Senior Administrative Assistant

Salary : $67,431.73 - $81,963.65 Annually
Location : City of Poway, CA
Job Type: Full time - regular
Job Number: 26-38
Department: Community Services
Division: Community Services Administration
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Definition

The City of Poway's Community Services department is looking for a collaborative and detail-driven Senior Administrative Assistant who enjoys keeping operations running smoothly and creating positive experiences for staff and community members. In this role, you'll coordinate meaningful projects, help streamline processes, support budgets, prepare polished communications, and serve as a knowledgeable resource for both colleagues and the public. You'll provide front line customer service assisting with booking facility rentals, registering for recreation classes, maintaining organized records and schedules, and bringing your strengths in multitasking, problem-solving, and customer service to a team that values initiative and a friendly, can-do approach. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, take pride in producing accurate, thoughtful work, and enjoy building strong working relationships, we encourage you to apply today!

*This is a full-time, on-site position and works on a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off*
Provides administrative support to the Department Director and management staff. Performs a wide variety of routine to complex administrative and clerical duties to support departmental and divisional operations. Provides functional supervision over lower-level administrative staff. Coordinates assigned activities, projects and services with other City departments and outside agencies.
Receives general direction from an assigned Department Director and/or assigned supervisor. Exercises no direct supervision over staff. May exercise technical and functional direction over and provide training to lower-level staff.
Key Responsibilities
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, organizes, and carries out administrative assignments and special projects related to assigned department; recommends organizational or procedural changes affecting support activities; recommends improvements in work flow, procedures, and use of equipment and forms.
• Responds to routine letters and general correspondence; composes, proofs, edits, and prepares letters, memoranda, and reports pertaining to standard policies.
• Collects and compiles material for review and analysis; provides recommendations for changes in programs, policies, or procedures to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness of operations.
• Assists in the preparation and monitoring of assigned budgets, including compiling annual budget requests, recommending expenditure requests for designated accounts, monitoring approved budget accounts, agreements, purchase order, and invoices.
• Assists in a variety of department and program operations; coordinates, oversees, monitors, and participates in special projects, assignments, and activities as assigned; maintains control files on matters in progress and expedites their completion; serves on committees as assigned.
• Performs a wide variety of routine to complex administrative and clerical duties to support departmental/divisional operations, including filing, preparing records and monthly reports, accounts payable, cashiering duties, and ordering and maintaining office and other related supplies.
• Screens calls, visitors, and mail; responds to complaints and requests for information; assists in interpreting and applying regulations, policies, procedures, systems, rules, and precedents in response to inquiries and complaints from the public; directs callers to appropriate City staff; represents the City to all callers and visitors in a professional and customer friendly manner.
• Organizes and maintains various administrative, reference, imaging, and follow-up files in accordance with the records retention policy.
• Provides support to City boards, committees, and task forces, including coordinating and scheduling meetings, appointments, and speaking engagements; reserving meeting rooms; maintaining reports; overseeing agenda report process; compiling and distributing agenda packets; attending meetings; formatting and distributing minutes; and following-up on decisions as required.
• Checks and tabulates standard arithmetic or statistical data; may summarize such information and prepare periodic numerical reports.
• Verifies and reviews forms and reports for completeness and conformance with established regulations and procedures; applies departmental and program policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and files.
• Types, originates, formats, proofreads, and distributes a wide variety of reports, letters, and memoranda from rough drafts, verbal instructions, or transcription machine recordings; checks drafts for punctuation, spelling, and grammar; makes or suggests corrections to drafts.
• Gathers, assembles, updates, and distributes a variety of department specific information, forms, records, and data as requested; prepares and maintains a variety of databases and reports.
• Coordinates travel arrangements and accommodations for department personnel and submits all related paperwork.
• May coordinate community outreach and event details, under the direction of assigned management staff.
• Creates and maintains electronic and paper records, including personnel files, agreements/contracts, permits, grants, reports, plans, evaluations and reference lists; acts as department liaison to oversee records management for the department.
• Provides training to lower-level and new staff as required.
• Maintains attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements/License or Certificates Required

Any combination of the following education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification.
Experience
Five years of increasingly responsible administrative secretarial, administrative assistant, office management, or related experience.
Education/Training

