Office Specialist II - Yakima, United States - Yakima County, WA

Description

Note:
Current Employees must use the Workday Dashboard career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity
• Common Sense
• Innovation
• Accountability

Position Data:
Office Specialist II-J23-U34-H

Regular

Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)


Overview:

Pay Range:
$ $27.80 per hour (Teamsters - Clerk Clerical Pay Plan, B22 Step 1-13)

Hiring Range:
$ $23.26 per hour (Teamsters - Clerk Clerical Pay Plan, B22 Step 1-4)

Job Closing Date:
May 14 ,2024

There is one Office Specialist II opening with the Yakima County Clerk's Office.

This position works not only with the public, but also with attorneys, and other County Departments pertaining to court documents, as well as FTR recordings and other digitally maintained files.

Prior knowledge of RCW's and court work flow is required.

Performs specialized legal support services for Yakima County Superior and Juvenile Court in activities such as pre-trial court preparation, maintaining records of Court proceedings; preparing courtroom; inventory and custody of physical evidence; summarizing and recording court rulings; assisting assigned Judge in court; facilitating jury selection, and preparing court calendars.

This position requires a typing test with a minimum of 35 WPM, If you meet the minimum qualifications, a testing link will be sent to you via email.

You must complete the testing within 48 hours of the closing date to be considered further.


Benefits included in position:

• Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave

Note:
This is a Teamsters-Clerk Clerical Contract Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position.

(This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)


Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:
Receives, audits and verifies the accuracy of court documents in all accepted formats. Prepares data and records as required or requested for daily court operations, agencies and case litigants.

Is solely responsible to follow the rules / guidelines set by the County Clerk as well as State and Federal laws.

Prepares and maintains daily records for all court proceedings, preparing court orders and other documents for entry into court files and statewide database.

Acts as CR80 court reporter, maintaining the Court's audio record in lieu of a Court Reporter.

Acts as Bailiff, preparing court for proceedings, inventorying supplies, opening and closing court, seeing to the comfort and safety of jurors, court personnel and the public while in court.

Coordinates activities with the Judge.

Conducts research and analysis as a legal assistant to the Court including researching case files and providing background information to Clerk, Judge or manager when requested.

Summarizes and records Court's written opinions hearing and trial minutes, Court rulings and jury verdicts for entry into court files and computer system.

Prepares correspondence.

Facilitates jury selection; prepares and maintains appropriate record; administers oaths, announces jury verdicts; polls jury, records length of proceedings, updates jury time logs, witness records, seating charts etc.

Creates court calendars through proper extraction of dates from legal documents and correct application of identifying appropriate calendar codes. Assists the assigned Judge by maintaining court files, serving as liaison between the Judge and other departments and attorneys.

Organizes office/desk work to blend with Court functions and time; coordinates with other clerks to balance work load; maintains and releases exhibits admitted at trial/hearings including drugs, weapons, and money and also bio hazardous materials according to statute.

Enters information into a computerized database, and prints reports for County Clerk, Courts and other county departments as required. Provides input for assessment or reassessment as issues related to compliance are identified.

Provides clerical assistance as needed, including preparation and maintenance of files, personal sensitive data, outdated records and State archival standards.

Other duties required.


Education and Experience:

High School Diploma or GED AND four (4) years general office experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation and general employment verification
• Valid WA State Driver's License and proof of insurance, if requested.
• Successful completion of keyboarding test of 35 WPM

Preferred:

• Experience related to the law and justice field, such as legal secretary, paralegal or civil or criminal justice work is preferred.
• AA is preferred and may substitute for experience.
• Computer data entry experience preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
• Criminal Justice/Legal Assistant
• 3 years related experience in legal or court related setting.

Equipment Used:

Desktop computer, imaging system, telephone, copy machine, fax machine, electric hole-punch, stapler, calculator and court recording systems (JAVS, FTR Gold), scanner, passenger vehicle.

Working Conditions:

This position is rated as Sedentary Work, Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment:

travel, multiple work locations, and May be exposed to hostile / angry individuals; work outside of standard business hours and locations.

Physical Demands:

bending, carrying, handling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, balancing, climbing, crouching, kneeling, hearing, talking, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands:

Ability to multitask, Confidentiality, Ability to work under pressure, Ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, and Ability to follow written and verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

• Practices and principles of project management.
• Knowledge of the legal system including legal terminology, court rules, procedures, and protocol.
• Basic keyboarding and computer data entry.
• Roles and responsibilities of departments and professional members in the legal system.
• Grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Files and records maintenance techniques (paper and electronic).
• Customer service techniques.
• Clear communication practices to include written documentation and giving verbal instructions.
• Principles and methods associated with public/personal information dissemination.
• General professional office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated professional phone etiquette

Skills and abilities:

• Using general business office equipment, a personal computer and related software applications;
• Gathering information, analyzing data and formulating sound conclusions;
• Preparing complex reports, legal documents and notices;
• Paying attention to detail and accuracy;
• Resolving complaints and calming individuals
• Complying with laws, rules and regulations;
• Developing and implementing procedures for case flow management;
• Organizing data and events;
• Dealing with difficult and sometimes hostile individuals;
• Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with court participants, judges, other staff members, law enforcement and the public.
• Oral and written communication, sufficient to exchange to coordinate the superior court calendar.

"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"

Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.