Job Details

Administrative Secretary - Correctional Facility

Under general supervision, provides varied secretarial and office administrative assistance to a division manager or head of a smaller department and related supervisory and professional staff; provides work direction and review to office support staff; performs related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This class is distinguished from other County office support classes in that incumbents provide secretarial and office administrative services for a designated division manager or manager of a small or single-purpose department and related supervisory or professional staff. General guidelines for action are normally established by the division manager; however, day-to-day activities may require the use of initiative and independent judgment, particularly when prioritizing work from several staff members or when dealing with a variety of County staff and representatives of the public. This class is distinguished from Executive Secretary in that the latter normally provides secretarial and office administrative support to a major department head, which requires a knowledge of varied County functions as well as a greater use of initiative and judgment in dealing with varied individuals and groups.

Examples of Duties:

• Receives and screens visitors and telephone calls, providing factual information which requires the interpretation of departmental policies and procedures; takes messages or refers the caller to the proper person.
• Researches and compiles a variety of informational materials from sources both inside and outside the office; summarizes such information as directed.
• Opens and sorts mail and attaches pertinent back-up materials; processes outgoing mail as required.
• Types drafts and a wide variety of finished documents from stenographic notes, brief instructions, or prior materials; may use work processing equipment and input or retrieve data or prepare reports using an on-line or personal computer system.
• May attend meetings and prepare minutes as required; initiates specified correspondence independently for signature by appropriate management, supervisory or professional staff; reviews finished materials for completeness, accuracy, format, compliance with policies and procedures, and appropriate English usage.
• Organizes and maintains various office files, including personnel and tickler files; purges files as required.
• Assists with the development and administration of the annual budget; may prepare or maintain statistical, fiscal or payroll information.
• Follows up on projects, transmits information, and keeps informed of division activities.
• Schedules and arranges for meetings; organizes own work, sets priorities and meets critical deadlines.
• Provides lead direction to office support staff on a project or ongoing basis; instructs staff in work procedures and/or reviews work for format, accuracy and consistency.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

• Standard office administrative and secretarial practices and procedures, including filing and business letter writing.
• The operation of common office equipment, including a word processor and personal or on-line computer equipment.
• Policies and procedures related to the division to which assigned.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
• Record keeping principles and practices.
• Basic supervisory principles and practices.

Skill in:

• Providing varied secretarial and office administrative assistance to management, supervisory and professional staff.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Composing correspondence independently or from brief instructions.
• Organizing and maintaining accurate records and files.
• Making arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Operating standard office equipment, including a word processor, personal or on-line computer and multi-line telephone equipment.
• Directing the work of and training others in work procedures.
• Typing at a rate of 50 net words per minute from printed copy.

Other Requirements: Specified positions may require possession of a valid California driver's license.

Desirable Education and Experience: A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills outlined above is: EITHER one year of secretarial experience providing responsible office and administrative support assistance at a level equivalent to the County's class of Secretary OR three years of general clerical or office support experience.

Working Conditions & Additional Information:

A complete, original application must be filed for each position you are interested in applying for. Applicants must apply online through the County's automated application system at

Applications must be submitted no later than the final filing date and time listed on the job flyer.

It is important that your application shows all the relevant education and experience you possess. Human Resources staff does not consider or review resumes or attachments. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Please read the job requirements section of the announcement. Be sure you meet these requirements since they will be carefully evaluated during the selection process.

Your performance in any employment examinations will be compared with the performance of others who take the tests. The examination results will be emailed to you as quickly as possible.

The County utilizes a set of rules to ensure that our hiring processes are fair and equitable. Applications will be screened and those considered qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof.

How long does it take to fill out the application? You should allow 30 – 45 minutes to fill out your application.

Can I change my application after submitting it? No. Once an application has been submitted, it is final. Applicants may submit a new application with updated information during the filing period if they wish. Only the most recent application submitted will be considered. All other applications will not be considered.

How long until I hear back from you and how can I check for updates on my application? You may receive communications regarding your application at different stages of the selection process. Important updates will be sent to the email address listed in your governmentjobs.com account at the time of notification. To ensure you don't miss any critical information, we recommend keeping your email address current and regularly checking both your inbox and junk mail folders throughout the process. You can also log into your governmentjobs.com account at any time to check your application status. If you have any questions about your application's progress, please contact the County of Humboldt Human Resources Personnel Division at 707-476-2349 or personnel@co.humboldt.ca.us.

Will I be informed if I am not selected for an interview / Oral Exam? Yes, you will be informed via email if you are not selected for an interview / Oral Exam.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Research indicates that individuals in protected classes can be less likely to submit a job application. The County of Humboldt is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where our employees are free to bring their full selves to work each day in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential. The County Board of Supervisors has made organizational commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the County is working to ensure that these commitments are reflected in all we do. The County recognizes that certain populations (BIPOC, Disabled Persons, Veterans, LGBTQIA+ community members, etc.) face systemic and structural challenges which may inhibit their ability to satisfy every requirement of the position. In recognition of these structural and systemic factors, the Human Resources Department understands that experience can be gained in many ways – oftentimes, outside of formal institutions – and strives to take a holistic approach in assessing an applicant's qualifications for a position.

If you're excited about this role but your past work experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Reasonable Accommodations: The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access and opportunities in its programs, activities, and employment, and does not discriminate on the basis of mental or physical disabilities. The Human Resources Department is located in the Humboldt County Courthouse, which has an accessible entrance on 4th Street. Accessible parking is available adjacent to the 4th Street entrance and on the 4th Street side of the K Street lot. Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities or religious convictions. If invited to an examination and you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please contact Human Resources immediately at (707) 476-2349 so arrangements can be made.