Credentialing Specialist, Education Staffing

About Us:

Onward Education is an education staffing firm dedicated to connecting passionate professionals with school districts across the country. Our commitment to quality, compliance, and service excellence ensures that every educator we place is fully vetted, credentialed, and ready to make an impact in the classroom. We're growing fast and are looking for a sharp, detail-oriented Operations Specialist to support Compliance, Onboarding, Payroll, and Contract Support.  

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Operations Specialist with a background in education staffing to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be responsible for managing the full onboarding lifecycle for our temporary education professionals—including credentialing, background checks, documentation, and compliance with district and state requirements. The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of onboarding processes in the education sector, and a proactive mindset for supporting both candidates and internal teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Compliance and Onboarding  

• Manage onboarding workflows for contractors (e.g., special education teachers, paras, social workers) from offer to start date  
• Verify state licensure, credentials, and certifications for school personnel  
• Coordinate and track background checks, TB tests, fingerprinting, and other pre-employment requirements  
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in our internal systems and with client portals  
• Communicate with contractors regularly to ensure timely submission of onboarding documents  
• Liaise with recruiters, account managers, and school district contacts to meet onboarding deadlines  
• Conduct routine audits to ensure contractor files remain compliant throughout assignments  
• Keep up to date with state-specific school staffing regulations and adjust processes as needed  

Payroll Support:  

• Ensure all contractor information (tax forms, direct deposit, rate confirmations) is complete and accurate for payroll processing  
• Review weekly timesheets for completeness and accuracy; flag discrepancies for resolution  
• Coordinate with the payroll team to ensure timely and accurate payment to contractors  
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractor pay-related questions  
• Assist with pay rate updates, stipend tracking, and contractor time off documentation  
• Help maintain compliance with wage and hour laws across multiple states  

Client Contract Management 

• Prepare and send client contracts to school district contacts for review and signature 
• Track the status of outgoing contracts and follow up to ensure timely return 
• Maintain organized records of signed contracts and related documentation 
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure contract terms are accurately reflected in billing and compliance workflows 
• Serve as a liaison between sales, HR and Operation teams regarding client contract status and updates 

Qualifications:

• Required: Minimum 2 years of experience in an onboarding, compliance, or credentialing role within education staffing.
• Strong knowledge of school district onboarding and credentialing requirements.
• Familiarity with background check processes, fingerprinting requirements, and state-specific compliance laws (e.g., IL, CA, TX).
• Proficiency in using applicant tracking systems (e.g., Bullhorn) and credential management tools.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and process-driven, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience onboarding temporary employees across multiple states.
• Knowledge of education compliance and credentialing regulations, including state departments of education.

Why Join Us?

• Work with a supportive, mission-driven team focused on educational impact.
• Help shape and improve our onboarding & compliance process as we scale.
• Opportunity to make a difference in the lives of educators and students every day.

Salary:

• The salary for this position is $56,160 - $63,000, based on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits and PTO package, including 401k, offered.
  

Company Overview

Onward is an award-winning recruitment and staffing agency with the mission to connect the nation’s top companies with the best talent in the industry. Founded in 2007, our company is headquartered in Norwalk, CT and embraces a nationwide remote workforce. 

We have built a culture fostered on entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, teamwork and transparency. We believe different perspectives make Onward Search a better company and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment where every person feels like they belong. 

We’re proud to be recognized as “Best Companies to Work for Women” on Comparably, where we also hold an A rating for company culture and rank number one in diversity score amongst staffing companies in our industry. 

Onward offers medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as a 401k program, for all eligible full-time employees.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Onward is an equal opportunity employer. We value a culture of inclusion and diversity within our workforce and are committed to maintaining a workplace free from prohibited employment conduct, including discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partner status, civil partnership, status as a covered veteran, status in the Uniformed Services of the United States, citizenship and any other characteristic protected by State and Federal law.

Salary : $56,000 - $63,000