Senior Human Services Enforcement Agent
About The Position
This is a full-time position with the Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery, Monday-Friday, located in Sanford, Maine under the supervision of a District Supervisor. This position allows for partial telework with management approval based on operational needs after the first 6 months of initial training. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers. The Office for Family Independence, Division of Support Enforcement & Recovery (DSER) is responsible for the development and implementation of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures necessary to ensure that all non-custodial parents are contributing to the economic support of their children. Responsibilities include establishing paternity, locating non-custodial parents, establishing and enforcing child support orders and representing the Department’s interest in the Maine District Court in matters pertaining to child support. This position requires occasional travel.
Requirements
- At least two (2) years of experience as a Human Services Enforcement Agent
- Demonstrated experience in handling complex child support cases, including but not limited to paternity establishment, court enforcement, and administrative establishment or enforcement activities, with or without attorney oversight.
- Applicants are subject to pre-employment screening including verification of minimum qualifications, application information, employment history, and references.
- Conditional offers are made to selected candidates who must successfully complete a pre-employment, fingerprint-based criminal history record check
Responsibilities
- Leads and initiates court actions related to child support, paternity establishment, and noncompliance without direct attorney oversight, including filing legal documents, preparing motions, and representing the State in District and Family Court.
- Acts as the State’s representative in court, presenting cases related to paternity establishment, child support modification, and non-compliance.
- Prepares evidence, drafts legal documents, and engages in cross-examination in judicial and administrative hearings.
- Provides legal referrals and prepares affidavits for legal proceedings, collaborating with the Office of the Attorney General when necessary.
- Oversee Human Services Enforcement Agents, providing mentorship and training to ensure staff members are proficient in court-related procedures and enforcement policies.
- Identifies and applies legal strategies to pursue asset seizure, enforce child support orders, and ensure that all actions conform to state and federal guidelines.
- Negotiates and establishes child support agreements with responsible parents, avoiding unnecessary court actions, when possible, by settling disputes administratively.
- Interprets complex child support cases and takes appropriate legal actions to establish, modify, or enforce support obligations.
- Evaluates and reviews paternity and child support cases and makes recommendations for administrative or judicial action.
Benefits
- 13 paid holidays
- 12 days of sick leave
- 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
- Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums
- Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%
- Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums
- Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
- Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave.
- Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
