SAMH Licensing Specialist

Requisition No: 871479 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SAMH Licensing Specialist

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60031801 

Salary:  $47,500.00 - $55,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 04/03/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This position licenses substance abuse service providers located within the Suncoast Region and assists with designations for Baker Act receiving facilities. This position is responsible for ensuring substance abuse providers are licensed according to all applicable licensing requirements within the designated time frames as well as exploring all complaints and grievances related to those providers. The position also provides technical assistance to community-based substance abuse agencies to assist with the licensure process. This position covers all counties within the Suncoast Region including Charlotte, Collier, DeSota, Glades, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lee (Fort Myers), Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas (Clearwater, Saint Pete) and Sarasota Counties.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma and 6 years of related experience or
• A bachelor's degree in social services or related fields from an accredited college or university and 2 years of social service work experience or
• A master’s degree with 1-year social service work experience. Licensing and/or substance use disorder preferred

Substance Abuse Licensing Activities:

Responsible for monitoring, licensing, and evaluating substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment programs per licensing standards outlined in Florida Statute and Administrative Code. Responsible for implementing policies and procedures. Monitors and conducts on-site inspections of service providers and licenses substance abuse programs as assigned by supervisor in accordance with established guidelines. Investigates licensing violations and complaints on licensed providers and illegal operations. Prepares reports and initiates administrative action as required by statute and/or administrative code. Identify any corrective actions necessary. Monitors the progressive discipline and administrative action processes, which includes providing timely administrative complaint notifications to providers, keeping the information system current throughout the administrative action process and closing out each action timely and accurately. Review corrective action plans for sufficiency to meet regulatory standards and follow-up monitoring for compliance. Review documents submitted for substance use disorder and designated provider applications, generate provider invoices, document and review complaints received, conduct audits of assigned licensed providers, monitoring visits, and ensure any necessary information and updates are maintained in the program's technological system. Provides technical assistance to subcontractors and providers to support and promote sustained compliance with licensing standards. Responds to telephone, email inquiries, and walk-in requests from the public and other agencies and providers and provides accurate information on licensed programs. Consults with stakeholders and other clients regarding licensing regulations. Completed public record requests upon request. Represent the Department in community meetings, on work groups and forums related to licensing, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.   

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.

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

Growth Opportunities:

With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.  Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Where you will work:

Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you’re never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater.  And if the beach isn’t your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore!  Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love.  The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work – Come join our team!

About Department of Children and Families:

Mission:  The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Vision:  We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values:  A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve. 

To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.

• If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
•  The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures. We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.

Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position 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 SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any candidate being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.  Employment may be terminated based on the background investigation results if the candidate begins employment before the background results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Department.  

Background investigations shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and national criminal records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.  Employees will be retained in state and national rap back program, providing real-time arrest hit notifications.   

 No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

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.