Child Development Specialist I, II or III

Job Posting Title
Child Development Specialist I, II or III

Agency
340 OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Supervisory Organization
340 District 9

Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)
October 13, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time
Full time

Job Type
Regular

Compensation
The annual salary for this position is up to $53,000.00, based on education and experience for level I, up to $56,000.00, based on education and experience for level II, and up to $61,000.00, based on education and experience for level III.

Why you’ll love it here!

RESPECT. COLLABORATION. SERVICE. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is committed to leading Oklahoma to prosperity through health. Our mission is to protect and promote health, prevent disease and injury, and cultivate conditions by which Oklahomans can thrive. Check out why we are passionate about public health and believe it is the career for you!!!

Oh yeah, did we mention perks? We know that benefits matter and that is why we offer a competitive benefits package for all eligible employees.

• Generous state paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums.
• A wide choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations.
• Flexible spending accounts for health care expenses and/or dependent care.
• Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match.
• 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave the first year for full time employees.
• 11 paid holidays a year.
• Student Loan repayment options & tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts with a variety of companies and venders.
• Longevity Bonus for years of service

Job Description

Location: Counties: Atoka, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Pushmataha

Salary: Level I: up to $53,000.00, based on education and experience

Level II: up to $56,000.00, based on education and experience

Level III: up to $61,000.00, based on education and experience

Full Time /Part Time: Full-time

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday

Primary Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm

Position Description: The Child Development Specialist is assigned responsibilities involving professional work with a high degree of flexibility in providing individual and family services to increase parenting skills and enhance the developmental potential of young children and/or children with developmental and acquired disabilities through the SoonerStart Early Intervention Program. This includes assessing development in young children; developing and implementing individual family service plans and programs for parents and young children to enhance their opportunities for cognitive, personal-social, language, adaptive, and motor development; and serving as a member of a multidisciplinary/ interdisciplinary team to monitor the effectiveness of child development services. This is the basic level of this job family where incumbents perform entry-level professional work in performing all the essential functions of a child development specialist in a training status under close supervision.

Position Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

• Conducts groups and workshops to educate parents in child development through materials and curricula developed for this purpose.
  
• Provides developmental assessments of children’s birth through kindergarten-age; teach parents ways to enhance their child’s developmental potential.
  
• Keeps confidential records and writes reports essential to this work.
  
• Assists in the selection, preparation, and distribution of materials on child development which will further the purpose of this program.
  
• Provides in-service training in the areas of child development and parenting to staff at Head Starts, day care, preschool programs, or other programs as necessary.
  
• Counsels’ individuals and families on topics related to parenting and child development.
  
• Recruits’ clients for child development programs through contracts with community organizations such as public health clinics, hospitals, childcare centers, civic organizations, pediatricians and the news media.
  
• Collaborates with other community agencies as well as plans and conducts community wide efforts to promote the health, development, and behavioral wellbeing of young children and families.
  
• Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary team by staffing individual cases and groups and developing treatment plans or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) pertaining to child development.
  
• Supervises the work of subordinate staff.
  
• Provide services to children and families in the child’s natural environment or the environment determined most appropriate by the child’s early intervention team.
  
• Initiate and implement steps necessary for smooth transition services from the early intervention program.
  
• Being present at the office is an essential function of the job.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Other Duties

• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior.
  
• Works effectively in team environment, participating and assisting their peers.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Level I: Requirements at this level consist of completion of a master’s degree in child development, early childhood education, early childhood special education, developmental psychology, or family relations/child development or a master’s degree in special education with a minimum of 18 graduate, post graduate, or upper level hours (300 or above) in any of the following areas: typical and atypical infant and toddler development, parent-child relations, positive guidance/discipline strategies with young children, family systems, family relationships, assessment/evaluation, working with parents of exceptional infants and toddlers, and developmentally and individually appropriate early childhood curriculum and instructional practices.

NOTE: Must be working towards eligibility for certification as a Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS) through the Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition (OFRC).

Level II: Requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level I plus one year of post-master’s experience working in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education and eligible for certification as a Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS) through the Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition (OFRC).

NOTE: If certification is not held at the time of employment, it must be achieved within 12 months of accepting the position.

Level III: Requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II plus two additional years of post-master’s experience working in the areas of child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education, and eligible for certification as a Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS) through the Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition (OFRC).

NOTE: If certification is not held at the time of employment, it must be achieved within 12 months of accepting the position.

Application Requirements:

• If education, certification or licensure is required to meet qualifications, applicants must provide documentation at the time of application.
  
• All applicants are subject to a background check and must be legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
  

Valued Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Level I: Required at this level include knowledge of typical and atypical child development from birth through adolescence; of the skills and techniques for childcare and guidance; of the methods and curricula of early childhood education or early childhood special education; and of community health and welfare resources for children and their parents. Ability is required to work cooperatively and effectively with both professional and non-professional groups and encourage participation in child development and early intervention programs; and to teach child development and parenting skills.

Level II: Required at this level include those identified in Level I plus the ability to assess children’s development and to provide educational programs to parents.

Level III: Required at this level include knowledge of the principles, practices and ethics of parent education, early childhood education, or early childhood special education; of training and instructional techniques and their application; of the use of materials and curricula used in parenting education, early childhood education, or early childhood special education programs; of typical and atypical child development from birth through adolescence; of the skills and techniques for child care and guidance; and of community resources for children and their parents. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and to exercise initiative and independent judgment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Work is typically performed in an office setting with climate-controlled settings and exposure to moderate noise levels. While performing the duties of the job, employees are required to talk, stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms; carry light items; drive an automobile. This position requires long periods of sitting and daily use of computers and phones. Applicants must be willing to perform all job-related travel associated with this position. Occasionally, in state overnight and weekend travel may be required. Being present at the office is an essential function of the job

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub .

If you are needing any extra assistance or have any questions relating to a job you have applied for, please click the link below and find the agency for which you applied for additional information:

Agency Contact

• 

• Oklahoma State Department of Health

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