Office Assistant I

Syracuse City School District•Syracuse, NY

About The Position

ABOUT OUR DISTRICT The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all - including students who fall behind or have been considered "hard to serve" for a host of reasons. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and he is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of school leaders and teachers to partner with him in moving the district toward its goals. The Syracuse City School District represents 34 schools and 4 alternative education programs, serving 19,000+ students Pre-K-12 of whom 77% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 18% are served by the Office of Special Education and 78% are students of color. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POSTING IS FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT OF OFFICE ASSISTANT I LOCATION: Locations will vary depending on availability DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS The work involves responsibility for performing office support duties of a routine nature. Under immediate supervision, an employee in this class performs clerical work that follows well established procedures. Detailed instructions and close supervision are received at the beginning of work and on new assignments, but regular routine tasks are performed more independently and some initiative and judgment is utilized as experience is gained. Assignments to the employee include use of standard office equipment. Work is supervised and reviewed by superiors upon completion for content and accuracy. Does related work as required.

Requirements

Working knowledge of general office terminology, procedures, and equipment and clerical techniques.
Working knowledge of proper grammatical usage, punctuation, and spelling.
Working knowledge of the principles and practices for providing customer service.
Skill in using email, word processing and spreadsheet software.
Ability to perform clerical operations with letters and numbers.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words or in writing.
Ability to learn assigned tasks readily and to adhere to departmental routines.
Ability to communicate information clearly and courteously by telephone or in person.
Ability to learn how to operate a variety of office equipment, which may include telephones, computers, and photocopiers.
Clerical aptitude.
Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with an Associate's Degree, or higher; OR, Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and one (1) year of experience in business administration, office management, or customer service.
This position will be hired provisionally . All candidates must meet the minimum qualifications on the Onondaga County Civil Service job description for this title.
When the exam for this title is offered, the successful candidate must pass the exam and be reachable on the resulting eligibility list, in order to be retained.
The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $102.50 to the candidate.

Responsibilities

Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate, or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
Interacts with the public, acting as the first point of contact in the office.
Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments.
Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents using computer software.
Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services.
Deliver messages and run errands.
Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions.
Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks.
Process and prepare documents, such as business or government forms and expense reports.
Prepare meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record and transcribe minutes.
Make travel arrangements for office personnel.
Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software.