Human Services Enforcement Agent

Department of Health and Human Services; South Portland (ME); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

3+ weeks vacation leave

Health insurance coverage

Retirement plan

Job summary

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Portland, ME, seeks a Human Services Enforcement Agent to locate non-custodial parents, enforce child support orders, and determine paternity. The role involves pursuing administrative actions and potential court filings to protect the interests of children and families.

The position offers a hybrid work arrangement with management approval after the first year of training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Business or Public Administration, or a related field.
• Directly related paraprofessional or higher level experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Conditional offers are made to selected candidates who must successfully complete a pre-employment, fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

Responsibilities

• Investigative services work in locating non-custodial parents.
• Establishing, enforcing, and collecting child support obligations.
• Establishing the paternity of children born out of wedlock.
• Enforcement services work initiating administrative collection actions.
• Initiating appropriate court action.
• Representing the Department's interest in Maine District Court in matters pertaining to child support.

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Opening Date: September 17, 2026 Closing Date: September 30, 2026 Job Class Code: 5009 Grade: 21 (Professional & Technical) Salary: $24.71 – $30.14 per hour* *Employees in this classification begin at $24.71, Step 4 of the pay scale Position Number: 02000-1232 Location: Portland Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. This position allows for a partial telework schedule with management approval based on operational needs after the first 1 year of initial training.

Human Services Enforcement Agents perform investigative, protective services work in locating non-custodial parents; establishing, enforcing, and collecting child support obligations; and establishing the paternity of children born out of wedlock.

Core Responsibilities

• Investigative services work in locating non-custodial parents.
• Establishing, enforcing, and collecting child support obligations.
• Establishing the paternity of children born out of wedlock.
• Enforcement services work initiating administrative collection actions.
• Initiating appropriate court action.
• Representing the Department's interest in Maine District Court in matters pertaining to child support.

Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, Business or Public Administration, or a related field. Directly related paraprofessional or higher level experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. Note: Applicants are subject to pre-employment screening including verification of minimum qualifications, application information, employment history, and references. Conditional offers are made to selected candidates who must successfully complete a pre-employment, fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office for Family Independence, Division of Support Enforcement & Recovery (DSER) is responsible for the development and implementation of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures necessary to ensure that all non-custodial parents are contributing to the economic support of their children. Responsibilities include establishing paternity, locating non-custodial parents, establishing and enforcing child support orders and representing the Department’s interest in the Maine District Court in matters pertaining to child support. This position requires occasional travel.

Application Information

For additional information about this position please contact Jeff Irish at [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]. Please submit all documents or files in a PDF or Word format. To request a paper application, please contact [e-mail].

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"— as they provide essential services to Mainers every day.

We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting. Create Account Please note: applicant accounts cannot be deleted once created. If you would prefer not to maintain an online account, you may submit a paper application as an alternative.

About Us

Join Maine State Government and Make a Difference in Your Community. If you're looking for a fulfilling career that allows you to serve the public and make a difference, consider working with Maine State Government! Our departments boast an array of professions, including attorneys, biologists, correctional officers, equipment operators, engineers, human resources professionals, information technology experts, law enforcement officers, nurses, park rangers, social workers, and transportation workers. With more than 100 agencies, boards, and offices, Maine State Government is the perfect place to explore various industries and interests. Whether you're interested in finance or forestry, there's an opportunity for you to help make Maine an even better place to live.