Lead Economic Support Specialist

Sheboygan County; Sheboygan Falls (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

15 vacation days, sick time, and 10,  

Referral program

Wisconsin Retirement System

Education discount

Job summary

Sheboygan County Health and Human Services is seeking a Lead Economic Support Specialist to perform advanced eligibility determinations and manage a partial caseload with autonomy. You will advise on policy interpretation, provide system navigation guidance, and support training across programs.

The role emphasizes independent work, cross-county collaboration, and a commitment to quality and compliance in public assistance service delivery. A bilingual option is desirable.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years as an Economic Support Specialist, including one year in WI.
• Knowledge of State and Federal policies for Medical Assistance, FoodShare, and related programs.
• Ability to train others and coordinate cross-program efforts.
• Good written and verbal communication, with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Determine initial and ongoing eligibility for Public Assistance and Workforce Development programs.
• Apply complex policies to dynamic household situations to ensure accurate determinations.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource for policy interpretation and system navigation.
• Participate in lead support functions and assist staff across counties.
• Review casework for accuracy and compliance; provide corrective guidance as needed.
• Develop and deliver training materials and program refreshers.
• Coordinate workload distribution and provide coverage to ensure continuity of services.
• Represent the County in Administrative Law Hearings when required.

Skills

Economic Support

Case management

Policy interpretation

Training delivery

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Here is why working at Sheboygan County is for you:

Sheboygan County - Health & Human Services is a proud 2026 Gold recipient of Mental Health America's Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, awarded for our commitment to employee mental health and well-being. Learn more about the Bell Seal at mhanational.org/bestemployers.

It is our imperative to remain an inclusive workplace. Sheboygan County is committed to attracting, supporting, and retaining a culturally diverse workforce that represents our community. Sheboygan County Health and Human Services also strives to be a trauma informed organization which fully realizes the prevalence of trauma, recognizes the effects of trauma, and responds with trauma informed policies and practices, and we are looking for staff who will help us champion this journey.

Becoming a member of our growing team also means that YOU become our top priority. You will not only enjoy a dynamic work environment but a variety of perks including but not limited to the following:

• Generous benefits package
• Time off: 15 vacation days, sick time and 10 paid holidays
• Other perks: Referral program, Wisconsin Retirement System, education discount and more!

What to Expect:

The Lead Economic Support Specialist performs advanced eligibility determination and case management for Public Assistance and Workforce Development programs, including Medical Assistance/BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare Wisconsin, Wisconsin Shares (Child Care), Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, Children's First, and FoodShare Employment and Training. In addition to maintaining a partial caseload with full autonomy, this position serves as a technical resource for Economic Support Specialists by providing guidance on policy interpretation, complex case resolution, and system navigation. The Lead Economic Support Specialist supports consistent program implementation by assisting with training development and delivery, participating in consortium-wide lead support functions, reviewing casework for accuracy and compliance, and responding to escalated consumer and staff inquiries. This role operates with a high degree of independence and expertise but does not include formal supervisory authority.

Essential Duties:

• Determine initial and ongoing eligibility and provide case management for Public Assistance and Workforce Development programs, including Medical Assistance/BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare Wisconsin, Wisconsin Shares (Child Care), Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, Children's First, and FoodShare Employment and Training, maintaining an assigned caseload with full autonomy.
• Apply complex State and Federal policies and procedures to dynamic household situations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant benefit determinations, including high-risk, escalated, or specialized cases.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource for trained Economic Support Specialists by providing daily guidance on policy interpretation, procedural application, and system navigation, including responding to complex case questions and troubleshooting errors.
• Participate in consortium-wide lead support functions, including scheduled shifts on the ECIMP Lead Line and Change Center queues, assisting staff across multiple counties and handling escalated consumer contacts requiring advanced problem-solving and de-escalation skills.
• Review and evaluate casework completed by Economic Support Specialists to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with State and Federal requirements; provide corrective guidance and feedback as needed.
• Develop, update, and deliver training materials and program refreshers in collaboration with leadership, including onboarding support, cross-program training, and policy implementation guidance.
• Coordinate workload distribution activities, including assigning applications, renewals, and reports; maintain tracking tools; and provide coverage for staff absences to ensure continuity of services.
• Represent the County in Administrative Law Hearings, including preparing case documentation, presenting agency actions, and explaining policy application in formal proceedings.
• Identify, process, and review benefit overpayments; conduct detailed investigations into discrepancies, wage matches, incarceration reports, and eligibility conflicts; and refer appropriate cases for fraud investigation or recovery action.
• Review and process system alerts, data exchanges, worklists, and reports across multiple State systems to ensure timely resolution and compliance with consortium and County standards.
• Perform specialized lead assignments as designated, which may include child care certification coordination, fraud review functions, security officer responsibilities for system access, long-term care support, or inter-program liaison activities.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with internal departments, consortium partners, childcare providers, long-term care facilities, community agencies, and State program staff to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Monitor program performance data, fiscal and utilization reports, and compliance metrics; assist with required State reporting and support continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain current knowledge of State and Federal regulations, system changes, and policy updates; participate in required trainings, consortium meetings, and lead coordination sessions.
• Perform related duties as assigned in support of program integrity, staff development, and effective public assistance service delivery.

Qualifications:

Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Additional coursework in Business, Social Services, Social Sciences or Human Services preferred.

Minimum Experience: Three (3) years of experience as an Economic Support Specialist, one (1) year of which must be in WI. A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Other Requirements:

• Required to complete a State Cohort IM training by DHS and DCF.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Hmong is desirable.
• A Valid Wisconsin Driver's license.

• Knowledge of State and Federal Income Maintenance and Workforce Development policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements applicable to programs such as Medical Assistance/BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare Wisconsin, Wisconsin Shares (Child Care), Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, Children's First, and FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET).
• Advanced skill