CAPS – Scholarship Administration Specialist

CAPS – Scholarship Administration Specialist

Closing Date: January 28, 2026

Salary:  $40,560.00

Commensurate with Education & Experience

Job Code:  SSP051

Pay Grade: H

Location: Remote

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the childcare and early education needs of Georgia's children and their families.  It administers the nationally recognized Georgia's Pre-K Program, licenses childcare centers and home-based childcare, administers Georgia Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia's community powered childcare rating system.

The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of childcare, and works collaboratively with Georgia childcare resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Job Summary: 

The CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist will report to the Scholarship Administration Manager in an assigned region. The Scholarship Administration Specialist will process initial CAPS scholarship administration applications to determine program eligibility for applications statewide. The CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist is responsible for conducting programmatic and operational activities of the scholarship administration function/section of the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program within the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). This includes the eligibility determination process for participation in the CAPS program for initial applications. This position is home-based and requires some statewide travel. 

Reliable attendance is an essential function of this position; consistent availability to work scheduled appointments and adhere to report deadlines is required.

Job Responsibilities:

• The CAPS Eligibility Specialist will perform tasks involving:
  • Processing assigned electronic and hard copy initial applications for CAPS scholarships to determine program eligibility.
  • Verifying eligibility through appropriate documents and contact with consumer's employer, education institution, and any other third-party entity that may verify eligibility; and applying eligibility policies accordingly.
  • Processing referrals from Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and/or partner agencies for CAPS scholarships to determine eligibility.
  • Providing resolution to customer concerns and issues that arise.
  • Providing initial consumer education.

·       Works in close collaboration with program administration, provider relations, and family support sections of the CAPS division to ensure seamless service delivery to all families and providers, and exemplary customer service.

·       Conducts research using a variety of sources to complete, prepare, assemble, process, and/or generate reports and other documentation, or to respond to inquiries, questions or requests.

·       Enters data from forms, records, reports, and/or other sources into data systems for purposes such as maintaining databases.

Required Qualifications:

High school diploma/GED and three (3) years of related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Economic Support Cons 1 (SSP050) or position equivalent.

Agency Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and Two years of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization.  

·       Current or previous CAPS program work experience

·       Current work experience in another DECAL program

·       Two years or more of experience in child serving, state or community program or organization

·       Two years or more of experience working with vulnerable populations, including families who lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing, children with disabilities, and those whose home language is not English

·       Two years or more of experience working with low-income families.

·       Two years or more of experience managing or overseeing an application or eligibility process in a human services program

·       Knowledge and training in creating a customer service centered culture and integrating exemplary customer service into processes and procedures.

·       Knowledge of Child Care Development Fund federal regulations

Technical Competencies:

·       Excellent oral, written, analytical, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. 

·       Demonstrated ability to form and maintain collaboration among partners. 

·       Computer skills in Microsoft Office to include: WORD, EXCEL, and POWERPOINT. 

·       Computer skills in state program software such as GEORGIA GATEWAY, NexxPhase, and KOALA.  

·       Ability to manage own time, set priorities, work without direct supervision, and contribute to team atmosphere. 

·       Competent to answer questions related to child care quality and health and safety, as well as community resources quickly and accurately. 

·       A comprehensive understanding of early care and education settings, as well as both state and community programs and resources for eligible families. 

·       Strong knowledge/experience of program development and implementation. 

·       Experience working with diverse communities and sensitivity to needs and concerns of various cultural groups. 

Physical Position Requirements:

• The position is home-based with measurable quantitative or qualitative results-oriented standards of performance that are structured to be performed independently of others and with minimal need for support.
• The ability to speak clearly, to hear and understand at a normal conversational level, and to receive detailed information through verbal communication. 
• Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.  

·       Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification.

·       Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

·       Full range of hand and finger motion for data entry purposes.

Recruitment Pool: All qualified applicants

Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer, offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package, to include healthcare, retirement, 401-k match, and elective options for dental, vision, AD&D, short and long-term disability, and life insurance.  Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer and drug-free workplace.  A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any or all of the following: criminal and employment histories, credit history (as applicable to the position), education credentials, and motor vehicle driving records.

If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 404-656-3922. Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview.  The job posting may be subject to being closed at any time without notice.  Only those qualified candidates who are selected for an interview shall receive notification upon the filling of this vacancy.