Mediator/Investigator I/II - Metro, Family Court Services - 039

Superior Court of California, County of Kern • Bakersfield, CA

9d

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Mediator/Investigator conducts confidential mediation in family and dependency law, custody evaluations in family law cases, and investigations involving abandonment, stepparent adoptions, guardianship, and conservatorship. This is the entry and journey level of the Mediator/Investigator series, encompassing mediator and investigator roles primarily in family law and probate. Incumbents may conduct investigations to support mediation of disputes. The role differs from the Senior Mediator/Counselor classification, which may include mentoring, training, work assignment, and direction of Mediator/Investigators, and mediation of the most complex cases.

The position requires a relevant master's degree and California licensure or eligibility for licensure, depending on level, as well as qualifying paid counseling experience. The work involves court-related mediation and investigations, preparing reports and recommendations, maintaining case records, and complying with Family Court Services administrative requirements. A valid California Class C driver's license is required at appointment, and incumbents must be able to travel throughout Kern County. The position is regular and full-time. The recruitment closes at 5:00 PM on November 6, 2026. Level I pays $39.62–$48.37 per hour; Level II pays $43.78–$53.45 per hour.

Requirements

• At Level I: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, marriage, family and child counseling, or a related field.
• At Level I: Eligibility for licensure and registration in California as a Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist.
• At Level I: Two years of full-time paid experience providing individual, conjoint, and family counseling.
• At Level II: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, marriage, family and child counseling, or a related field.
• At Level II: California licensure as a Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist.
• At Level II: Four years of full-time paid experience providing individual, conjoint, and family counseling, including two years equivalent to Mediator/Investigator I.
• Knowledge of the California court system and procedures used in family law cases; community resources for client referrals; adult psychopathology and family dynamics; child development, child abuse, clinical issues relating to children, effects of divorce and domestic violence on children; and child custody research relevant to assessing children's mental health needs.
• Ability to evaluate written documents; interview witnesses and parties and obtain other information to determine whether legal requirements to sustain petitions have been met; understand legal codes and rules relevant to Family Court Services; draft court reports and recommendations; and testify in court.
• Skills in time management, organization, personal computer and word-processing software operation, and oral and written communication.
• Valid California Class C driver's license at the time of appointment.
• Ability to travel throughout Kern County.
• Ability to perform sedentary work, with or without accommodations, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects, including the human body.
• Ability to perform frequent or prolonged sitting, standing, typing, walking, reaching, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions, and to meet close-visual-acuity demands for preparing and analyzing data and figures.

Responsibilities

• Conduct confidential mediation sessions in family law cases to help resolve child custody and visitation disputes, or in juvenile dependency cases.
• Assist parents in developing parenting plans.
• Conduct investigations in family law and probate matters.
• Interview family members and children involved in investigations to develop recommendations for the court.
• Consult medical providers, schools, Child Protective Services, mental health services, law enforcement, and others who may provide information relevant to investigations.
• Participate in training as outlined in the California Rules of Court.
• Maintain case records, write reports and mediation agreements, and meet Family Court Services administrative requirements.
• Perform other job-related duties as required.
• Travel throughout Kern County.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level