Child Support Officer

Salary : Depends on Qualifications

Location : 500 Fir Avenue West Fergus Falls, MN

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 43 : 01 / 25

Department : Human Services

Opening Date : 01 / 17 / 2025

Closing Date : 1 / 31 / 2025 4 : 30 PM Central

Description

Otter Tail County is seeking a full-time Child Support Officer.

The Child Support Officer performs child support functions related to magistrate and district court hearings, court referrals and judgment actions, establishes and enforces child support orders for public assistance and non-public assistance clients; determines location of absent parents; interviews parents / adults to establish paternity, explains rights and obligations and negotiates settlements; works closely with the county attorney, judges, court administrators, local attorneys, income maintenance and social service staff, employers, and a variety of other resource personnel; testifies in court proceedings; and maintains all necessary and legal documentation.

Examples of Duties

• Initiate action to establish court orders for child support, medical support and child care costs.
• Interpret court orders for enforcement and educate the public about the support program.
• Gather information, analyze finances, calculate and recommend amount of child support, medical support, child care costs to parents, attorneys and the court for paternity, contempt and expedited cases, and foster care cases.
• Determines appropriate legal action by considering location of parties involved, where original order was entered, availability of enforceable court order, and whether paternity has been established.
• Prepare default orders for review and signatures by Magistrate, data enter order in system.
• Assist in out of court child support related settlements for approval by parties and their attorney; prepare Agreement and Order to obtain signatures of both parties and attorneys for approval by the court.
• Refer appropriate cases to the County Attorney with recommendation for legal action on paternity and contempt cases.
• Present cases before the Magistrate, ensuring that the case file reflects facts and all relevant information.
• Review and modify child support orders that meet criteria for modification through expedited process.
• Monitor cases and contacts absent parents, employers, etc. to resolve delinquent payments expeditiously and determine further legal action.
• Maintain cases using computer systems including Prism, MMIS, Maxis, Microsoft Word and electronic mail.
• Administrative Tasks

Attend staff and supervisor / supervision meetings as scheduled

Minimum Qualifications

Two years of experience working in child support programs and having responsibility for carrying out part of child support collections (i.e. as a Support Enforcement Aide, Collections Officer) or experience in a government agency with responsibility for collection of fees.

Supplemental Information

This position is regularly scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8 : 00-4 : 30 p.m. The 2025 starting salary for this position is $22.94 depending on qualifications, with career advancement to $36.85.

The selection process will include an online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Semi-finalists will be invited to interview. Prior to hire, finalists will be required to pass a background investigation. A standard 12 month probationary period applies.

How to Apply To apply for this position, click on desired job title, then the "Apply" link. On-line applications are stored on a secure site. Only you and authorized employees of Otter Tail County have access to the information submitted.

When filling out any employment application materials for Otter Tail County, you must include your entire employment and education history. Failure to do so may render your application incomplete.

Veterans Preference

Eligible veterans as defined by Minnesota Statute 197.447 may claim Veterans Preference during the hiring process. A DD214 and required supporting documentation must be included with the employment application to receive preference.

Background Investigation All employment offers are contingent upon the applicant passing a background investigation which may include, but are not limited to, gathering information from the following sources : Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, other law enforcement agencies, court documents, educational institutions, previous employers, Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services, military records, Immigration and Naturalization Services, and known associates of the applicant.

Criminal convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. Making false statements or withholding information during the hiring process will cause you to be barred from employment or removed from employment.

Otter Tail County is a tobacco-free workplace.

Otter Tail County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation or age.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Otter Tail County provides an attractive benefit package for regular full-time employees, including health, dental, life, long-term disability, and retirement benefits through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Regular full-time employees can expect to accrue holiday, sick, and vacation leave benefits. In addition, employees receive professional development opportunities.

The following questionnaire will be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Be sure that your responses are thorough and correspond to the information you have provided in your application.

Based on your understanding of the position description and child support services, describe the professional strengths you bring to this position.

Child Support Officers are required to meet strict deadlines. Provide a work-related example of how you prioritize work, manage time, organizational tools you use, and / or resources you utilize to adhere to deadlines and manage pressure.

There are times when custodial or non-custodial parents may feel frustrated, feel disrespected, have concerns about how their case is being handled and be very upset. How would you respond to / manage this type of situation?

What draws you to apply for the child support officer position and why are you the best candidate for this position?

Are you bilingual? If you are bilingual, indicate the language(s) you speak and your skill level. Also tell us whether you can speak fluently, read / or write the language(s).

Have you included your entire work history on this employment application? Do not mark your application "see resume". Not including your entire work history will render your application incomplete.

How did you hear about this job opportunity? Check all that apply.

Required Question

Salary : $23