CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Mesa County, CO; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesa County Department of Human Services in Grand Junction is seeking a dedicated Child Support Specialist to manage the lifecycle of cases from initiation to enforcement and modification.

You will interview customers, verify information, perform financial calculations, and communicate with attorneys, employers, and families, applying confidentiality and compliance standards. This role requires strong organizational skills and empathy in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Strong case management, investigative, analytical, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage lifecycle of child support cases including initiation, establishment, enforcement, and modifications.
• Conduct customer interviews, gather information, and verify data for case processing.
• Communicate with attorneys, employers, and families; apply confidentiality and compliance standards.
• Demonstrate empathy and conflict-resolution skills in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bilingual (English/Spanish) (preferred)

Job description

Mesa County Department of Human Services is a forward-thinking agency that has over 300 employees serving the needs of nearly 40,000 residents. From the Colorado National Monument to the thriving agricultural lands and city centers, Mesa County contains a diverse, natural landscape that provides many outdoor activities and adventures. As individuals and an organization, we value and respect humanity, honesty, balance, inclusion and teamwork. We provide a level of flexibility for staff to be able to accommodate their lives outside of the office environment. We value family and the relationships that make our lives rewarding.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Mesa County Department of Human Services is to help individuals and families achieve safety, stability and opportunity for meaningful employment.

Our Values

Mesa County Department of Human Services values represent our behavioral anchors for how we conduct ourselves. Simply stated, we value Humanity, Balance, Honesty, Inclusion and Teamwork.

Job Summary

The Child Support Specialist manages the lifecycle of child support cases. There are different roles in the child support unit that cover case initiation, establishment, enforcement, and modifications through administrative and court processes. Authorized by statute to handle key case-related legal responsibilities, this role conducts investigative research, performs financial calculations, establishes parentage, prepares necessary legal documentation and communicates extensively with stakeholders of the case. Utilizing a human-centered, empathetic approach, the Specialist conducts customer interviews to gather information, facilitates negotiation conferences, and applies strong conflict de-escalation skills. Operating in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment, this role exercises independent judgment to ensure program compliance, protect confidential data, and deliver solution-focused support for families.

Essential Duties

(The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. Mesa County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

Human-Centered Customer Service & Conflict De-escalation

• Empathy-Driven Service Delivery: Delivers services using a collaborative, human-centered approach that honors the unique circumstances, diverse backgrounds, and specific needs of each family.
• Stakeholder Relations: Establishes and maintains productive, professional relationships with customers, attorneys, court personnel, employers, and community partners.
• Case Interviewing & Data Verification: Ability to effectively engage with customers to gather, verify, and accurately enter critical case information into the child support system.
• Conflict Management: De-escalates high-stress situations and is able to process information to critically think through solutions and provide necessary information for the proposed resolutions.

Professional Communication & Collaboration

• Collaboration: Collaborates closely with unit members to share information, resolve operational bottlenecks, and coordinate case activities.
• Information Translation: Explains complex legal processes, program rules, and case requirements clearly and accurately to non-legal audiences.
• Representation: Represents the agency professionally, contributing to a positive, service-oriented work culture.

Foundational Skills for All Positions

• Legal Research & Analysis: Ability to review, analyze, and research legal documents of varying complexity and draft corresponding case documentation.
• High-Volume Case Management: Proven ability to accurately process a large workload, manage competing priorities, and meet st ict, tight deadlines.
• Financial Analysis & Calculation: Skill in researching financial information and accurately applying state guidelines to determine child support obligations.
• Critical Thinking & Decision-Making: Ability to independently assess complex case circumstances, exercise sound judgment, and determine the next steps to ensure timely case progression.
• Information Security & Compliance: Strict adherence to confidentiality protocols, ensuring the protection of Federal Taxpayer Information from unauthorized disclosure.
• Professional Credentialing: Ability to obtain and maintain required state certifications.

Initiation of Child Support

• Customer Intake & Program Orientation: Ability to welcome customers, process incoming applications/referrals, and clearly explain program rules and expectations.
• Information Retrieval & Case Research: Skill in conducting targeted research to gather the documentation and case details necessary for intake.
• Strategic Case Assessment: Ability to evaluate case details to determine the most effective legal method to establish or enforce support orders.

Establishment of Child Support

• Forensic Data Collection: Ability to collect DNA swab samples for paternity testing while adhering to strict legal identification and chain-of-custody protocols.
• Dispute Resolution & Negotiation: Skill in facilitating negotiation conferences and applying conflict resolution techniques to secure agreements and advance the establishment process.
• Investigative Research & Parentage Establishment: Ability to research public, private, and professional records to locate individuals and establish parentage.

Enforcement of Child Support

• Compliance Monitoring & Customer Engagement: Ability to monitor compliance with court-ordered support obligations through frequent customer interactions, addressing payment concerns and facilitating necessary actions.
• Investigative Case Location: Skill in conducting targeted investigations to locate individuals obligated to pay support through contact with employers, relatives, and public/private agencies.
• Financial Negotiation: Ability to effectively negotiate with customers and other parties to secure consistent, full monthly child support payments in accordance with court orders.
• Arrears Analysis & Calculation: Skill in analyzing case records, payment histories, and applicable support orders to accurately calculate arrears obligations.

Modification of Child Support

• Modification Processing: Ability to manage incoming modification requests and verify eligibility requirements.
• Financial & Case Analysis: Skill in evaluating financial data and case history to support modification decisions.
• Negotiation & Dispute Resolution: Ability to facilitate productive negotiations between parties to reach mutually agreeable outcomes.

Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) (preferred)

Core Competencies

Successful performance in this role requires strong case management, investigative, analytical, and communication skills to effectively support families through all stages of the child support process. This position requires exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment while maintaining accuracy and compliance. Candidates must possess strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills to engage customers with empathy, explain complex legal and program requirements in an understandable manner, and de-escalate challenging situations.

Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate The Ability To

• Provide respectful, empathetic, and solution-focused service