Employment Security Program Coordinator 2: Collector/Telework

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

9d•Remote

About The Position

This position has the opportunity to Telework. The ideal candidate for the Employment Security Program Coordinator 2 – Collector role is a confident, solutions-oriented professional who excels at making sound financial decisions that directly support the integrity of Washington’s benefit funds. They will demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment, while maintaining a strong commitment to continuous learning and remaining calm under pressure. The candidate should be highly self-motivated, detail-oriented, and an excellent communicator, capable of conveying complex information clearly and effectively. They should display compassionate professionalism, understanding that behind every debt is a person or business navigating life’s complexities. Flexibility in assuming a variety of responsibilities as organizational needs arise and workloads change is essential. As an ES Program Coordinator-2, Collector within the Employment Security Department Collections Unit, you will perform journey-level debt collection duties in the recovery of benefit program overpayments owed by individuals, and delinquent taxes or other balances owed by employers. This candidate thrives in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment where communication and resilience are essential. They are skilled at navigating difficult conversations, including interactions with frustrated or hostile customers, and they maintain professionalism while gathering financial information, explaining program requirements, and guiding individuals toward repayment solutions. They are adept at interpreting laws and policies, responding to inquiries from a wide range of stakeholders, and using tools such as skip tracing, legal documentation, and multiple systems to locate assets and recover debt. They are also adaptable, thorough, and committed to continuous improvement. They manage a diverse workload, conduct research on bankruptcy and account status, and coordinate with internal partners to ensure appropriate actions are taken on each case. They demonstrate strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and public-facing communication skills, along with the ability to link daily work to the agency’s mission of supporting economic security. Their blend of financial recovery expertise, customer service strength, and operational versatility makes them a valuable contributor to the Financial Recovery Unit.

Requirements

7 years of professional or technical experience in employment and training or unemployment insurance programs OR 1 year of experience as an Employment Security Program Coordinator 1 OR 1 year of experience as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent
An associate's degree in public or business administration, political science, or closely related field AND 5 years of professional or technical experience in employment and training or unemployment insurance programs
A bachelor's degree in public or business administration, political science, or closely related field AND 3 years of professional or technical experience in employment and training or unemployment insurance programs
The ability to take action to learn and grow
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others
Presentation & Public Relations Skills: Ability to communicate program details effectively to diverse audiences.
Financial Recovery & Trust Fund Management: Skills in recovering funds and ensuring fiscal integrity
Adaptability & Flexibility: Readiness to handle diverse tasks and emerging responsibilities
Critical Thinking & Analysis: Ability to assess proposals and evaluate program operations
Decision-Making: Proficiency in recommending alternative courses of action.
Flexibility & Adaptability: Ability to perform diverse tasks at various levels
Knowledge of Lower-Level Functions: Comprehensive expertise to support operations
Versatility: Ability to take on additional tasks effectively
Problem-Solving: Skills to address unexpected challenges
Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated understanding and application of debt collection concepts, theories, and practices to include but not limited to: Skip tracing to locate people and assets, negotiating and settling debts due
Investigating ability to pay
Using motivational techniques to obtain payment
Balancing a large workload of assigned accounts

Responsibilities

Locate claimants, employers, and/or their assets to recover debt due, using skip tracing.
Interview claimants and employers to gather financial information and personal facts.
Decide whether the debt is collectable or not and what actions to take based on gathered information.
Respond to inquiries from clients, employers, attorneys, escrow companies, bankruptcy trustees, Superior Court personnel, etc.
Research and review accounts for continued collection actions.
Investigate and respond to debt collection inquiries.
Issue Bankruptcy Stipulation Requests to the Attorney General’s Office to contest the discharge of debt.
Execute legal documents to enforce recovery by garnishing wages, levying bank accounts, and conducting other collection actions as authorized by law.
Work with customers to determine their ability to pay, negotiate payment terms, and establish and maintain partial payment agreements.