Administrative Assistant II - Part-Time

Salary: $22.40 - $27.99 Hourly
Location : Hickory, NC
Job Type: Part-Time 50%
Job Number: 02396
Department: Parks
Opening Date: 09/25/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start - benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description
Catawba County Parks is seeking a detail-oriented, organized Administrative Assistant II to provide support in managing the daily operations of the department. This part-time position plays a key role in office operations and administrative support, including managing accounts payable, contracts, budget tracking, and internal documentation. If you have a strong background in office or clerical work and enjoy working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply!

This position is part-time, working 20 hours per week, and receives benefits (prorated at 50%).

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for the Parks Department, including office management and recordkeeping
• Serve as the main point of contact for the department, answering calls and directing inquiries
• Manage accounts payable, including purchase orders, procurement card processing, and vendor payments
• Assist with HR-related tasks such as compiling required forms for hiring personnel, scheduling interviews, and onboarding paperwork
• Coordinate and maintain contracts with vendors and park patrons
• Support budget preparation, data entry, tracking, and communication with Finance and Budget staff
• Maintain organized records for personnel, training, inspections, volunteers, and department policies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or other related field and 6 months of office management or advanced clerical experience; OR
• Associate's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or other related field and 2 years of office/clerical experience, including 1 year of office management or advanced clerical experience; OR
• High school diploma or GED equivalent and 4 years of office/clerical experience, including 1 year of office management or advanced clerical experience

Additional Requirements

• Strong organizational and time management skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with staff, vendors, and the public
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel); familiarity with financial or ERP systems (e.g., PeopleSoft) preferred
• Ability to interpret and follow County purchasing guidelines and administrative policies
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and department needs
• Customer service mindset, particularly in handling public inquiries and vendor coordination
• This position is considered light work, lifting to 15 pounds.

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee's children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee's adult children (ages 18-26) or employee's spouse if covered on the county's health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee's annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

01


What experience do you have working with vendors or the public? Include any work related to contracts, payments, or responding to questions.
02


Why are you interested in this role with the Parks Department, and how does your experience make you a strong fit?
Required Question