Senior Human Services Enforcement Agent

Location: Caribou,Maine,United States

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: March 5, 2025

Closing Date: March 21, 2025

Job Class Code: 5010

Grade: 23

Salary: $23.69– $33.24 per hour

Position Number: 02000-1392; 02000-2668; 02000-2663

Location: DHHS 30 Skyway Dr, Caribou, Maine 

Only Employees With Promotional Status In the Department of Health and Human Services May Apply

This is a full-time position with the Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery, Monday-Friday, located in Caribou, Maine under the supervision of a District Supervisor.  Partial telework schedule with management approval after completing the 6-month promotional probation, based on the operational needs of the Division.    

Core Responsibilities:

Senior Human Services Enforcement Agents perform investigative services work involving advanced, specialized legal and enforcement work related to child support and paternity establishment. The employee is responsible for handling complex cases involving child support enforcement, legal referrals, and court representation without requiring attorney support. The role also includes providing mentorship and training to Human Services Enforcement Agents and developing legal strategies to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines. Work is performed under limited supervision and involves high-level decision-making in court and administrative settings. Typical duties include:
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.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, you must have at least two (2) years of experience as a Human Services Enforcement Agent and 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.

Note: Applicants are subject to pre-employment screening including verification of minimum qualifications, application information, employment history, and references. Selected candidates
must have a successfully completed fingerprint-based criminal history record check on file and conducted every 5 years to ensure continued suitability for this position.

Thinking about applying?

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Agency information: 

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 & Recove