This is the supervisory or expert level of the series. Positions supervise Claims Officers, or function as a designated expert in a specialty area, or serve as a litigation coordinator, or chair a Board or Review Committee to resolve litigation issues.

Trains and supervises lower level Claims Officers and may also supervise other division personnel in the Office of Financial Recovery (OFR) or Office of Support Enforcement (OSE) in representation of the department's interest at adjudicative proceedings or other administrative remedies regarding support enforcement matters or collection of debts due to the state;  

Facilitates, negotiates, and drafts specialized agreements with each Indian Tribe; assists the Tribes' and AG's staff to draft necessary legal forms and, where necessary, tribal code provisions; develops statewide policy and training programs to further public awareness of Indian Tribe and OSE;  

Assists the Non-Wage Program supervisor in developing new administrative and judicial collection remedies including, but not limited to, legal research, draft legal forms to implement new techniques, and drafts procedures and forms manuals when necessary;  

Advises and recommends to support enforcement officers, financial recovery officers, and other personnel proper procedures according to federal and state statutory, administrative, and judicial laws regarding the administration of the support enforcement program or debts due the state in connection with public assistance;  

Represents the department's interest in adjudicative proceedings regarding all matters relating to support enforcement services or other debts due the state;  

Acts as public disclosure coordinator when assigned;  

Analyzes and comments on proposed statutes, administrative codes, and department policies when requested; proposes needed changes in current laws, regulations, or policies;  

Cooperates and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General in matters regarding statutory representation of the department;  

Provides training to OFR and OSE field office staff regarding new laws and procedures and in difficult areas of support enforcement or collection of debts due the state;  

Provides legal advice to district administrators, support enforcement program administrators, and other members of the department;  

Serves as expert legal advisor to the department's management;  

Writes proposed policies, statutes and regulations, or necessary changes for the department;

Coordinates litigation for the department;  

Serves as chair of Conference Board or Administrative Review Board to inquire into facts, research law, and make written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decisions in order to resolve the grievances resulting from OSE actions; 

May supervise lower level staff.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

There are legal requirements to have current admission to practice law in the state of Washington.

Current admission to practice law in the state of Washington and four years of experience as a Hearings Examiner, Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Prosecutor, Judge, or other relevant experience in support enforcement, domestic relations, debt recovery, or other related program.

New class effective June 1, 2005; Claims Officer 4 - DSHS (replaces 46762 Claims Officer 4, DSHS).