensures that child care facilities and homes are kept in good repair according to building safety requirements; that nutritional, health, and developmental needs of the children are fulfilled; and that adequate organized activities and treatment services areas are provided, as appropriate to the setting and the needs of the children served. Evaluates measures taken by child care facilities, homes, and agencies to abate violations of applicable laws and regulations; recommends enforcement action in keeping with due process of law when proper child care or safety is at risk. Directs and conducts research and surveys of public and private agencies on licensing related topics; records and reports research and survey results. Conducts research on complex licensing and regulatory issues. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Represents the department at meetings of professional and advocacy groups, building code enforcement officers, and other licensing-related organizations. Mediates disputes between regulated facilities and local governing bodies including zoning boards, code enforcement officials, and law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with applicable laws/regulations; negotiates settlements and resolves conflicts of a critical or complex nature on licensing and regulatory issues involving regulated facilities/agencies and resource family homes. Provides technical guidance to child care facilities, homes, and agencies to aid them in developing and implementing child care programs and policies conducive to the needs of the children served, including effectively utilizing room arrangements, equipment, and materials, treatment strategies, staff qualifications and training, and coordinating and allocating staff and other resources. Provides technical guidance to architects, engineers, contractors, local officials, and prospective owners/operators in preparation for a license or Certificate of Approval. Supervises the review of the qualifications of staff responsible for setting and conducting educational, developmental, social service treatment programs, and policies at child care facilities, homes, and agencies; includes the evaluation of official transcripts, academic credentials, and experience qualifications. Supervises or conducts in-depth interviews with all household members to assess their perception of becoming a resource family home. Supervises or conducts annual inspections and triennial renewal inspections of existing licenses to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the children in placement and may enforce revocation, denial, or suspension when safety is compromised. Supervises or conducts pre-service training for resource family parents. Organizes and conducts workshops for child care facility, home, or agency staff designed to improve the quality of the programs and to enhance the capability of facility, home, or agency staff to effectively meet the needs of the children served. Provides testimony at administrative hearings and appears as a witness in enforcement actions, such as show cause hearings, settlement conferences, and court actions relating to the emotional and developmental needs of the children served by child care facilities, homes, and agencies under the department's licensing jurisdiction. Prepares and supervises the preparation of comprehensive informational materials designed to assist facilities, homes, and agencies subject to licensure or certification to comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. Develops, proposes, and implements new and improved policies and procedures, including manual and automated systems for unit operations; orients staff to changes to ensure that goals and objectives are met. Prepares documentation of grounds for enforcement actions taken against child care facilities, resource family homes, and agencies. Prepares written inspection/violation reports following inspections, re-inspections, and complaint investigations. Supervises the maintenance of records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the methods used to conduct inspections and investigations of child care facilities, homes/parents, and agencies. Knowledge of the methods used to operate child care centers, infant and toddler programs, before and after school child care programs, child care programs for mildly ill children, or related programs for children. Knowledge of the methods used to operate child placement agencies, residential child care facilities, group homes, shelters, foster homes, and other residential services and programs for children. Knowledge of the educational, nutritional, health, safety, developmental, social service, and other treatment needs of children enrolled in all categories of programs defined under the law. Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices in child care facilities, including programming, supervision, and discipline practices. Knowledge of licensing procedures, physical facility, personal, and other requirements for resource family homes. Knowledge of child care and development concepts, practices, and activities. Knowledge of automated technologies applicable to the inspection of child care facilities, homes, and agencies. Knowledge of approved safety devices, including fire alarm, signal, and sprinkler systems. Knowledge of methods used to maintain proper ventilation and room temperature, and fire escape and firefighting equipment laws of New Jersey. Ability to assign, instruct, direct, and supervise inspection staff responsible for field inspections and evaluations of physical facilities and programs related to the work of the unit. Ability to schedule and complete field assignments within the timeframes established by applicable laws and regulations. Ability to recognize and identify conditions at child care facilities, homes, and agencies that constitute violations of applicable laws and regulations, and to identify measures to abate the violations. Ability to make determinations on denial, suspension, and revocation of licenses based on assessment of licensing violations and compliance histories. Ability to make complex decisions/determinations of a substantive or critical nature. Ability to evaluate and recommend the effective use of space, staff, schedules, materials, and equipment for children at the facilities or homes. Ability to recognize, analyze, and develop solutions to problems encountered in the development and implementation of programs and activities in child care facilities, homes, and agencies for the health, well-being, and proper development of the children, and to provide technical assistance in the implementation of those solutions. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to provide training and mentor subordinates. Ability to keep current with trends and issues in child care and child development. Ability to provide technical advice and assistance. Ability to evaluate educational credentials and certification requirements for managerial and professional staff in child care facilities, homes, and agencies. Ability to conduct inspections and investigations. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations. Ability to provide recommendations that balance child development and safety with the rights of child care facility, home, and agency operators to due process of law. Ability to prepare reports. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. Ability to testify at court proceedings and administrative hearings. Ability to promote effective relationships between staff of child care facilities, homes, or agencies and parents of enrolled children. Ability to interview staff, parents, and children, and to inform directors about violations found during facility, home, and agency inspections. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of equipment and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Incumbents at the third level primarily function as supervisors of staff, and are responsible for performance evaluations. Incumbents at this level make determinations on the denial, suspension, and revocation of licenses, and can approve licensing waivers. Incumbents at this level may also mediate disputes between regulated facilities and local governing bodies. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Nine (9) years of professional experience in the licensing, regulation, inspection, or evaluation of child care centers, family day care homes, child placement agencies, residential or shelter facilities, group homes, resource family homes, or other facilities or homes for children or, as a manager, director, administrator, supervisor, or comparable position in a child care placement agency, child care center, residential facility, shelter, group home, or other facility/home for children. OR Nine (9) years of professional experience in social work, direct support counseling, guidance and/or casework involving high risk child abuse and neglect or other problematic socioeconomic situations involving counseling services to clients with social, emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems including gathering and analyzing information, determining needs, and planning and supporting and/or carrying out treatment plans, one (1) year of which must have been in a lead worker capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a lead worker capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Education, Early Education, Public Health/Health Care, Nursing, or other area related to human services; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a lead worker capacity. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions. LICENSE: Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Study guides for this exam
- Supervisory Test Battery (STB) National Learning Corporation · $56.99
- General Supervisor National Learning Corporation · $49.90 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.