Clerical Assistant 3

Clerical Assistant 3

The Clerical Assistant 3 with the Office of Children, Youth and Families plays an important role in supporting safe and thorough clearance processing. This position offers a fast-paced environment where accuracy and customer service make a real difference. You will help ensure that individuals who work with children meet essential safety standards. Your work strengthens the mission of protecting Pennsylvania's youth—apply today!

This position supports the Clearance Verification Unit by reviewing applications, processing background checks, and assisting members of the public with important child safety clearances. The role involves detailed record handling, customer communication, and the use of multiple information systems to ensure accurate determinations. You will serve as a compassionate and professional first point of contact, ensuring every caller and visitor feels heard and valued. As a Clerical Assistant 3, you will perform the following duties:

• Customer Support: Answer calls and explain required steps for clearance verification and determinations
• Data Entry: Enter application information into required electronic systems for processing and verification
• Record Review: Compare applicant information across state and federal databases to confirm accuracy
• Clearance Evaluation: Review criminal history, child abuse findings, and out-of-state results to identify prohibitive offenses
• Communication Tasks: Provide clear written and verbal updates to applicants regarding their clearance status
• Processing Duties: Handle mailroom tasks, manage returns, process requests, and complete other clerical assignments as needed

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 3 days a week after an in-office training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a Clerical Assistant 2 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• One year of moderately complex clerical experience; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Commonwealth employees who wish to use their seniority rights must apply to the internal posting for their seniority rights to be considered.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.