Job Posting End Date:
03-31-2026Worker Sub-Type:
RegularScheduled Weekly Hours:
40Position Summary:
The Marathon County Department of Social Services is recruiting a full-time Child Support Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate is dedicated to helping others and making an impact in a positive and evolving child support system. Our philosophy is to engage with those we serve and support them in meeting their goals. This includes specialized case management and financial management tasks to ensure the establishment and enforcement of court-ordered child support obligations. Work involves evaluating referrals for qualifying services, interpretation, and application of court orders, and making recommendations to the courts. Work extends to drafting legal documents, monitoring ongoing cases for compliance, conducting research, interviews and performing and explaining mathematical calculations. Work also involves serving vulnerable populations and connecting them to support services through the ELEVATE Program.
As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality. As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality.
Examples of Work Performed:
The following duties are typical of this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.
Determines parents’ ability to support their children through collection of data on income, assets, liabilities, employment, barriers, educational levels, etc. and through interviews with relatives, employers, attorneys, and other appropriate parties.
Manages ongoing assigned cases to meet the identified needs of families.
Identifies and resolves barriers to compliance.
Utilizes a wide variety of state computer systems and external tools to locate customers and information for case establishment and management.
Interprets court orders and drafts legal documents.
Performs extensive interviewing of customers, relatives, attorneys, and other entities necessary to effectively perform work functions.
Answers inquiries from families, attorneys, partnering agencies and the public regarding court orders, questions, complaints, resource information, etc.
Calculates support and arrears and determines financial adjustment if applicable. Performs reconciliations of financial records.
Identifies and addresses delinquent payment situations.
Negotiates and mediates settlement agreements between parties and drafts the applicable legal documentation.
Prepares cases for litigation and makes recommendations as to the issues to be addressed in court.
Appears as a witness in court testifying to case establishment and/or management actions taken.
Refers customers to appropriate services within the community.
Participates in establishing professional development goals that are aligned with the County vision and mission.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance and performs related work as required.
Qualifications:
Four-year degree with an emphasis in paralegal studies, legal secretarial science, criminal justice, or closely related field.
May substitute required education degree with a minimum of three years of work experience in the child support system or related field and an associate degree in criminal justice, social services, human services or similar fields of study or a minimum of five years of related work experience without a degree.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprinting and criminal background checks are required prior to successful employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Demonstrate the ability to actively listen and offer effective solutions to challenges.
Build and maintain strong connections with families, partnering agencies and other entities to achieve strong outcomes.
Ability to exercise compassion and sympathy to individuals may be paying or receiving child support.
Knowledge of child support programs and related rules, regulations and laws, and the ability to use this knowledge effectively when completing work assignments.
Considerable skill knowledge of investigative techniques and procedures used in securing information from legal and financial records, agencies, employers, and other public and private sector entities.
Considerable skill in conducting interviews and achieving cooperation from others in difficult situations.
Considerable skill in arithmetic or accounting.
Considerable skill in analyzing information and exercising sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
Must have the ability to work accurately with a strong attention to detail.
Must have the ability to perform detailed work independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
Must have considerable skill in operating a computer and utilizing extensive software applications inclusive of Microsoft Office Applications.
Must have considerable skill and accuracy in typing.
Must have the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and accurately document findings, communications and actions taken.
Must maintain strict confidentiality of information and resources.
Ability to work and thrive in a stressful and adversarial environment.
Compensation:
Starting hourly rate of pay: $24.13 + Marathon County benefits
Physical Requirements:
Low Physical Requirements - Job involves minimal physical exertion or movement. This job typically requires prolonged sitting, limited walking, or minor lifting. Job tasks may require working with a computer or in an office setting with occasional movement
All physical requirements are described with the intent to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.
Selection Procedure:
The selection of the successful candidate may be made by assessment of education and work experience, oral interview, review of references, and/or other job-related selection procedures. Depending on position requirements, the selected candidate may be required to satisfactorily complete post-offer assessments, including but not limited to education verification, background checks, driver license verification, physical examination, psychological assessment, and drug screening paid for by the County.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Marathon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status.
Special Accommodations:
Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.
Notice to Applicants:
Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information. If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law