Staff Assistant - Public Works

Staff Assistant

The goal of the Public Works Department is to support and enhance the quality of life for community members by delivering responsive and efficient services to all neighborhoods and to maintain reliable and cost-effective public works facilities and systems in a manner that emphasizes customer satisfaction and good stewardship of natural, fiscal, and staff resources.

The Staff Assistant performs a wide variety of complex clerical, administrative support, and customer service duties in alignment with established City policies and practices to assist and support Public Works Department staff and community members. This position may make recommendations for budgetary decisions, assign work to other administrative staff, assist with policy and procedure development, and administer contracts. Accomplishes tasks independently and handles non-routine responsibilities with minimal amount of supervision. Compiles information and makes recommendations on policies and procedures. Full-time 40 hours per week AFSCME-represented position 12-month probationary period.

First review of applications will occur after 8:00 am on February 11, 2026. Must meet all qualifications and requirements as listed in the Position Description.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Compile information provided by others to develop budgets for multiple divisions, a department, or a fund. May develop some line item amounts or forecast and develop a budget for a workgroup; analyze, and make recommendations to management. Compile and review information provided by others into cash flow statements for a division or department.
• May monitor budget for a work group or division, recommend action to resolve issues or discrepancies. Develop and maintain spreadsheets. Provide backup for accounting and data entry duties. Review work of others, correct financial processing errors.
• Coordinate contract processes, compile bid information and perform cost analysis. Act as Department representative on existing contract requirements. Compile contract reports for submission to managers and project managers, review reports for compliance, and recommend payments. Process change orders, task orders, and award letters as needed. Assess, track and identify key City needs for long-term contracts. May act as liaison to contractors.
• Compose contracts and requests for proposal for tangible goods, technical and professional services and construction projects following City contract specifications and City purchasing procedures. Recommend modifications to accommodate regulatory, legislative, industry or City standards; seek legal advice when appropriate. Organize, maintain, and electronically track all contracts, renewal/expiration dates, and related documents. Provide training on contract requirements including sustainable purchasing goals to project managers.
• May schedule, train, or assign work to other administrative or Casual or Temporary staff. Review work and communicate corrections to employees. May provide input to performance evaluations.
• Respond to community member complaints. Resolve, initiate action, and convey results to community members. Respond to requests from other agencies.
• Assist with various customer service duties such as responding to other department or agency requests, assisting walk-in customers, answering phones, issuing parking permits, bulk water keys, and temporary hydrant meters. Maintain a positive customer service demeanor and deliver service in a respectful and patient manner.
• Research, analyze, write technical, confidential, and complex reports; make written recommendations to manager on department-wide issues. Organize, create, and compose materials sent to the general public that represent official City information.
• Perform routine and non-routine clerical duties such as word processing/typing, clerical review. May assist with clerical training, proofing, editing, and review of clerical work. Assist with the performance of departmental administrative support duties such as web page maintenance, timesheet processing, receipt and processing of mail, and calendar maintenance.
• Assist with, recommend changes, and compose policies/procedures.
• May assist the department with emergency response efforts by answering phones quickly and efficiently, recording accurate information about the situation, forwarding calls appropriately, and providing an appropriate level of information to callers regarding the status of an event.
• Maintain job-site safety for co-workers and minimize hazardous conditions.
• Perform as a member of a team, assisting with development of work group goals and objectives, and contributing to the achievement of goals and objectives. Maintain effective work relationships.
• Serves on internal committees when required.
• Performs other related support duties including those of any classifications below Staff Assistant if necessary.

It is the responsibility of all City of Corvallis employees to:

• Participate in the Emergency Management program including planning, classes, training sessions, exercises and emergency events as required.
• Act ethically and honestly; apply ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities and interactions. Build confidence in the City through own actions.
• Maintain effective work relationships.
• Conform with all safety rules and perform work in a safe manner.
• Deliver excellent customer service to diverse audiences.
• Adhere to all City and Department policies.
• Arrive to work, meetings, and other work-related functions on time and maintain regular job attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifying Education / Experience:

• High school diploma, or equivalent. Additional education in Business, Political Science, Management, or related field.
• Three years increasingly responsible administrative experience. Two years of the required experience must be in procurement and contract administration.
• Experience writing complex and technical reports, contracts, and legal documents.

Desired Qualifications:

• Education or training in contract administration.
• Two or four-year degree.
• Training and/or experience in budgetary and financial reporting.

Certifications / Licenses:

• None

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Knowledge of: or ability to learn office and department specific computer hardware and software used by position (word processor, e-mail, electronic calendar, spreadsheet, database, web, etc.).
• Skill in: technical writing, research, and organization; excellent analytical skills; accurate clerical skills in typing/word processing, proof reading and editing, filing, ten-key, and operating office equipment; effective customer service, communication and telephone skills; problem-solving.
• Ability to: research, summarize, and interpret data; follow procedures, coordinate detailed assignments, prioritize daily tasks and meet management deadlines; maintain manual and computerized filing and record-keeping systems; use a computer for extended periods of time to perform the essential duties of the position; get along with coworkers and the general public, and maintain effective working relationships; resolve public inquires and complaints by telephone, e-mail, and in person; meet deadlines while prioritizing multiple duties and projects around set time constraints, perform routine duties independently, and work with frequent interruptions; learn the Public Works service area citywide resources by the end of the probationary period; maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive or confidential information; understand operational rules and general instructions; discern and apply procedures to situations as encountered within established guidelines; use multi- line phone system, computer and associated software and hardware, copy and fax machines, scanners, projection equipment, and other office-related tools and equipment.
• To pass a pre-employment background and/or criminal history check. In addition: the employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others in the workplace; have demonstrable commitment to sustainability; and have demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Qualified applicants must submit an online application located on the City of Corvallis website. Applicants are encouraged to include a resume with the online application; however, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted/considered. Position is open until filled. First review of applications will occur after 8:00 am on February 11, 2026.

*Please do not include personal or protected information in attached resumes or cover letters, this includes your birth date, age, dates of education, and graduation dates.