Office Assistant II - English & Bilingual (English/Spanish)



Office Assistant II - English & Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Salary

$41,262.36 - $50,153.49 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

23/03-0002-OEB

Department

Permit Sonoma (PRD)

Opening Date

03/08/2023

Closing Date

3/27/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

01

Position Information


Multiple monolingual and bilingual positions are available! Join us and grow your career with the 


Starting salary up to $24.03/hour ($50,153/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!* Plus, an additional $1.15/hour for bilingual positions.**

Do you have?

  • The drive to provide exemplary customer service
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others
  • A talent for working well under pressure and the ability to be assertive when supporting challenging customer service situations
  • The capacity to work independently and exercise sound judgment
  • Strong computer skills, including experience with electronic databases, Excel, Outlook, and Word
If so, apply now and take the first step toward building your career in public service!

Working as an Office Assistant II (OA II), you will perform a variety of clerical and customer service activities, including data entry, answering phones, processing forms and client payments, handling mail, filing, and obtaining and conveying information related to department services, records, and programs. As an OA II, you will learn about the various services the department provides and gain knowledge regarding department guidelines and state/federal regulations that govern the work of the County. This is a great opportunity to learn valuable knowledge that can start you on the way to building a long-term career in public service.

This recruitment is currently being conducted to fill:

  • One monolingual (English) position in Permit Sonoma
  • One fluent bilingual (English/Spanish) position in the Community Development Commission (CDC)
  • Two basic bilingual (English/Spanish) positions in the Department of Health Services (DHS)
  • One monolingual (English) position and one fluent bilingual (English/Spanish) position in the Human Services Department (HSD)
What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
 
  • A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
  • Bilingual premium pay** is an additional $1.15/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for bilingual positions
  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

**Bilingual positions require English and Spanish skills at either the basic (conversational) or fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) level. Applicants who wish to be considered for a bilingual position must indicate their level of skill in the required supplemental questionnaire. An examination will be conducted prior to employment in a bilingual position to confirm the level of skill in this area. Bilingual premium pay is $1.15/hour. 

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple Office Assistant II positions. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Sonoma County Community Development Commission is a separate entity from the County of Sonoma and not within the County's Civil Service System.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, one year experience as an Office Assistant I with the County or one year of work experience in an office environment will provide this opportunity.
 

Special Skill Assignment: Some positions may require the ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute. All positions require considerable ability to operate a personal computer and multiple software. Some positions may require the ability to communicate in a language other than English.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: modern office practices, methods and procedures, general goals and purposes of county and departmental programs, services, and operations; clerical and department work practices, procedures, programs, services, policies and regulations; the purpose and processing of a diversity of materials; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and composition; basic arithmetic, ratios, and percentages; office equipment such as personal computers, typewriters, adding machines, calculators, alpha readers, electronic data processing terminals, printers, copiers, binders, collators, and microfilm equipment; the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department; and the use of modern office equipment.

Ability to: read English at a level necessary to understand procedures, manuals, policies and guidelines; write English at a level necessary to prepare correspondence and record incoming information; speak English at a level necessary to communicate information clearly; answer a variety of questions related to department programs, services and operations; exercise sound judgment when initiating processes, actions, and alternatives within established procedures and regulations; understand and carry out written and oral instructions; prepare and maintain accurate reports and records; establish and maintain harmonious work relationships with employees and the public; communicate effectively verbally and in writing with individuals from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; enter data accurately into automated systems; maintain confidentiality of restricted information; use discretion in organizing work and carrying out assignments with minimum supervision; use electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department; and operate modern office equipment.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will or may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Cash Allowance: In addition to monthly salary, a cash allowance of approximately $600 per month.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
This eligible list will be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions, and your level of proficiency.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position
02
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
03
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • CalJobs
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • Google Jobs
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Instagram
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Start Here!
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
04
For this question and all subsequent questions provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Please describe your clerical experience (i.e., handling mail, filing, processing forms, typing, etc.). For each position you list, include your job title(s), employer's name, dates of employment (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your primary duties.
05
Please describe your experience providing substantial customer service to a wide variety of people (i.e., by phone, email, in-person, etc.) and includes details regarding the types of services or information you provided.
06
Please describe your degree of proficiency (beginner, intermediate, advanced) using the following software and provide examples of the types of work products you generated using:
  • Excel
  • Outlook
  • Word
  • PowerPoint
  • Access or other database software
  • Other (please list)

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331