Administrative Office Assistant

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services is recruiting for an Office Assistant II in the Administrative Services Division.
As Thurston County's local health jurisdiction and human services department, Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.
In the role of Office Assistant II, you will be part of a team that supports all of Public Health and Social Services as well as provides customer service to the public. You play a critical role in ensuring employees and community clients alike receive excellent and timely customer service. Utilizing your strong organizational skills and attention to detail, you will undertake a variety of office support tasks and employ your ability to multitask.
Some of the essential job functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide general administrative and technical support to Administrative Services Manager and department employees.
• Coordinate and assist with various projects and events.
• Sort and distribute communications in a timely manner.
• Create and update records ensuring accuracy and validity of information.
• Monitor level of supplies, handle shortages, and process surplus inventory disposition.
• Resolve office-related malfunctions and respond to requests or issues.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure compliance with established policies.
• Answer central reception phones.
• Organize the records room.
• Scan hard-copy employee files into electronic format.
• Participate as part of the Vital Records team at the front counter by following state requirements for issuing birth and death certificates.
• Perform other work as required or assigned including but not limited to a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong customer service skills.
• Working knowledge of office equipment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Analytical abilities and aptitude in problem-solving.
• Experience working with confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our 2023 Thurston County Employee Benefit Planswebsite for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Options some employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• See under Benefitslater in this job description for detailed information about the many other benefits the County offers.

Why you'll love it here:
Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington's South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids' activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

• High School Diploma or GED.
• One year of general office experience which includes responsibility for performing a full range of office support tasks, including experience providing information and assistance to the general public.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer and related software to perform word processing and data management.
• A current Washington State Driver License or have an appropriate accommodation.
• Ability to type 55 wpm.

Respect and Organizational Culture:

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication:

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Goal Setting and Accomplishment:

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

Questions about this recruitment?
The contact person for this recruitment is: Vickie Larkin: vickie.larkin@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2505
This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Cover letter

PLEASE NOTE: The candidate selected for this position is requiredto show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:

• Baseline tuberculosis screening is required of all new employees who are healthcare personnel, work in healthcare areas or who have contact with patients/clients as part of their normal duties (completed no earlier than three months prior to starting work)
• Proof of immunizations of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
• Proof of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)

Employment Type: Regular Full-Time Employee