Office Assistant I/II - Sacramento, United States - Merit System Services

Description

Salary: See Position Description

Location : Alturas

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: MSS04331

Department: Modoc County Department of Social Services

Opening Date: 02/29/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

Position Information

SALARY RANGES:

Office Assistant I: $2, $4,392.00 per month

Office Assistant II: $2, $4,620.00 per month

Performs a variety of general or specialized clerical duties related to filing, reception, form processing, record maintenance, mail, typing or data entry; obtains and compares information related to department records, programs, and services; may perform the initial applicant screening as an incidental function and initiate cases through the department's automated system; and performs related work as required

Working under close supervision, Office Assistant I is the entry/trainee level in the Office Assistant series. Employees in this class receive in-service training and are given detailed instructions in the performance of routine clerical duties related to filing, reception, form processing, record maintenance, mail, and typing or data entry and performs tasks that are more structured and repetitive than those assigned to level II. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility are exercised. Unless a position is permanently allocated to level I due to the nature of the work, employees are expected to promote to the Office Assistant II level after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level.

Working under general supervision, Office Assistant II is the journey level in the Office Assistant series. Employees at this level are expected to be fully qualified and able to perform difficult and responsible office support work within the framework of established work methods and procedures and to use independent judgment in selecting and applying specific references, procedures, sequences, and alternatives to different work situations, referring non-procedural questions to the supervisor. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level of Office Assistant I, or if filled from the outside, require prior related experience.

The Office Assistant II differs from the Office Assistant III by the level of supervision received, the scope and effect of functions performed, the degree of independence exercised, and the complexity of work assigned. The Office Assistant III may also be assigned lead worker duties, or screening duties on a consistent rather than incidental basis. The Office Assistant series differs from the Account Clerk series in that the primary duties of the Account Clerk involve the application of mathematical skill and ability in the use of financial, numerical and statistical data and information. The Office Assistant class performs a wide variety of general office support duties in which the use of mathematical ability is incidental to the primary function and most frequently performed duties.
Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(Note: For Office Assistant I, duties are performed at the trainee level.)

• Addresses complaints and explains regulations to customers or the public.
• Responds to inquiries regarding departmental functions, services, policies, and procedures.
• Obtains information from customers, visitors, or callers to determine appropriate resource, action, document, or staff referral to meet their needs.
• Explains the proper use of forms and documents.
• Prepares items for mailing and sorts and distributes incoming mail according to established guidelines and procedures.
• Operates multiline telephone system including answering calls, transferring calls, and taking messages.
• Schedules customer appointments and maintains schedules for technical or professional staff.
• Composes correspondence, reports, memos, and other documents.
• Reviews and processes forms/documents in accordance with established guidelines and procedures.
• Monitors and updates manual or electronic files.
• Operates a variety of standard office equipment.
• Compiles information to respond to questions or address issues.
• Reviews submitted forms or applications to verify accuracy and completeness.
• Operates automated systems, or other department-specific computer systems.
• Maintains accurate department and customer records.
• Performs initial screening of applications for departmental services.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition section.

Knowledge of:

• General office functions, procedures, equipment, and filing systems.
• General goals and purposes of department programs, services, and operations.
• English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, calendaring programs, and automated systems.

Ability to:

• Explain policies, procedures, and regulations governing program operations.
• Analyze situations involving rules and regulations and demonstrate good judgment when making decisions.
• Quickly and accurately enter and retrieve data using an automated system.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Interact with individuals from various educational, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Work cooperatively as part of a team.
• Identify and correct inaccurate or inconsistent information.
• Listen attentively and understand oral information provided.
• Prioritize, plan, and organize one's own work.

Minimum Qualifications

Office Assistant I
Experience and/or training in an office setting, paid or unpaid, related to filing, reception, processing mail, typing, data entry, answering telephones, assisting the public or other clerical duties.

Office Assistant II
One (1) year of full-time experience performing clerical duties in an office environment.
Supplemental Information

• At the discretion of Modoc County Social Services and with the approval of Merit System Services, qualified candidates certified to the eligible list established by this exam may be appointed to the Office Assistant II level if the appointee meets the minimum requirements.
• The ability to speak, read and write Spanish in addition to English is optional.
• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• This position is full-time at 37.5 hours per week.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 5 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION

A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Modoc. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at or upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

ABOUT MODOC COUNTY

Modoc County is a geographically diverse area in the northeastern corner of California and borders both Oregon and Nevada. The City of Alturas is the county seat and the only incorporated city in the County. Federal land comprises much of Modoc County, with employees from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service assigned there. These federal operations account for a significant part of the County's economy. Modoc County is home to the Medicine Lake Highlands, which is the largest shield volcano on the US West Coast. You'll also find areas of lava flows, cinder cones, juniper flats, pine forests, and seasonal lakes, nearly one million acres of the Modoc National Forest, as well as hot springs and lava caves, which are common to the area, and geothermal energy resources.

This job bulletin will not be available online after the application deadline. Please print a copy for your records.

Merit System Services does not negotiate or determine the benefits or salaries for positions offered by its partners. For more information about benefits or salaries, please visit the listed county or child support office's website or contact their human resources department.

01

The Minimum Qualifications for Office Assistant I/II list two patterns under which an applicant may qualify to continue in the examination process. Place a check next to the pattern under which you believe you might qualify:

• Office Assistant I: Experience and/or training in an office setting, paid or unpaid, related to filing, reception, processing mail, typing, data entry, answering telephones, assisting the public or other clerical duties.
• Office Assistant II: One (1) year of full-time experience performing clerical duties in an office environment.
• None of the above.

02

Please check all the duties you have performed in an office setting. (An office setting does NOT include cashiering or customer service in retail, grocery, video, or other type of store or serving or cashiering in a restaurant.)

PLEASE ENSURE THAT THESE DUTIES ARE REFLECTED IN THE EXPERIENCE SECTION OF THE APPLICATION.

If you have not worked in an office setting, check NOT APPLICABLE.

• Typing/Data Entry
• Filing
• Photocopying
• Reception/Public Contact
• Interviewing/Eliciting information from the public
• Performing math computations
• Completing Forms
• Not Applicable

03

Which of the following best describes the clerical experience you have working in an office setting? (Check one)

(Note: An office setting does NOT include cashiering or customer service in a retail, grocery, gas station, video, or other type of store, or serving or cashiering in a restaurant.)

• Less than 1 year of experience performing clerical duties in an office environment.
• Over 1 year and less than 2 years of full-time experience performing clerical duties in an office environment.
• Over 2 years of full-time experience performing clerical duties in an office environment.

Required Question