ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I

Thurston County • Olympia, WA

3d

About The Position

Thurston County Emergency Management is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and service-oriented part-time (0.5 FTE) Administrative Assistant I to support our team in strengthening community resilience and disaster preparedness across Thurston County. This position plays a vital role in helping our program operate efficiently by providing administrative and technical support to emergency management programs, coordinating projects, assisting with budget tracking, and supporting communication with partners and the public. The Administrative Assistant is often the first point of contact for inquiries and plays an important role in keeping projects, meetings, and initiatives moving forward. If you enjoy problem-solving, coordinating multiple priorities, supporting a mission-driven team, and contributing to work that directly benefits your community, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED and one year of college level coursework in office support, general business, or another closely related field.
• Three years of general office experience, with at least two years in a senior level office support position which includes experience independently coordinating projects and creating complex documents and reports.
• Additional experience may substitute college education year for year.
• Ability to use computer equipment and related software programs is required.

Nice To Haves

• Strong organizational, communication, and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Knowledge of office management and administrative best practices
• Experience tracking budgets, financial activity, or grant documentation
• Experience supporting committees, boards, or collaborative meetings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Administrative & Program Support: Provide administrative and technical support to Emergency Management programs, ensuring smooth daily operations and effective coordination across multiple initiatives.
• Project & Meeting Coordination: Assist with coordinating projects, tracking tasks, scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and documenting meeting outcomes to support program objectives and leadership priorities.
• Public & Partner Engagement: Serve as a point of contact for inquiries from the public, partner agencies, and internal county departments, providing information, gathering details, and directing requests appropriately.
• Budget & Financial Tracking: Assist with monitoring program budgets, tracking expenditures, preparing financial summaries, and compiling reports related to program activity.
• Data & Records Management: Maintain databases, records, and tracking systems that support emergency management programs, grant reporting, and operational readiness.
• Research & Reporting: Conduct research, gather data, and assist in developing reports, presentations, and supporting materials for meetings, briefings, and program initiatives.
• Board & Committee Support: Provide administrative support for meetings and committees, including preparing agendas, compiling supporting materials, documenting minutes, and conducting follow-up actions.
• Operational Support to the Manager & Team: Coordinate projects and follow up on assignments on behalf of leadership, helping ensure key initiatives and tasks remain on track.
• Support Emergency Management Operations: Assist the team with logistics, coordination, and administrative support for emergency preparedness activities, training events, and disaster response operations when needed.

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED