Office Assistant III (& to establish a list)

City of Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit seeks an Office Assistant III in the Department of Public Works to perform moderately complex clerical tasks and supervise junior staff as needed. Responsibilities include typing from drafts, data entry, filing, and handling confidential information.

Ideal candidates have a high school diploma or GED, plus two years of office experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office products. This is an in-office role requiring strong organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED with coursework in typing, keyboarding, word processing, and office management or business related subjects.
• Two years of recent office experience performing moderately complex clerical and office work.

Responsibilities

• Type from rough drafts important and/or confidential correspondence and reports.
• Assemble data and information and enter into defined tabular format.
• Maintain records in databases, spreadsheets and logs, requiring knowledge of departmental practices and procedures.
• Schedule appointments and maintain calendars.
• Issue licenses and permits, determining eligibility through verifying documentation.
• Accept payments and issue receipts.
• Screen telephone calls and visitors and assist with nontechnical inquiries.
• Plan, schedule and review work of subordinates.
• Supervise group of clerical employees.
• Procure and monitor inventory of office materials and supplies.

Skills

Typing

Data entry

Oral and written communication

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Attention to detail

Education

High School diploma or GED

Two years college coursework preferable

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Excel

Internet & Email

Job description

OFFICE ASSISTANT III -DPW (& to establish a list) DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Under general supervision, perform moderately complex and semi-specialized clerical support duties; may supervise other clerical employees.

• Type from rough draft important and/or confidential correspondence and reports.
• Assemble data and information and enter into defined tabular format.
• Determine the pertinence, adequacy, arrangement and form of reports or correspondence requiring familiarity with departmental rules, policies and procedures.
• Proofread and check accuracy of work.
• Determine classification of material for filing.
• Perform filing of correspondence, records and reports.
• Maintain records in databases, spreadsheets and logs, requiring knowledge of departmental practices and procedures.
• Maintain confidential records and files.
• Schedule appointments and maintain calendars.
• Issue licenses and permits, determining eligibility through verifying documentation.
• Accept payments and issue receipts.
• Screen telephone calls and visitors and assist with nontechnical inquiries
• Plan, schedule and review work of subordinates.
• Supervise group of clerical employees.
• Procure and monitor inventory of office materials and supplies.

Qualifications (required):

• High School graduation or G.E.D. (General Educational Development) equivalent with coursework in typing, keyboarding, word processing, and office management or business related subjects.
• Two (2) years of recent office experience performing moderately complex clerical and office work.

Qualifications (preferred):

• Experience in a City department.
• Two (2) years of college courses preferable with proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

Evaulation Plan

• Computerized Assessment: 80%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience, & Personal Qualifications: 20%
• Interview: Pass/Fail

Total of Computerized Assessment, Interview and Evaluation T.E.P 100%

• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 Points
• Veteran Points: 0-15 Points

LRD 6/8/2026

Licensing and Certifications

Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of office work, terms and equipment.
• Knowledge of standard document formats and English usage in business correspondence.
• Knowledge of standard office database and spreadsheet software.
• Skill in typing and data entry with speed and accuracy.
• Skill in recording and transcribing with speed and accuracy.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in use of office equipment.
• Skill in filing and file maintenance.
• Skill in use of personal computers, common office word processing, spreadsheet and database software.
• Skill in performing arithmetic computations with accuracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to preserve confidentiality and discern what is confidential.
• Ability to draft original non-routine documents.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to display initiative and resourcefulness in performance of duties.

Physical Demands

The employee generally remains in a stationary position for an extended period of time operating standard office equipment which may include computers, telephones, photocopiers, and fax machines. The employee is expected to move about to accomplish tasks such as opening file cabinets and moving files. Must be able to lift, push, pull, and carry up to (25) pounds.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Some work requires travel to meetings, conferences, and other work sites with exposure to seasonal weather conditions.