Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Specialist Clerk II

Recruitment #21-1129-01

Introduction

READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.

THIS IS A REOPENING OF A CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. If you have previously applied or started an application for Specialist Clerk II, Examination #21-1129-01, read this entire bulletin. There are specific instructions on how to reapply for this position.

PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST, TRACY GONZALEZ AT TRACY.GONZALEZ@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU.

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.


Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrinya, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply. There is an additional bi-weekly compensation for persons in positions designated bilingual. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency.


Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION:

Under general supervision, Specialist Clerk IIs do the most difficult or complex clerical work, requiring the exercise of substantial initiative, judgment, and independence within the framework of County or department policies and procedures; and to do related work as required. Incumbents of positions in this class perform duties requiring greater exercise of initiative and judgment beyond that of the lower-level Specialist Clerk. 

Specialist Clerk II requires a more thorough knowledge of broad and complex procedures, systems, rules, codes and policies in order to perform assigned duties. Positions are often characterized by the time constraints to complete tasks and include substantial financial and/or legal liability to the County of the tasks. The position is expected to function in a sensitive and highly confidential environment where incumbents exercise considerable independent judgment and decision making in areas such as, investigations, employee relations, protective services or vendor/contract coordination for a County agency. Performance at this level requires the ability to interpret and apply specific codes, laws, ordinances, legal documents or technical terminology. Such positions normally require a minimum of one year of training in order to make decisions and determinations based on the specialized department and program knowledge.

Please CLICK HERE for full job description

THE VACANCIES:
We are currently recruiting to establish a countywide eligible list that will be used by any County department or agency needing to fill a vacancy in this classification. There are immediate vacancies in the Alameda County Assessor's Office, General Services Agency, Health Care Services Agency, LibraryProbation DepartmentPublic Defender's Office, Sheriff's Office, and Social Services Agency.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications below, ideal candidates will possess strong office support skills and experience, relevant computer applications knowledge and experience, as well as demonstrated success in the following areas:
  • Actively participates as a valued member of a work team.
  • Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in priorities, procedures and/or responsibilities.
  • Assimilates and applies newly learned information on the job.
  • Provides exceptional service to internal and external customers.
  • Maintains quality performance while under pressure or opposition.
  • Ensures the quality and accuracy of work products.
  • Utilizes effective approaches for choosing a course of action.
  • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  • Excellent oral and written communication.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I
The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Specialist Clerk I or in an equivalent or higher level clerical class in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office and the Hospital Authority.)

Or II
The equivalent of three years of full-time clerical experience.

License: Some positions may require a valid California Driver’s license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:
  • Modern office practices and procedures, including business correspondence, filing, and standard office equipment operations.
  • Thorough program knowledge of work requiring the application of a variety of rules, procedures, codes, calculations, and systems is required in some positions.
  • Techniques and practices for dealing with individuals from various socio-economic and ethnic groups, in person, via telephone, and through correspondence (may include contacts with irate and hostile individuals).
Ability to:
  • Analyze and problem solve.
  • Communicate orally and in writing.
  • Make independent decisions and take initiative.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
  • Plan, organize and coordinate work.
  • Work independently.
  • Adapt to challenging situations.
SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION CRITERIA:
For positions requiring the ability to type at a speed of not less than 40 net words per minute from clear copy. Typing must occupy more than 10 percent of working time. Typing may be on a typewriter, or a personal computer.


ALTERNATE RANGE CRITERIA:
For positions requiring incumbents to take and transcribe dictation via shorthand or dictating machine recording; these duties must occupy more than 10 percent of working time. 

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1). A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2). A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process.

3). A computer skills assessment with the following components (pass/fail):

A. Typing Test
B. Microsoft Word
C. Microsoft Excel

Only candidates who pass the computer skills assessments will be invited to the oral interview process.

4). An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THE EXAMINATION

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

 

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. 

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN  

Deadline for Filing

5:00 PM Monday, December 19, 2022

5:00 PM Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

Week of February 6, 2023

Week of February 27, 2023

Performance Examination:

Week of March 13, 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Oral Examination:

Week of April 10, 2023

Week of June 19, 2023

**updated 12/19/22, TG **updated 2/8/2023, TG **updated 3/1/2023, TG **updated 4/10/23, TG **updated 5/31/23, TG

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes. 

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website:  www.acgov.org/hrs.  

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email.  Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com and Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Tracy Gonzalez, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-5085; Email: Tracy.Gonzalez@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs


Disaster Service Worker

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.