Conference Officer II – Court of Common Pleas, Family Division

at  City of Philadelphia

Company Description
A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.
As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

AGENCY DESCRIPTION

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (“FJD”) is the Philadelphia County Court System and is composed of two courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. The mission of the FJD is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia. The FJD is part of the Unified Judicial System reporting into the Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Job Description
This is full performance journey level professional work conducting conferences and writing recommended decisions for paternity determination, new or modified child support orders, the enforcement of support orders and the understanding of domestic violence issues. Provisions are made for legal action in the form of recommended orders and work is processed for action to occur.
In this full performance class, work entails extensive client contact, holding conferences to establish paternity, support orders, modification of support orders and enforcement of support obligations. Duties also include case processing, the entry of orders, and preparation of cases for Arbitrators and Judicial hearings. An understanding of and conformance with established policies and appropriate statutes are essential to this position. In addition, the Conference Officer II will be responsible for conducting the more difficult cases where clients may be represented by counsel, and deal with the more complex inter/intrastate issues as well as the enforcement of orders. Proficiency using the PACSES system and other related computer systems is essential.
The employee is expected to work under general direction utilizing advanced or specialized skills gained through work experience and/or additional training.
In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Considerable knowledge of interviewing techniques use in resolving paternity situations and/or required for case processing.
• Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local rules, regulations, policies and objectives regarding custody, support or enforcement cases.
• Ability to effectively communicate the English language both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, public agencies, fellow workers and the general public.
• Skill in basic arithmetic calculations with ability to calculate fractions and decimals.
• Ability to review pay records, tax returns, and various expense statements and to translate weekly and monthly income and expenses into workable schedules.

THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND ENCOURAGES BOTH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES AND INCUMBENTS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS WITH THE EMPLOYER.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with three to five years experience as a Conference Officer I.
• Equivalent combinations of training and experience providing the characteristics required to perform the essential functions of the class may substitute.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of a position in this class.
• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
• Covid-19 Vaccination is recommended.
• Full-time on-site position.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.
Additional Information
In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.
Salary Range: $60,808 - $67,113 (P21)

THE FOLLOWING DUTIES ARE NORMAL FOR THIS POSITION. THESE ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS EXCLUSIVE OR ALL INCLUSIVE. OTHER DUTIES MAY BE REQUIRED AND/OR ASSIGNED.

• Meets with supervisory personnel and/or unit personnel to interpret new procedures and policies mandated by federal, state, local and court policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Confers with administrative superiors concerning unit activities, recommended operational changes, need for statute and procedural clarifications and similar matters.
• Arbitrates referred, scheduled and unscheduled conferences with clientele, attorneys and/or interested parties for the purpose of hearing cases to establish support orders and/or their enforcement and modification.
• Contacts clients to obtain information; investigates the facts to elicit agreements.
• Interviews putative fathers to determine if acknowledgment of paternity will be made or processes a denial of paternity.
• Generates appropriate forms as needed for case processing.
• Issues or reissues bench warrants.
• Processes cases in the statewide child support computer system PACSES.
• Prepares and compiles statistical data on a daily basis for the purpose of statistical reports.
• Reviews accounts to determine if case is eligible for the tax refund offset program, credit bureau program and/or other automated enforcement remedies.
• Prepares administrative orders and obtains agreements.
• Modifies orders and drafts and submits court documents for judicial approval.
• Receives, reviews and processes complaints for contempt petitions, support petitions, petitions to modify, stipulations and registration of interstate orders for modification and/or enforcement.
• Conducts hearings for administrative review for tax interception.
• Prepares notepad entries.
• Participates in training and mentoring programs.
• Composes letters as appropriate.
• Escorts clients to other units.
• Reviews cases referred from other units requiring enforcement action or establishment of support orders.
• Prepares cases for higher level review.
• Calculates order amounts by the application of support guidelines pertaining to income and expenses.
• Reviews accounts to determine eligibility for deletion of IRS interception, Driver License Suspension, asset seizure, and other enforcement remedies.
• Receives walk‑in clientele and answers questions of relevance by telephone.
• Processes mail from clientele and interested parties such as support agencies and attorneys; answers mail that requires delinquency notices or enforcement actions.
• Resolves mail and telephone call disputes associated with wage attachments and/or case processing.
• Studies work activities, policies and appropriate statutes.
• Receives support cases involving enforcement of court orders, modification of orders, inter/intrastate cases and wage attachments; handles paternity and nonpaternity TANF and non-TANF cases (welfare).
• Gathers financial information from clients as well as other agencies such as state tribunals.
• Attempts to obtain agreement between involved parties.
• Schedules enforcement conferences, employment reviews and reschedules cases.
• Refers cases to the Support Hearing Officer if no agreement is reached.
• Attaches wages and ensures that employer is notified and that appropriate procedures as to employer and collections are maintained.
• Schedules genetic testing to establish paternity and follows up accordingly.