Client Relations Specialist

Client Relations Specialist

Salary

$65,638.00 - $102,560.00 Annually

Location

West St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

33065.26.001

Department

FINANCIAL WORKER UNIT V - 2100205

Opening Date

10/15/2026

Closing Date

10/29/2026 4:30 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive

DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance

HOURS: Full Time

PREFERRED SALARY RANGE: $65,638 - $82,048

FULL SALARY RANGE: $65,638 - $102,560/year (Grade 107)

LOCATION: Northern Service Center

UNION: AFSCME

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on 10/29/2026

Who We Are

Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

What You Will Do

Client Relations Specialists evaluate Dakota County residents basic needs, health and well-being are met by assessing their social, economic, and health related issues. They promote self-sufficiency and identify appropriate services for clients by helping clients navigate multiple County, State and Local systems and processes to obtain needed services. Client Relations Specialists facilitate effective interdepartmental programs, processes, and communications and navigate systems to minimize barriers to program eligibility for clients working with multiple departments. The Client Relations Specialist serves as a liaison across departments, with providers and contracted agencies for people, systems, and processes and navigate multiple systems with clients to ensure eligibility requirements are met appropriately and in a timely fashion.

• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy and Procedures this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree AND 2 years of qualifying experience

OR

Associates degree AND 4 years of qualifying experience

OR

High school diploma or GED AND 6 years of qualifying experience

AND

A valid drivers license is required.

What counts as qualifying experience?

Work as a financial worker

OR

A mix of financial worker experience and experience in public sector, human services, education/training, or the financial industry.

AND

One year of the qualifying experience must have occurred in Minnesota within the past two years.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge and experience using MAXIS and MEC2

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the positions management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Interview over the telephone, virtually and/or in-person Dakota County residents to assess their needs, gather information, and determine which available resources can meet those needs.
• Determine/redetermine client level of service needs and potential eligibility for programs and community resources.
• Assist clients with applying and maintaining benefits, provide education and support to clients regarding program services and benefits.
• Determine which barriers exist and examine ways to mitigate the impact and provide best available services.
• Coordinate services by collaborating with other team members, interdepartmental staff and external service providers.
• Provide client advocacy services within Dakota County and external agencies.
• Represent the agency in internal and external workgroups and advisory committees, document and prepare presentations.
• Demonstrates a commitment to support cultural diversity County wide and actively supports the Countys diversity initiatives and works to address the needs of diverse and underserved communities.
• Provide training on programs, work methods, and procedures to other staff.
• Assists management in the evaluation of effectiveness of interdepartmental programs and processes; makes recommendations to develop or revise procedures for the consideration of management.
• May transport clients to appointments.
• Accompany clients to treatment or required meetings and maintain associated records.
• Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1-12

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment

• Knowledge of and an ability to demonstrate understanding and respect for the diversity of clients, staff, and co-workers.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Working knowledge of computer software and information systems.
• Extensive knowledge of economic assistance, social service and public health and welfare programs and resources.
• Knowledge of or the desire to learn about mental and physical illness, developmental disabilities, adult, and child protection criteria.
• Strong customer service skills to ensure effective interactions with both internal and external customers.
• Strong analytical and emotional intelligence skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally, virtually, and in writing.
• Ability to assess a persons social, economic, emotional, and health needs.
• Ability to assess complex life situations and make related decisions and recommendations to resolve problems.
• Considerable ability to work effectively with the public, multiple departments and County associates in a professional manner.
• Ability to create a respectful workplace that promotes equity and addresses the needs of diverse and underserved communities.
• Ability to work under stress and use discretion in making decisions.
• Ability to organize work efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to prioritize work within the agency according to client and agency needs.
• Ability to conduct research, analyze, and coordinate work.

Work Environment

Work is primarily sedentary; it is usually accomplished while incumbent is comfortably seated at a desk or table. There is some walking and travel to sites in the community and clients homes for meetings and conferences away from the regular place of work. Items carried typically include light objects such as briefcases, laptops, notebooks, work papers, and reports. Lifting of moderately heavy objects generally is not required.

Location & Schedule

Staff in this classification will start by working full-time in the office for training purposes. Once there is demonstrated knowledge, skills, and ability to complete assigned work, it may lead to a hybrid schedule. In-person work is at our Northern Service Center in West St. Paul, MN and telework needs to be completed in a designated off-site location. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
• We extend an offer and conduct background check

Visit our Benefits site for more information.

01

• Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions. Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.

02

Please select the highest level of education COMPLETED/Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment.)

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalent
• Professional/Technical Certificate equivalent to 1 year of full-time post-secondary education
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or above

03

Identify your years of full-time work experience as a financial worker in the human services field determining economic assistance/income maintenance programs.

• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 years
• 6+ years
• No experience

04

Did at least one year of experience working as a Financial Worker occur in Minnesota within the past two years?

• Yes
• No

05

Identify your years of full-time work experience in public sector, human services, education/training, or financial industry.

• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5+ years
• No experience

06

Do you have work experience working in large databases and/or filing and retrieving documents from an electronic document management system?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have work experience managing (monitoring and updating) a caseload of any type utilizing a computerized system?

• Yes
• No

08

Are you proficient in another language in addition to English?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience working or volunteering with underrepresented communities (people of color, lower social-economic levels, etc.)?

• Yes
• No

11

The full salary range for this position is $65,638 - $102,560 and preferred hiring range is $65,638 - $82,048 annually. The amount that is offered is dependent on the candidates' overall skills, education, experience and internal equity. The offer would also include the Countys benefits package.

Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary youd accept if selected for the position?

12

Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.

• Facebook
• Friend, Family or Colleague
• Indeed
• Job Fair or Dakota County Event
• Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
• League of Minnesota Cities
• LinkedIn
• Diversityjobs.com
• Minnesotaworks.net
• Minnesota Association of Counties
• Monster
• Professional Association Website
• Referred by a Dakota County Employee
• College Website, Instructor, Career Services
• Dakota County Website
• Other

13

If you selected "other" above, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.

Required Question

Employer Dakota County

Address Administration Center

1590 Highway 55

Hastings, Minnesota, 55033-2372

Phone 651.438.4435

Website http://dakotacountymn.gov