Office Assistant 2

Why it's a great opportunity: In this role you will be supporting the Development Center to ensure that the high customer flow is well managed. As the first person to receive customers on site, you will determine needs of contractors, homeowners, and others seeking to apply, follow up on, and receive completed permits. You will also receive payments, handle cash transactions, perform basic clerical duties, and provide the very best in customer service. As a liaison balancing customer needs with available resources, you will be referring customers to the proper resources from our Permit Technicians to Civil Engineers to keep Pierce County growing. 

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 using your quick-thinking organizational and prioritization skills, attention to customer needs, commitment to delivering excellent customer service, ability to manage multiple priorities, and a proactive process improvement focused approach. Your ability to adapt to new and complex software systems 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:

• Perform receptionist and general office duties; respond to routine inquiries by telephone or person-to-person; fulfill requests for publications or office supplies.
• Receive and process routine to moderately complex forms and applications, i.e., determines regulatory or procedural compliance; computes or verifies data, fees or payments; assists in the proper completion of forms or documents; and research governing directives to answer questions and resolve routine problems encountered. May also provide information and advice in response to questions raised by the public served.
• Perform timekeeping functions for work unit or department; complete time records; compute time; maintain leave status records and monitor leave balances.
• Organize, maintain and retrieve information and documents from files and records.

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

• Additional education or related experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements. 
• One year of general clerical work experience. 
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position. 

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.