DSHS ESA Enforcement Officer In-Training

DSHS ESA - Support Enforcement Officer 1-2 In-Training

The Division of Child Support (DCS) within the Economic Services Administration (ESA) is hiring Support Enforcement Officers to join our team in Kennewick, WA. These opportunities begin at the Support Enforcement Officer 1 level and offer advancement to the Support Enforcement Officer 2 level upon successful completion of the agency’s training plan.

These positions play a vital role in promoting family self-sufficiency by establishing, modifying, and enforcing financial and medical child support obligations. As a Support Enforcement Officer, you’ll represent the Department in making critical case decisions, including initiating and signing legal actions, calculating debt, and managing complex enforcement activities. Your work directly supports children and families by ensuring consistent financial support and access to essential services.

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.

• Work over the phone with parents, attorneys, and advocates to establish child support obligations and apply sanctions if there’s no compliance with the terms of those obligations
• Establish administrative child support orders by researching and locating income information, calculating complex financial and medical obligations, calculating arrears balances, preparing and serving legal notices, and negotiating settlements
• Analyze, interpret and apply state, federal and international laws pertaining to the legal determination of paternity, and to the establishment and enforcement of financial and medical child support
• Negotiate debt repayment terms by analyzing asset and financial information such as pay stubs, tax returns, business earnings, and proof of expenses
• Review and interpret court and administrative child support orders to determine when obligations may be suspended or terminated, the support amount, and the frequency at which support is charged
• Utilize signature authority to initiate and sign legal notices, including correspondence with clients, courts, and other Washington state agencies
• Locate individuals and assets utilizing state interfaces such as Employment Security, Department of Revenue, Department of Licensing, Labor and Industries, Federal Parent Locate Service, and the Social Security Administration
• Maintain a caseload of child support cases utilizing the Support Enforcement Management System

• Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills to handle sensitive client interactions and reach effective agreements
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, and legal documents with accuracy
• Excellent communication skills to clearly explain complex information to diverse audiences
• Proven analytical and math skills to calculate support obligations and assess case details
• Effective case management abilities to prioritize and maintain a large, varied caseload

• Two years of college-level coursework
• AND
• Two years of experience in child support enforcement and/or debt collection-related functions
• OR
• Two years of experience as a Child Support Enforcement Technician

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute year for year.

• Support Enforcement Officer 1 ($4,428 Step A - $5,956 Step M)
• Support Enforcement Officer 2 ($4,771 Step A - $6,414 Step M)

Along with your application, please include:

• An updated resume
• A cover letter
• Three professional references with contact information

Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Saleen Hernandez nandez.gov and reference job number #01142.

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