Office Specialist I

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Dashboard career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity

• Common Sense

• Innovation

• Accountability

Position Data:

Office Specialist I-J23-U00-H

Regular

Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range: $20.27 - $25.70 per hour (Non-Bargaining Pay Plan, B21 Step 1-13)

Hiring Range: $20.27 - $21.51 per hour (Non-Bargaining Pay Plan, B21 Step 1-4 DOQ)

Job Closing Date: April 15, 2024

There is one Office Specialist I opening with the Yakima County Superior Court Department. This position will perform various office administration functions including but not limited to scheduling hearings and trials, preparing legal correspondence and limited research for the Court Director and judges, and performing other related work to support court administration.

• There will be a written exercise as part of the interview process*

Benefits included in position:

• Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)

• Retirement Benefits

• Paid Vacation

• Paid Holidays

• Paid Sick Leave

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

Schedules court hearings for all case types, communicating with prosecuting attorneys and private law firms to set court dates and send notices to parties; reviews court documents for accuracy and enters information into statewide database, (Odyssey); retrieves and reviews court papers from document management system to review for information needed for calendaring and scheduling.

Creates, summarizes, edits, and distributes a variety of legal documents such as Trial and Hearing Notices, Notices of Continuance, Notices of Failure to Comply with Local Court Rules, Affidavits, Orders of Pre-assignment, Recusals, Motions for Reconsideration, etc. Data entry and correspondence for the Guardianship Monitoring process. Acts as a backup for scheduling interpreters.

Processes "strikes and confirmations" of trials and special settings; maintains Superior Court Judges' schedules and prepares lists specific to court cases; assists with arbitration program.

Assist judges with typing of documents including legal correspondence, limited legal research, and preparation of jury instructions; provide clerical assistance to court director, judges and administrative supervisor as needed;

Assists the public and attorneys in person or by phone with scheduling and calendaring questions, coordinating of trial date changes, telephonic hearing requests, interpreter needs, and/or questions about court documents or procedures. Determines what information can be disseminated to the public and/or attorneys.

Assists with processing of mail, answering of public phone line, and routine office duties as needed and other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience:

High School Diploma or GED AND three (3) years of clerical/administrative assistant experience; OR any combination of experience or training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

• Valid WA State driver's license and proof of insurance, if requested;

• Successful completion of a comprehensive criminal background and general employment verification;

• Proficient use of Zoom or other visual meeting software;

• Proficient use of MS Work, Outlook, and Excel

• Roles and responsibilities of the judicial system

Preferred:

• Knowledge of legal terminology, laws, rules, and regulations governing the courts.

• Work experience or knowledge of the legal system, in particular the role and function of Courts;

• Bilingual (English/Spanish);

• Court docketing and case management experience;

• Clear and concise verbal and written skills; and,

• Experience with JIS/SCOMIS/Odyssey and BIT programs.

Equipment Used: Computer, laptop, printer, copier, telephone, scanner, calculator, cell phone, fax, FTR playback equipment, assistive interpreter, and hearing devices for public users. Other standard office equipment.

Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment: May be required to work at alternate work locations and outside of standard business hours for meetings, conference and / or trainings. May be exposed to potentially violent or hostile individuals

Physical Demands: carrying, handling, sitting, standing, fingering, hearing, talking, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands: ability to multi-task, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

• The legal system, in particular the role and function of Courts

• Legal terminology and court rules

• Computers and word processing software

• Rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation used in professional settings

• Research techniques

• File maintenance techniques

• Customer service techniques and team building concepts

• Office practices and procedures

• Data processing systems and methods for input

Skills (and abilities):

• multi-tasking in a high-pressured environment;

• able to perform tasks with great accuracy and high attention to detail;

• exceptional organization, prioritization, and time management skills;

• communication of complex and/or sensitive information;

• establishing effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies, and the public;

• working effectively with constant interruptions;

• communicating and expressing ideas effectively, orally and in writing;

• ability to maintain composure during stressful situations;

• using office equipment, computers, and related software applications;

• writing business correspondence, drafting documents, and preparing reports;

• making responsible decisions in accordance with court policies and applicable legal authority;

• maintaining the highest level of confidentiality; and,

• ability to communicate and express ideas effectively both orally and in writing.

"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"

Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.