Equivalent to the completion of the 12th grade, supplemented by specialized training in business or secretarial science.
Licenses and Certifications

Valid California class C driver's license or the ability to arrange alternate and timely means of transportation in the performance of assigned duties.
Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Environmental Elements

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Examination Process
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of relevant training and experience. Highly-rated candidates will be invited to participate in an examination process. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligibility list according to the score received. The eligibility list established will be in effect for a period of six months. Applicants will be notified by mail of their eligibility status. A background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting is required and all appointments are subject to the successful completion of a pre-placement physical examination that includes a drug screening. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. All employees are required by law to sign a loyalty oath to the United States and the State of California Constitution at time of hire.
Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time (2,080 hrs/yr) status. Benefits for positions considered less than full-time are pro-rated based upon hours and may differ from those indicated.

Vacation - Annual paid vacation as follows: 0-4 years service = 96 hrs/yr; 5-9 years service = 120 hrs/yr; 10-14 years service = 144 hrs/yr; and 15+ years service = 168 hrs/yr. Prior Public Service Credit for vacation accruals may be granted for verifiable experience.

Sick Leave - The City provides 96 hours each year of paid sick leave. There are sick leave incentive and conversion programs available to those who qualify.

Holidays - The City observes 10 holidays each year. Additionally, employees shall be entitled to eighteen (18) benefit day hours each fiscal year. Benefit day hours will be prorated based upon an employee's hire date.

Flexible Saving Account - These are IRS-approved plans, which enables you to have witheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and/or certain eligible medical exspenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits. Employees can opt into either the Dependent care or medical expense accounts.

Life Insurance - The City provides group term life insurance equal to 1 1/2 times annual salary to a maximum of $350,000. Supplemental life insurance for employees and family members is available by payroll deduction at reasonable group rates and is portable.

Short & Long Term Disability -
The City provides short-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $2,516) after a 7-day waiting period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.


The City provides long-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $10,900) after a 90-day elimination period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.


Retirement - Benefits are provided by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Classic CalPERS members - 2% @ 60 formula with employees contributing 8% of regular salary. Beginning the first full pay period in July 2024, employees considered "classic" members will contribute an additional 1%. The total employee contribution will be 9%. New CalPERS members - 2% @ 62 formula with employees contributing 50% of the total normal cost; 50% of the total normal cost is currently 7.75%. Beginning the first full pay period in July 2024, employees considered "classic" members will contribute an additional 1%. The total employee contribution will be 9%. The City participates in Medicare, but does not participate in Social Security.


Health Insurance - Poway provides employer-paid group medical and dental insurance for the employee. For medical plans, the City contributes 100% of the cost for employees enrolled in either the Kaiser or CIGNA HMO plans and 60% of the cost for dependent coverage for both HMO plans. The City also has a CIGNA PPO option, and the City covers the premium costs for employees enrolled in the CIGNA PPO equivalent to what the City covers for employees enrolled in the CIGNA HMO, at every coverage level. For dental plans, employees have a choice between an HMO and PPO plan. Family vision insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. An IRS Section 125 plan (Flexible Spending Account) for reimbursement of medical and dependent care expenses is also available.

Deferred Compensation Plan - Participation in a 457 deferred compensation plan is available to all regular employees and is voluntary with a matching City contribution of up to $900. The City also contributes $38.00 per pay period to a 401(a) deferred compensation plan with vesting on a graduated schedule beginning with 2 years service and becoming 100% vested after 6 years.

Tuition Reimbursement - The City may reimburse the actual cost paid for tuition, books and required technical supplies and equipment up to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year for eligible employees receiving a grade of "C" or better in approved courses.

Additional Benefits - The City offers additional benefits such as Pet Insurance discounts, Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 9/80 work schedule dependent on your position upon hire.
01


Please describe your five years of administrative experience. Include the position and responsibilities.
02


Describe your experience providing customer service including answering questions and advising customers of rules, codes and procedures. List years of experience.
03


What software programs are you proficient in? Please indicate your level of proficiency in the following software programs using the following guidelines: - None/Limited - Proficient in less than 25%- Beginner - Proficient in at least 25%- Intermediate - Proficient in at least 50%- Expert - Proficient in at least 75%
04


Do you have experience with ActiveNet or Munis-Tyler?

• Yes
• No

Required Question