Job Description
COUNCIL ASSISTANT
(Non-classified)
JOB CODE 06330
| Effective Date: | 10/05N |
|---|
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:
The fundamental reason this classification exists is to provide a visible link between elected officials and the public, acting as a representative of the Council members in dealings with constituents (both individually and in groups), City Departments, and Committees providing staff assistance to the Council. The Council Assistant is appointed by and works for a district Council member. Assignments are received from, carried out for, and reported to the Council member. Citizen inquiries and complaints are directed to this employee who must respond with the utmost tact and resourcefulness in seeking solutions to the problems presented both within City government and through other agencies. Incumbents must be knowledgeable about a variety of City issues and be able to state the Council members' positions on such issues. Incumbents must exercise considerable judgment in their capacity as advisor to the Council members with the responsibility for analyzing policy issues and advising elected officials on strategies and alternatives for dealing with the issues. Council Assistants also conduct research for Council members, draft correspondence and speeches, and staff City Council Subcommittees. Duties may include supervising the constituent service function and resolving the more complex cases, research and report writing, overseeing office operations including supervising other positions in the office, and budget and calendar management. Incumbents may also be required to represent Council members at group meetings and events when scheduling conflicts occur, advise Council members on various policy issues, organize district citizen forums and other event coordination, and/or represent the Council member's interests in working with various City departments, committees, and outside organizations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Works with community and neighborhood groups to resolve neighborhood concerns;
- Acts as a representative of Council members at meetings with constituent groups, City departments, and committees;
- Organizes district citizen forums;
- Conducts research, writes reports, and prepares correspondence in response to public inquiries;
- Advises Council members on various policy issues;
- Receives complaints or inquiries from the public, answering from knowledge or referring to the proper agency of the City, County, State or Federal government or community organizations;
- Maintains follow-up procedures;
- Maintains a database on constituent concerns and relays this information to the Mayor, Council, and City Manager;
- Manages the Council members' budget and calendar;
- Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Organization and function of government generally and Phoenix district system specifically.
- Public administrative procedures.
- Microcomputer applications.
- Research techniques, methods, and procedures.
- Converse tactfully with people of varied social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
- Apply imaginative resolutions of misunderstanding and disagreement.
- Interpret regulations and ordinances properly.
- Synthesize and organize research studies.
- Communicate orally in the English language with customers, clients, and the public using a telephone or in a one-to-one or group setting.
- Produce written documents in the English language with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
- Enter data or information into a terminal, PC, or other keyboard device.
- Work cooperatively with others.
- Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
Additional Requirements:
- Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
- Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions.
ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
A bachelor's degree in business management, public administration, political science or a related field. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.