Parks & Recreation Office Assistant Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cobwa/jobs/newprint/5014610) Apply  Parks & Recreation Office Assistant Salary $24.28 Hourly Location City of Bellingham, WA Job Type Full Time Job Number 25-OfficeAssistantIIPA Department Parks & Recreation Opening Date 07/25/2025 Closing Date 8/11/2025 8:30 AM Pacific FLSA Non-Exempt Bargaining Unit Local 1937 + Description + Benefits + Questions Nature of Work Join a team that helps bring parks, programs, and community spaces to life! As the City of Bellingham's Parks & Recreation Office Assistant, you’ll be the friendly face and organized mind behind the scenes, supporting everything from registrations to community events and keeping our department running smoothly. Apply today! The Parks & Recreation Office Assistant provides clerical support to the Department. Work includes serving as the receptionist, utilizing a multi-line phone system, responding and/or directing citizen calls, providing department information to the public, processing registrations and acting as a cashier. Performs a variety of detailed clerical and support tasks utilizing computerized systems including: preparing correspondence, forms, reports, mail merges and developing departmental promotional materials. Performs basic web editing, data entry, posting, scanning and uploading documents and correcting broken links on the City’s public and internal web sites and social media. Assists with responding to information requests, records requests, maintaining manual and electronic records and records retention. Supports accounting functions including data entry tasks for payroll/timekeeping, accounts payable functions and generates reports. Works on special projects and performs other duties as assigned. Salary and Benefits Information: This position will start at Step 1 ($24.28/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $24.28 - $29.71. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures. At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page (https://cob.org/about/employment/benefits) and labor agreements page. (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) + 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time + 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year + 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly + Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families + Life insurance and long-term disability coverage + Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program + Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) + Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security + Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month. Closing Date/Time: Mon. 08/11/25 8:30 AM Pacific Time ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB: + Provides clerical support as assigned: utilizes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher to produce routine departmental correspondence, including letters, forms, departmental memos, reports, meeting notes, program flyers, park brochures, event posters and other Department promotional materials. + Assists with maintaining a variety of records for department including customer information, scholarship applications, facility and program information, registration paperwork, department timekeeping information, accounting reports, etc. Uses both manual and electronic record keeping systems including online registration system, Teams, Onedrive, SharePoint, spreadsheets, copiers and scanners. Assists staff and public with record retrieval and department public disclosure requests. Maintains department files, scans records, prepares records for archiving, creates transmittal sheets and arranges transmittal of records to Records Center for storage and/or destruction. Updates Park and employee information; orders and maintains supply of Park Department informational handouts. + Enters new recreation programs and facility reservation information into computerized software system using the established City revenue codes. Receipts all program registration and facility booking revenues into the computerized record keeping system. Generates booking confirmations and permits as required. + Assists in updating and maintaining the Parks and Recreation Department Web pages and social media sites including basic web editing, data entry, scanning and uploading documents and correcting broken links. + Assists with data entry of paper timesheets for payroll/timekeeping, runs and prints preprogrammed accounts payable reports. Supports monthly purchasing card receipt entries. + Serves as Department receptionist: answers telephone, in-person, electronic and standard mail inquiries regarding Parks and Recreation services, programs and capital projects; refers inquiries and/or records and delivers messages to appropriate staff; opens, sorts and distributes mail, logs checks on check log. + Registers and receives payments from participants in sports and enrichment programs and is responsible for keeping complete and accurate registration information. Enters payments in a computerized record keeping system. Requests refunds, credits, and transfers. Sets up and monitors special payment plans. Generates class rosters as requested. Assists with cashiering at recreational activities that occur after routine business hours or at the Arne Hanna Aquatic facility. + Reserves Parks facilities, athletic fields, and community gardens as requested: answers inquiries regarding fees, facilities and reservation requirements; processes reservations paperwork and records pertinent information in a computerized recordkeeping system; handles facility key check out/in and maintains related records. + Issues and accounts for facility keys. + Opens and closes Parks Administrative Office each business day; checks and secures as appropriate, office equipment, lights, windows and doors; opens/locks safe ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED: 1. May be assigned to record meeting notes for Open Public meetings such as Greenways, Park Board, and the Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors, or as requested by the supervisor. Meetings may take place before or after routine business hours. 2. Performs other related work within the scope of the classification. WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed primarily in an office setting in an open concept clerical station. Environment includes a normal range of noise and other distractions with very low everyday risks working around standard office equipment. Work involves frequent public interactions; possibility of exposure to hostile and offensive language. Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job including: + Remain stationary for long periods of time; + Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine; + Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others; + Occasionally lift up to 20lbs. for office supplies. Experience and Training + Minimum of two years responsible clerical experience in a busy office including receptionist and extensive public contact duties required. + Typing at 45 WPM net required. + Intermediate utilization of computer software, including data entry/retrieval, spreadsheets, word processing and files maintenance required. + Cashiering/money handling experience required. + Data base management experience preferred. Necessary Special Requirements + Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check and child and vulnerable adult abuse records check (See Fair Hiring Practices) . + Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire. Selection Process **You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along** Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed. Application Review Process: + Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 13, 2025. + Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 25, 2025. + The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 1, 2025. Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register. + Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following Experience and Training Rating (30%) and Oral Board Interview (70%). Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test. This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Parks and Recreation. This position is represented by a union. If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214. Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers. Equal Opportunity: Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment. Fair Hiring Practices + The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment. + The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. + The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied. + The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate. There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information. This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/1937-2022-2023-CBA.pdf) . This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on PERS. Civil Service Information This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated. Veteran's Scoring Criteria Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214. 01 Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions. Have you read and understood the information listed above? + Yes + No 02 Do you have a minimum of two years responsible clerical experience in a busy office including receptionist and extensive public contact duties? How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months). + Yes + No 03 Are you capable of typing at 45 WPM? + Yes + No 04 Do you have intermediate experience and utilization of computer software, including data entry/retrieval, spreadsheets, word processing and files maintenance? + Yes + No 05 Do you have cashiering/money handling experience? + Yes + No 06 Please describe your experience and utilization of technology tools such as email, databases, point of sale software. 07 Please describe your experience working in an environment that serves the public, processing registrations, acting as a cashier and responding to citizen calls and emails. Required Question Employer City of Bellingham Address 104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225 Phone 360-778-8228 Website http://www.cob.org/employment Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email