Clerical Aide (Seasonal)

City of Cambridge; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Cambridge DOT is hiring to support a busy office handling parking services, permits, and customer inquiries in Cambridge, MA. You will assist the public, process payments, and help ensure accurate records across multiple systems.

Responsibilities include reviewing applications, advising on hearings, and performing data entry with strict accuracy. Requires professionalism, confidentiality, and the ability to work with diverse residents and staff.

Qualifications

• Must know standard office procedures and work with limited supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.
• Self-motivation and reliability in handling multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist the public professionally.
• Handle parking tickets inquiries, payments and disputes.
• Answer a high volume of calls about permits, parking services, and adjudication.
• Assist with permit applications in person and by phone.
• Review applications for completeness and accuracy; approve/deny accordingly.
• Process and collect permit fees and ticket payments.
• Balance daily receipts and maintain records of transactions.
• Input and retrieve data in vendor databases and systems.
• Inform the public of rights to hearings under MA law.

Skills

Office procedures

Communication

Self-motivation

Customer service

Confidentiality

Education

High school or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Data systems

Job description

The City of Cambridge Department of Transportation (DOT) supports the safety and health of the Cambridge community by creating and sustaining a high-quality street and parking system that supports a range of transportation options for all those who live, travel, and park in Cambridge.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core duties and responsibilities may include the following:

• Welcomes and assists individuals in a professional manner.
• Assist customers inquiring about, paying and/or disputing parking tickets.
• Answer high volume of phone calls regarding permitting, parking services, engineering, and the adjudication process.
• Assist customers with the various permit application processes in person and over the phone in a professional manner.
• Reviews permit and dispute applications submitted online and in person for completeness and accuracy.
• Approve or deny permit applications and requests based upon City regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Process a variety of permits, including those accessed by residents using the City’s online web applications.
• Collect permit fees and parking ticket payments in cash, check, and credit cards.
• Balance daily receipts collected for permit fees with financial reports.
• Assist in sorting mail, researching records, and printing reports as required.
• Enter data in, and retrieve data from, various databases and vendor-maintained systems.
• Record and maintain accurate records of all transactions.
• Advise the public of their right to a hearing under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90 § 20A½ and § 20E.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of standard office procedures.
• The ability to work with limited direct supervision and accurately perform assigned duties in a timely and professional manner.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people including citizens, staff, and other City Department personnel.
• Must be able to handle pressures of contact with the public, respond to customers in a courteous and professional manner, and maintain confidential information.
• Must pass a background check from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to access its ATLAS business portal.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and data systems.
• High school education or equivalent required.
• Must show a high degree of self-motivation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in an office environment with comparable skills desirable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office environment with fluorescent lighting, carpeted floors, air-conditioning. The noise level in the work environment is moderately loud, which can elevate with phone calls and walk in members of the public. Busy office work environment characterized by multiple work demands.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.Ability to operate office equipment including copiers, printers, scanners, fax, base radios, paper, and electronic file system. Executes multiple tasks involving keyboarding, telephones, writing, bending, reaching, and lifting up to 15 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.