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. Positions begin at the Support Enforcement Officer 1 level with the opportunity to advance to Level 2 upon successful completion of the agency’s training plan.

• Conduct phone interviews with parents, attorneys, and advocates to establish child support obligations and apply sanctions when enforcement is required.
• Prepare and serve legal notices, negotiate settlements, and establish administrative child support orders by researching income and calculating financial/medical obligations.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply state, federal, and international laws related to paternity determination and enforcement of child support.
• Negotiate debt repayment terms by reviewing financial documents such as pay stubs, tax returns, and business earnings.
• Review court and administrative orders to determine suspension, termination, support amount, and payment frequency.
• Utilize signature authority to initiate and sign legal notices and correspond with clients, courts, and state agencies.
• Locate individuals and assets using state interfaces (Employment Security, Department of Revenue, Department of Licensing, Labor and Industries, Federal Parent Locate Service, Social Security Administration).
• Maintain a caseload of child‑support cases using the Support Enforcement Management System.

• Strong conflict‑resolution and negotiation skills for handling sensitive client interactions.
• Capacity to interpret and apply laws, policies, and legal documents accurately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven analytical and mathematical ability for calculating support obligations.
• Effective case‑management skills to prioritize and sustain a large, varied caseload.

• Two years of college‑level coursework and
  • two years of experience in child‑support enforcement and/or debt‑collection functions
• OR
  • two years of experience as a Child Support Enforcement Technician
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute one year for one year.

• Support Enforcement Officer 1 – $4,428 Step A to $5,956 Step M
• Support Enforcement Officer 2 – $4,771 Step A to $6,414 Step M

• Updated résumé
• Cover letter
• Three professional references with contact information

Contact Salesen Hernandez, DSHS Recruiter, nandez.gov (reference job number #01142).

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, veteran status, sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Persons requiring accommodation in the application process may contact the recruiter at (360) 725‑5810. E‑Verify® is available for applicable positions.

Washington State provides a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, basic and long‑term disability insurance, retirement plans through the Washington Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), a Deferred Compensation Program, and paid leave (holidays, sick leave, vacation). Detailed benefits information is available to prospective employees upon request.