Office Assistant 4

This position reports in office as needed and does not have a set remote work schedule. Remote work will be based on needs of the work unit and staffing levels for area of responsibility.

Why it's a great opportunity: This role is with the largest division of the Planning and Public Works Department and is broad in its responsibilities and diverse in its customer service needs. In this administrative role you and your team will be supporting administrative duties, payroll, timekeeping, coordination and tracking of the divisions training, coordinating advisory board needs, overseeing programs such as Owner Will Maintain and Adopt a Road, reviewing correspondence, recruiting and onboarding, and public records requests. You will also be assisting financial needs with coding financial transactions, coordinating travel, purchasing, and warehouse functions. These actions will be documented on Workday, Excel, Adobe, Cognito and other administrative programs. Your work here supports a division with strong and tangible community impact. 

Why it's a great department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!
 
Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.

How to be successful in the role: Your success will come from your leadership and from managing multiple priorities, focusing on details, training the team, meeting or exceeding timeline requirements, and thinking independently. You will need to have highly effective communication and feedback, written and verbal, for internal and external staff and customers. Understanding the importance of the team, the division, and the divisions focus will further ensure your success.

Your future in this role: You will have access to professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Supervise and coordinate activities of assigned subordinate employees. Determine work procedures, prepare work schedules and determine methods for expediting workflow. Issue instructions and oversee work for accuracy, neatness and conformance to procedures and policies.
• Train staff in departmental procedures, processes, and operation and maintenance of office machines and equipment.
• Investigate grievances involving subordinates and recommend resolution; recommend promotional and disciplinary actions; approve leave requests, over time; schedule vacations to assume adequate coverage for assigned work area.
• Conduct performance evaluations and develop performance measures and standards.
• Analyze operating procedures to devise most efficient methods of accomplishing work. Analyze data gathered, develop information and consider available solutions. Participate in the analyses, recommendation and implementation of new systems, policies and procedures.
• Consult with management regarding administrative needs; attend management and staff meetings.
• May monitor and control budget; make budget recommendations; authorize departmental purchases.
• Provide information and advice concerning specialized or technical services rendered and related functions, including response to the most complex and difficult problems and questions raised by the public served or staff.
• Compose correspondence to staff and the public to provide information or in response to questions for routine and non-routine issues; Compose memos informing department staff of policy or procedural changes.
• May prepare training manuals and preside over training classes. May develop and install systems and train personnel in applications.
• Perform duties of a highly confidential nature.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

• Additional education may substitute for the required experience for a maximum of two years.
• Four years of progressively responsible clerical experience, which includes one year of supervisory responsibility. 
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position. 
• A valid driver’s license is required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.