Office Specialist I

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Job Hubs career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity

• Common Sense

• Innovation

• Accountability

Position Data:

Office Specialist I-J23-U34-H Regular Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range: $20.87 - $26.47 per hour (B21 Clerk Non-Supervisory Pay Plan Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $20.87 - $22.15 per hour (B21 Clerk Non-Supervisory Pay Plan Step 1-4 DOQ)

Position closes: December 17, 2025

The Yakima County Clerk's Office has one opening for an Office Specialist I. This position is responsible for Jury management pursuant to state law, Court rules and guidelines and the for the coordination, professional and cordial communication, and dissemination of information to many different entities either by speech, or written communication.

This position requires a typing test with a minimum of 35 net words per minute, to be taken online. A testing link will be sent to applicants by email and must be completed within 48 hours of the closing date of the posting.

This position requires a typing test with a minimum of 35 net words per minute, to be taken online. A testing link will be sent to applicants by email and must be completed within 48 hours of the closing date of the posting.

Benefits included in position:

Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)

Retirement Benefits

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave




This is a Teamsters-Clerk Clerical Contract Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

Annually perform the annual ‘data load’ which consists of preparing and obtaining signed court orders, communication and coordination with the jury software vendor, local Technical Services Department and co-workers. Prepare and disseminate the new yearly calendar with all the Jury Terms highlighted. Update Jury Terms in jury software for new year. Update Jury Sessions and mileage rates in jury software.

Provides input for assessment or reassessment as issues related to compliance are identified, as well as needed updates to forms or procedures.

Electronically summons prospective jurors. Compile electronic files for archival of each of the recurring summoning processes.

Prepares duplicate forms for lost summons, receives and organizes documents and electronic files from the summoning process for archival purposes.

Electronically prepare, disseminate and archive various reports and completed trial jury lists.

Provides case management functions for juror appearances related to jury trials. Electronically process daily attendance record of jurors in jury software and Excel software.

Records nightly outgoing phone message to include: juror reporting instructions/times/locations/safety reminders.

Ensures the legal eligibility for Jury service of individuals summoned, in accordance with State Laws. Ensures documentation is received which supports excusal from, or rescheduling of, jury service based on established local Court policies.

Makes personal inquiries either by phone, in person or by mail, as to prospective juror qualifications, requests for excusal or rescheduling; verifies civil rights status through criminal history; inquire about non-answered required questions related to juror qualifications.

Processes requests for excusal or rescheduling.

Verifies round trip mileage, performs accurate typing for data entry of mileages, address and name corrections.

Professionally and cordially communicates the findings to the Court(s) and prospective jurors informing them of their request status, role and responsibilities. Performs discretionary decisions to eliminate jurors based on review and interpretation of recommended judicial guidelines.

Maintains, organizes and provides day-to-day liaison functions on behalf of County Clerk, Courts and jurors in compliance with Washington State Law.

Physically performs in-person juror check-in at various courtroom locations, accounts for attendance and conducts public oration of first day welcome / juror video summary to groups ranging in size from 30-150 people. Electronically assigns prospective jurors to specific cases or Court levels. Generate by printing, Case Reports: Juror Alphabetical List, Juror Random List, Case Cover Sheet, and financial Case Reimbursement Sheet. Daily updates jury software with juror activity, case assignment(s) and case status. Electronically ends juror ‘service’. Electronically re-populates software files for beginning ‘service’ dates / terms.

Communicate professionally, cordially and with tack to relay information and instructions to prospective jurors of what to anticipate, appropriate behavior and/or general instructions / guidelines.

Multiple times a month, updates jury software for terms and juror payroll purposes. Process Jury Payroll Bi-monthly and disseminate electronic copies to other departments.

Processing incoming responses to Jury Summons to include electronic data entry of: round trip mileage, phone numbers, name changes, service assignments. Organize and process in accordance with the established work-flow: returned Jury Summons’ and any attachments which may include sensitive personal data. Prepare additional Juror Notices (post cards) seeing additional information or notifying of jury duty status. Ensure accuracy of attendance by comparing to In-Court Clerk’s count and print daily financial ‘case reimbursement sheets’ for each day Jurors are reporting in.

