SOMERSET COUNTY
JOB DESCRIPTION
DATED: March 21, 2013
POSITION: Enforcement Officer, Domestic Relations Section (FLSA Status: Non-exempt)
REPORTS TO: Director/Supervisors, Domestic Relations Section
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Enforcement Officer is a Court appointed position. The work involves monitoring and enforcing Support Orders entered by the Court of Common Pleas. The successful Enforcement Officer must be able to interact with people who are often in a highly emotional state and/or hostile. This is professional work which involves complex case management. Responsibility, initiative, and independence are exercised greatly in this area of work. Using the enforcement tools available, the Enforcement Officer works primarily from within an office setting, but may be required to perform field work.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to education and experience that provides the required skill and knowledge is qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university; OR,
Having worked recently a minimum of three (3) years of work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in investigation of collection work involving public contact; OR,
Having worked recently a minimum of five (5) years in a Domestic Relations Section; AND,
Any combination of education and experience.
Act 34 (Criminal History) clearances are required.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Court appointed employees are prohibited from participation in any form of partisan political activity. To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the ability to thoroughly grasp the workings of the Domestic Relations Section (DRS). Due to the nature of the work, the Enforcement Officer must possess the ability to remain calm in stressful situations and still communicate in a professional manner with customers, attorneys, other individuals, and with other agencies. Excellent communication skills, both with a telephone and in face to face situations, are required. The successful candidate must have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. An individual must have knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar; the use of basic mathematics; and, basic computer operations, including Windows applications and the keyboard.
In addition, the Enforcement Officer position requires the ability to: listen and to understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences as well as those presented in writing; communicate information and ideas in speaking, and in writing, so that others will understand it; speak clearly so others can understand; remember information such as words, numbers and procedures; see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer); apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The Enforcement Officer is required to: give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems; be aware of others reactions and understand why they react as they do; and, understand and apply the laws, codes, regulations and procedures pertaining to Support cases and Child Support enforcement activities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
An employee in this classification is responsible for performing assignments that are technical in nature and are carried out in accordance with administrative and personnel practices, procedures and precedents, specific goals and objectives and any applicable legal standards or regulations. Specific job duties include the following:
· Monitor Support Orders for compliance;
· Take appropriate enforcement actions upon individuals not complying with Support Orders. This includes contacting payors, payees, employers, attorneys, other Courts, and other agencies.
· Prepare delinquent cases for Hearings before the Court and appear at those Hearings to present facts and/or testimony;
· Investigate problems that arise during the course of Support cases;
· Navigate the Child Support Computer System as to finding data, inputting data, and generating appropriate forms and documents;
· Maintain confidentiality of information contained within case files in the Domestic Relations Section, both hard copy and electronic;
· Communicate in person, by telephone, or by correspondence with individuals or agencies involved in a case;
· Attend Training Courses which may require travel and/or overnight stays. A two week “New Hire” Training Class is mandatory within six (6) months of hire. The course is normally offered in downtown Pittsburgh; and,
· Perform other duties and tasks as assigned by the Director of the Domestic Relations Section, or the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL STANDARDS:
The work environment and physical demand characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently will be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise). Often, this contact will involve unpleasant, angry or discourteous individuals and result in conflict.
The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods, keyboard, write, talk or hear; stand occasionally; lift up to thirty (30) pounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow others’ instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required by the Director of the Domestic Relations Section or Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
SIGNATURE: ______DATE: ______
SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: ______DATE: ______