DSHS ESA Child Support Enforcement Officer 3

State of Washington; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in Vancouver, WA is seeking a Lead Worker to join the Child Support Enforcement team as SEO3. The role leads staff, enforces child and medical support orders under Title IV-D, and develops training and procedures for the unit.

As SEO3, you will audit work, mentor teammates, and coordinate complex cases across jurisdictions, while staying current with changing laws and maintaining technical expertise to support the team and clients.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills to explain policies clearly to a diverse public.
• Analytical skills to interpret legal documents and apply rules accurately.
• Strong math skills to calculate support obligations and arrearages.
• Proven case management ability with a large, diverse caseload.
• Ability to de-escalate conflicts and negotiate settlements when needed.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate with custodial/absent parents, attorneys, and employers, verifying financial data.
• Provide direct service and interpret complex policies by phone, in person, or in writing.
• Train staff on child support enforcement and explain laws and procedures.
• Maintain technical expertise with changing laws and policies.
• Serve as mentor and model professional behavior within the team.
• Establish Administrative Child Support Orders by researching income data and negotiating settlements.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Math skills

Case management

Conflict resolution

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Two years of college coursework

Job description

Child Support Enforcement Officer 3 - Lead Worker

The Division of Child Support is currently seeking a Support Enforcement Officer 3 professional to join our team located in Vancouver, WA. This is a great opportunity to expand your current skills and advance your career as a Child Support Officer within the Department.

As Support Enforcement Officer 3s (SEO3), these positions will provide direction and training to lower-level professional staff that collects, establishes and enforces child and medical support orders in the Federal Title IV-D program of the Social Security Act, Washington State Child Support Laws and Policies. This includes auditing the work of other professional staff, developing training or improvement plans, training of new staff, training long-term staff, and developing procedures.

Some of what you will do:

• Independently negotiates and/or interviews custodial/absent parents, attorneys, and employers regarding their accounts and verifies the accuracy of financial and informational data
• Provides direct service to customers and partners through agency interpretation on complex policies, procedures and laws; explanations of forms, pamphlets and other materials, the ability to effectively communicate by phone, in person, electronically and in writing; formal and informal referral services to community resources
• Trains staff in all aspects of child support collections/enforcement; reviews work and explains child support laws and procedures
• Maintains technical expertise amidst constant changes in laws, policies and procedure in order to be a resource for the team
• First line of contact for conflict resolution of debt and other child support related concerns of customers; may work more difficult child support cases that could involve multiple jurisdictional or multi-government and/or Tribal child support orders and debt periods
• Acts as a mentor and models behavior which earns others’ trust and respect through consistent honestly and professionalism in all interactions; adapts to changing business needs, conditions and work responsibilities, displays an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement; helps others resolve complex or sensitive disagreements
• Provides ongoing technical and interpretive assistance regarding policies and procedures to assigned staff and may provide backup coverage for team members who are absent
• Independently established Administrative Child Support Orders by researching and locating income information, calculating financial and medical child support obligations, calculating arrears balances as required, preparing and serving legal notices and negotiating settlements as appropriate
• Analyzes, interprets and applies State, Federal and International laws pertaining to the legal determination of paternity and the establishment and enforcement of financial and medical child support
• Independently negotiate debt repayment terms by analyzing asset and financial information such as paystubs, tax returns, business earnings and proof of expenses
• Calculates complex financial and medical child support obligations and arrearages while applying the laws of other jurisdictions, tribal treaties and Federal and State laws

What we are looking for:

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues in a manner understandable by a diverse public
• Analytical skills to read, interpret, and understand legal documents and to correctly apply rules, laws, and policies
• Math skills to quickly and accurately calculate support obligations and arrearages
• Case management skills as demonstrated by the ability to manage a large, growing and diverse caseload
• Conflict resolution skills to de-escalate emotionally charged interactions with clients
• Negotiations skills, including the ability to settle on agreements that fulfill the Division's goals while also meeting the clients’ needs

Who should apply?

Professionals with two years of experience as a Washington State Support Enforcement Officer AND one of the following:

• An additional four years of full-time debt collection or support enforcement related experience

OR

• Two years of college level coursework AND an additional two years of experience related to support enforcement, debt collection, or a related field.

OR

• A Bachelor's degree or higher level.

Note: Equivalent education and/or experience year for year.

The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.