Shred outdated records pursuant to archival standards set by the State.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

High School Diploma or G.E.D. and three years of general/legal clerical/administrative experience.

Required:

Successful completion of a criminal and financial background investigation and general employment verification.

• Working knowledge and demonstrated ability to efficiently use MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MapQuest or Google Maps.

• Ability to Alphabetize items.

• Customer service skills.

• Professional appearance and conduct.

• Ability to speak in public to groups ranging from 30 to 150 people.

• Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and discretion.

• Valid Washington State Driver License or ability to obtain one at time of employment.

Preferred:

• Experience with electronic filing, preparation and routing of records using PDF and E-mail software’s.

• Manual processing of court records related to jury service.

• Training should be in a professional office setting which includes one year of working with the public and which demonstrates coordination of a business program or goal with multiple partners/parties.

• Working knowledge and demonstrated ability to use Jury Plus/Next Gen software.

• One year of prior court related experience.

Equipment Used:

Computers and business software, printers, multi-function processors / copy machines, multiple line telephone, voice-mail, fax machine, 10-key calculator / adding machine, scanner(s), televisions, VCR’s, DVDs, rolling carts and other standard office equipment.

Working Conditions:

May be subject to hostile/angry/opinionated clientele; pathogen exposure; multiple work locations; bending; carrying; handling; pulling; pushing; reaching; sitting; standing; walking; fingering; balancing; climbing; crouching; kneeling; hearing; smelling; talking; visual acuity; ability to multitask; confidentiality; ability to work under pressure; ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations; ability to follow written instruction; and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge to efficiently use MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MapQuest or Google Maps.

• Knowledge of databases software programs.

• Knowledge of electronic folder creation, file saving, file naming in multiple software program such as Windows, and other Microsoft Office products.

• English Grammar, spelling and punctuation.

• Files and records maintenance techniques (paper and electronic).

• Customer service techniques; Knowledge of how to use cordial professional etiquette and communication.

• General knowledge of the U.S. court practices.

• Clear communication practices to include written documentation and giving verbal instructions.

• Principles and methods associated with public/personal information dissemination.

• General professional office practices and procedures.

• Basic knowledge of roles and responsibilities of departments and members in the legal system.

Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge and demonstrated ability to efficiently use MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MapQuest or Google Maps.

• Demonstrated skills and ability performing data entry including creation of spreadsheets.

• Skill in reading, interpreting and understanding needs or requests in the English language.

• Ability to alphabetize information.

• Ability and skill to perform public speaking to groups from 30 to 150 people.

• Ability to professional and cordial communicate with people with differing opinions and social economical backgrounds.

• Ability to apply laws, rules and guidelines to determine resolutions to requests.

• Ability to defuse, hostile behaviors.

• Ability to identify and mitigate needs, defuse hostility, hazards or security risks in processing juror requests or outbursts – either in person or on the phone.

• Ability to critically think independently to determine appropriate recommendations or referrals to manager.

• Ability to make responsible decisions.

• Ability to ‘cold call’ individuals -who may be reluctant communicators- to assist with, or offer scheduling options, or to request additional -sometimes personal- information from them.

• Ability to provide, adhere to, and maintain confidentiality and professional practices. Proven ability to work independently, completing varying workload based on set timelines.

• Ability to gather and present information (written, electronically and verbally).

• Practiced and proven skills in organization, prioritization and time management.

• Ability to work within pre-established organization practices and methods.

• Ability to work with frequent and unscheduled interruptions.

• Ability to meet deadlines ahead of schedule.

• Proven ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, other department personnel and the general public.

• Ability to coordinate, negotiate and communicate time off requests with other staff members, who must cover these duties in your absence.

• Ability to deal with difficult or hostile persons / personalities.

• Ability to maintain and project a professional demeanor at all times.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.