Council Staff Assistant

Posting Type: Closed Competitive

Work Type: Full-Time

Nature of Work: This is professional, administrative, and analytical work providing support services to City Council members. Work includes conducting research into public policy issues and City Council agenda items, analyzing data, preparing reports, committee administration, investigating and responding to citizen complaints, and assisting with office management. An incumbent is also responsible for continuous liaison work with community and governmental representatives at all levels. Work is performed under the supervision of an assigned supervisor.

Education and Experience: The knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired through, but are not limited to, the following combination of education and/or experience.

Bachelor's degree
AND
Four (4) years of professional or administrative experience in municipal, county, state or federal government or the equivalent in private industry.

Special Qualifications: Must be able to transport oneself or coordinate transportation to work sites throughout the City during the course of the work day.

Pay Range: $70,886.40 with step increases to $90,584.00 Annually

Benefits: Forty-hour work week. Paid leave per year: twelve days vacation; five days management; fifteen days sick; and fourteen holidays. Employee's group health insurance, including major medical, vision, and dental, for individual or family. Defined benefit pension plan, plus Social Security, and more. See hr.cityofomaha.org for detailed information.

Who Can Apply: Applicants for a closed competitive posting are required to meet the following: Candidates must be a current or former City of Omaha employee in any of the following categories: Part-time, Seasonal, Classified, Unclassified, or Probationary, who has worked, at the time of application, at least 1,040 cumulative hours within the last 5 years and has been employed by the City at sometime within the last 18 months and who meets the qualifications as set forth in the posting.

How to Apply: Completed City of Omaha employment applications must be submitted using the online application from the City website. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to check and ensure that any and all required application materials and supplemental forms are received by the City of Omaha Human Resources Department by the stated deadline. You may confirm receipt of any materials and forms by contacting the Human Resources Department. If the materials are not received in the Human Resources Department by the stated deadline, they will not be considered. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Examination Information: The examination will consist of a training and experience form designed to assess job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position. The training and experience form will be sent to qualified candidates after their application is reviewed by a recruiter and accepted to test for the position. The form must be completed and returned to the Human Resources Department by April 2, 2025 (passing score 60%). Of the candidates who pass the training and experience form, the top-scoring candidates will be invited to participate in a structured interview (passing score 60%). Final eligibility list will be an overall score with the training and experience form weighted 50% and the structured interview weighted 50%.

Veteran Points: Not applicable to this posting.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

* Knowledge of municipal, county, state, and federal government organizations and operations.
* Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, the structure and functions of municipal government., budget preparation, and budget management.
* Knowledge of business English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
* Knowledge of, and ability to operate, computers and other technology using standard or customized computer or systems software applications appropriate to the assigned tasks.
* Skill in investigative research and reporting techniques.
* Skill in preparing clear, concise, and well-organized written business correspondence, reports, presentations, proclamations, and speeches.
* Skill in researching and analyzing constituent complaints and preparing clear and complete responses to constituents and Councilmembers.
* Skill in office management processes and developing procedures.
* Ability to learn and adapt to advances in computer and electronics device technology and software.
* Ability to research, understand, and explain city charter or municipal code provisions relevant to requests for information from the City Council or the public.
* Ability to understand and clearly communicate the effects of proposed changes to the city charter, municipal code, state statutes, or city policies.
* Ability to effectively manage multiple assignments and projects.
* Ability to effectively represent the City Council at meetings.
* Ability to understand oral or written instructions.
* Ability to adhere to safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, elected officials, representatives of outside agencies, and members of the general public.
* Ability to bend, stand, walk, sit, and type continuously, reach push, and pull occasionally.
* Ability to move objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds occasionally.

Essential Functions: Any one position may not perform all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all of the duties that may be performed in positions allocated to this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

* Reviews City Council agenda items, identifies resolutions and ordinances requiring additional research and provides information to Councilmembers.
* Attends pre-Council staff meetings and Board of Equalization meetings, monitors or attends City Council meetings as directed, and presents information at public meetings.
* Performs research into policy questions or potential amendments to the city charter, municipal code, or state statutes, and simplifies complex information into clear and direct written or verbal communications for presentation.
* Investigates constituent complaints and questions, determines appropriate actions, and responds to the constituents and Councilmembers.
* Assists with review of the annual recommended city budget, including all appropriations, revenues, bonded indebtedness, and the capital improvement plan.
* Investigates significant changes to department appropriations or capital projects with department staff and provides Councilmembers with written and verbal briefings, answers questions, and analyzes proposed amendments.
* Prepares resolutions revising the recommended budget and participates in public hearings and department presentations during City Council budget consideration process.
* Provides support to legislative committees formed by the City Council, including preparing agendas and any written, verbal, or media presentations for meetings, preparing and distributing meeting summaries, and ensuring that file copies are maintained in accordance with department policies.
* Serves as liaison to City departments, outside agencies, and community groups, developing and maintaining positive relationships that result in effective communications between these agencies and the City Council.
* Assists with creating the City Council department budget and monitoring department expenditures.
* Prepares external communications, including correspondence, speeches, media releases, responses to open records requests, and proclamations or other forms of special recognition.
* Represents Councilmembers at committee, advisory group, task force, and neighborhood meetings, as well as organizing and participating in ad hoc meetings, or hosting visitors and tours, as directed by supervisor.
* Collaborates with state legislature lobbyists to ensure Councilmembers receive all information needed to provide input or testimony regarding key legislative bills.
* Coordinates office management functions, including bill payment , procurement of supplies and equipment, website maintenance, information technology, facilities issues, equipment maintenance, and travel planning.
* Develops department procedures for office management functions.
* Provides support to Councilmembers' work related to franchise agreements, the turnback tax committee, or other comparable boards and committees created by the City Council or state legislature.
* Assists with onboarding and orientation for newly-elected Councilmembers.
* Assists with department clerical functions as needed.
* Maintains regular job attendance in accordance with a schedule established for the position by the supervisor.
* Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates within the scope of this classification.

Conditions of Employment: Candidates must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of permanent residence or authorization to work. The City of Omaha reserves the right to conduct criminal history, driving record, reference and credit checks and a background investigation on applicants for employment. Successfully passing a criminal background review, reference check, and if applicable, a credit check, is required as a condition of employment. If applicable, the City will require that you successfully pass a review of the driver's license, driving abstract, a pre-employment drug test, a hearing test and a back screening examination as a condition of employment. Failure to provide the information requested in the application process in a truthful, accurate and complete manner may result in disqualification, revocation of conditional employment or termination.

Reasonable Accommodation: The City of Omaha does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you need a disability-related accommodation during the job application or selection process, advise the Human Resources Department at least 48 hours prior to the need by emailing employment@cityofomaha.org.

For a complete description of this job classification, visit hr.cityofomaha.org

Contact Points:

City of Omaha Human Resources Department
1819 Farnam St, Suite 506
Omaha, NE 68183

Phone: (402) 444-5300
Fax: (402) 444-5314

Website: hr.cityofomaha.org
Email: employment@cityofomaha.org