PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48001817

Requisition No: 847137 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48001817

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48001817 

Salary:  $49,584.72-$56,179.32 

Posting Closing Date: 03/11/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Commission for Independent Education

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Position Title: Program Specialist IV - CS/SES)

Position Number: 48001817

Salary Range: $49,584.72-$56,179.32

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:
  • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Shun Brooks or Brandon Eldridge, 850-245-3200

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Program Specialist IV-DOE must have knowledge of the technical aspects of Florida Statutes and F.A.C. Rules as they apply to the licensing of proprietary, vocational, technical, trade and business schools, and independent colleges and universities.  The responsibilities of this position are consultative in nature and require that the individual function independently.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts investigations of possible violation of Commission Rules and Statutes by licensed institutions )i.e. reviewing institutional materials. 
• Respond to all telephone and electronic communication from institutions in a timely manner.
• Consult with prospective applicant schools, colleges and universities to implicitly explain policies, procedures and requirements for licensure.
• Review all incoming applications for licensure or modification of licensure to determine compliance with rule and statute.
• Review all submitted documentation in response to clerked orders to determine compliance.
• Effectively communicate deficiencies in a submitted application within 30 days of receipt, and suggest a corrective course of action, as appropriate.         
• Review and evaluate school applications, both new and renewal.  Provide technical assistance to applicant schools, colleges and universities in areas identified as deficient in the preparation of the license application, Commission action on recommendations and other relevant subjects.
• Determine if each institution is in compliance with Chapter 1005, Florida Statute, and Rule 6E 2.004, Florida Administrative Code (Standards and Procedures for Licensure). Correspond with institutions regarding the data needed, the deficiencies perceived, the Commission action on all recommendations, and on other relevant subjects.
• Analyze data collected and prepare a comprehensive summary. 
• Respond to requests from other state agencies and the general public in a timely manner.
• Identity schools, colleges and universities that require on-site visitations. 
• Attend bimonthly Commission Meeting prepared to answer questions relating to institutions.
• Plan and conduct periodic on-site visitations of licensed educational operations.
• Reviews the activities of unlicensed institutions in order to verify their non-compliance with Commission Rules and Statues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unity. Attendance is an essential function of this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Four Years of professional experience working with Florida Statute and Rule
• Ability to communicate effectively including verbal and written communication
• Ability to travel

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferences will be given to:

• Applicants holding a Certified Fraud Examiner credential
• Applicants with excellent writing skills, presentation experience, and an educational legal background

• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, finance, or a related business field. An accounting degree is preferable
• Applicants with three or more years of experience applying accounting and auditing principles, theories, and concepts
• Applicants with an investigative background

EDUCATIONAL SUBSITITUIONS:

• Four or more years of direct experience can substitute for a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

COMMISSION FOR INDEPENDENT EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT:

The Commission for Independent Education has statutory responsibilities in matters relating to nonpublic, postsecondary, educational institutions. In keeping with the Florida Department of Education's goal of producing a seamless educational system, some of these functions include consumer protection, program improvement, institutional policies and administration, data management, and the licensure of independent schools, colleges and universities.

Commission for Independent Education Webpage

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

LEAVE INFORMATION:

• • Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
  • Sick Leave -. Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. 

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.