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Administrative Assistant
Salary
$32.72 - $39.77 Hourly
Location
Tacoma, WA
Job Type
Classified
Job Number
0737-26
Department
City of Tacoma - CITY WIDE LIST
Opening Date
02/20/2026
Closing Date
3/2/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
Benefits
Questions
Position Description
The City of Tacoma (http://www.cityoftacoma.org) is establishing an eligible list for Administrative Assistant that will be used to fill vacancies for one year in all City of Tacoma departments. Administrative Assistants support a variety of City services and programs by performing administrative and clerical functions. Administrative Assistant positions exist throughout the City of Tacoma; work assignments and telework options vary by department.
NOTE: Depending on the business needs of the department, work schedules may include teleworking as an option.
Administrative Assistants use independent judgment in performing professional administrative functions by reviewing routine work of staff for completeness, accuracy, and to ensure compliance with laws, rules, policies, procedures, and standards. Administrative Assistants may handle confidential materials, coordinate personnel actions, assist with projects or programs, and coordinate work within a department, between departments, and with the public and/or other governmental entities.
Qualifications
Associate's degree and a minimum of two years of increasingly responsible office work experience.*
Please note: Related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:
There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
Depending upon assignment occasional travel within a 30-mile (or more) radius may be required.
Individuals must pass a background check. Some positions may require incumbents to successfully pass a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background check.
Positions assigned to or supporting the Tacoma Police Department may require additional background screening, including, but not limited to, fingerprinting and/or a polygraph test.
Knowledge & Skills
Ability to learn City and governmental policies and procedures regarding area assigned
Ability to learn general goals and purpose of departmental services and operations; establish and maintain harmonious work relationships with co-workers and the general public
Knowledge of office practices and procedures
Ability to learn government structure and process, budgeting, and office technologies
Ability to use a computer application to accurately enter text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save and retrieve documents
Ability to use a computer application to accurately enter, manipulate and format text and numerical data, insert, delete and manipulate cells, rows and columns, and create and save worksheets, charts and graphs
Ability to use a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information
Knowledge of accounting support techniques
Communicate information effectively to internal and external customers face-to-face or by phone, email and/or written correspondence
Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize work; analyzing situations to develop a course of action and anticipate potential obstacles
Interacting respectfully and sensitively with individuals and groups to develop productive relationships and provide quality customer service
Gathering and classifying information according to established methods; cooperate with co-workers on group projects
Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; assist with the interview process; handle sensitive contacts involving the public and other work units
Familiarity with the day-to-day operations of an office; ability to use sound judgment in responding to requests and workplace situations to assist in the resolution of issues
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.
If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.
With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!
View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $32.72 - $39.77
Annual Salary: $68,057.60 - $82,721.60
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/)
Application Process
(NOTE: This recruitment is being managed by HR Analyst Kat Flores (kflores@cityoftacoma.org) .)
Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.
Examination
Applicants who apply and meet minimum qualifications will be invited to take an online skills assessment. Details and the test link will be sent via email the week of March 2, 2026. Be sure to check your junk folder for this email so you don't miss the deadline. The assessment includes but is not limited to proofreading, business communications, proofreading, and Microsoft Office Suite applications. Applicants who receive a passing score will be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.
Appointment is subject to passing a background check. This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local Union 483 IBEW, Clerical Unit. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
Accommodations
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during this process, please contact Human Resources at (253) 591-5400.
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.
For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment @type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.), Google, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. I understand that any form of cheating or falsification will disqualify my application for further consideration.
Yes
No
02
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?
High school diploma or GED
Some college, no degree received
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
None of the above
03
How many years of increasingly responsible office/administrative support experience do you have?
4+ years
2-3 years
Less than 2 years
04
Which of the options below best describes your proficiency in using SAP?
No experience
Developing experience, occasional user
Developing experience, taken related courses, use several times a week
Skilled, everyday user
Expert user
05
How many years of experience do you have providing direct administrative support to management or executive-level employees (e.g., managing calendars, organizing records, prioritizing inquires, and preparing materials for approval)?
Less than 1 year
1 year to less than 3 years
3 year to less than 5 years
5 or more years
06
In which of the following areas do you have professional experience and/or training? Check all that apply.
Outlook
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
SharePoint/One Drive
Smartsheet
Adobe DC or Pro
Microsoft Teams virtual platform
Zoom virtual platform
Website maintenance
DocuSign management
Document production
Proofreading for document accuracy
Project coordination
Planning and organizing work
Hiring/onboarding
Customer service
Assisting with budgets
Procurement
Ariba
SAP
Record keeping
Records management
Procurement (purchase requisitions, purchase orders, contract maintenance, invoice processing)
Travel coordination
Public disclosure requests
Timekeeping/Payroll
Maintaining multiple schedules or calendars
Working for a government agency
Working for a utilities agency
Working in a Finance department
Working in an IT department
Accela
Visio
Tableau
Power BI
HANAlytics
None of the above
07
From the professional experience/training areas you noted in question #6, choose up to five that reflect your strongest skills/experience that would transition successfully to an Administrative Assistant position. Please provide detailed information about that experience including where you gained the experience and/or training. If you selected no areas in Question #6, please note "N/A".
08
Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership on a team. What was the team's goal? What was the outcome?
09
One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe an experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
10
Some positions at the City of Tacoma are appointed on a temporary basis. Temporary appointments are typically less than one year in duration. Would you be willing to accept a temporary appointment?
Yes
No
11
Are you willing to work at any of the following remote locations (please mark all that you are willing to work at)?
Tacoma Water's Headworks in Ravensdale, WA
Tacoma Power's Cowlitz Hydroelectric Project in Silver Creek, WA
Tacoma Power's Nisqually Hydroelectric Project in LaGrande, WA
Tacoma Power's Cushman Hydroelectric Project in Shelton, WA
Not able/willing to work at a remote location
12
Please tell us how you learned about this job opening. Select one.
Job Interest Card notification
Professional organization
Military organization
City of Tacoma employee
Online job board posting
Word of mouth
LinkedIn
Tacoma Training & Education Program (TTEP)
Indeed
Facebook
Instagram
Careers in Government
Government Jobs
Outreach Event
National Diversity Network
African American Job Network
Disability Job Network
Asian Job Network
Latino Job Network
Retirement Job Network
LGBT Job Network
Veteran Job Network
International Association of Venue Managers
Teamwork Online
Venue Coalition
Venues Now
International Entertainment Buyers Association
Other (see below)
13
Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings. Thank you.
Required Question
Employer
City of Tacoma
Address
Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764
Phone
253-591-5400
Website
http://www.tacoma.gov
Apply
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