Council Staff Assistant

This is professional, administrative, and analytical work providing support services to City Council members. Work includes conducting research into public policy issues and City Council agenda items, analyzing data, preparing reports, committee administration, investigating and responding to citizen complaints, and assisting with office management. An incumbent is also responsible for continuous liaison work with community and governmental representatives at all levels. Work is performed under the supervision of an assigned supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Reviews City Council agenda items, identifies resolutions and ordinances requiring additional research, and provides information to Councilmembers.
• Attends pre-Council staff meetings and Board of Equalization meetings, monitors or attends City Council meetings as directed, and presents information at public meetings.
• Performs research into policy questions or potential amendments to the city charter, municipal code, or state statutes, and simplifies complex information into clear and direct written or verbal communications for presentation.
• Investigates constituent complaints and questions, determines appropriate actions, and responds to the constituents and Councilmembers.
• Assists with review of the annual recommended city budget, including all appropriations, revenues, bonded indebtedness, and the capital improvement plan. Investigates significant changes to department appropriations or capital projects with department staff and provides Councilmembers with written and verbal briefings, answers questions, and analyzes proposed amendments.
• Prepares resolutions revising the recommended budget and participates in public hearings and department presentations during City Council budget consideration process.
• Provides support to legislative committees formed by the City Council, including preparing agendas and any written, verbal, or media presentations for meetings, preparing and distributing meeting summaries, and ensuring that file copies are maintained in accordance with department policies.
• Serves as liaison to City departments, outside agencies, and community groups, developing and maintaining positive relationships that result in effective communications between these agencies and the City Council.
• Assists with creating the City Council department budget and monitoring department expenditures.
• Prepares external communications, including correspondence, speeches, media releases, responses to open records requests, and proclamations or other forms of special recognition.
• Represents Councilmembers at committee, advisory group, task force, and neighborhood meetings, as well as organizing and participating in ad hoc meetings, or hosting visitors and tours, as directed by supervisor.
• Collaborates with state legislature lobbyists to ensure Councilmembers receive all information needed to provide input or testimony regarding key legislative bills.
• Coordinates office management functions, including bill payment, procurement of supplies and equipment, website maintenance, information technology, facilities issues, equipment maintenance, and travel planning.
• Develops department procedures for office management functions.
• Provides support to Councilmembers’ work related to franchise agreements, the turnback tax committee, or other comparable boards and committees created by the City Council or state legislature.
• Assists with onboarding and orientation for newly-elected Councilmembers.
• Assists with department clerical functions as needed.
• Maintains regular job attendance in accordance with a schedule established for the position by the supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates within the scope of this classification.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Four (4) years of professional or administrative experience in municipal, county, state or federal government or the equivalent in private industry.
• Must be able to transport oneself or coordinate transportation to work sites throughout the City during the course of the work day.

Skills

• Knowledge of municipal, county, state, and federal government organizations and operations.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, the structure and functions of municipal government, budget preparation, and budget management.
• Knowledge of business English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of, and ability to operate, computers and other technology using standard or customized computer or systems software applications appropriate to the assigned tasks.
• Skill in investigative research and reporting techniques.
• Skill in preparing clear, concise, and well-organized written business correspondence, reports, presentations, proclamations, and speeches.
• Skill in researching and analyzing constituent complaints and preparing clear and complete responses to constituents and Councilmembers.
• Skill in office management processes and developing procedures.
• Ability to learn and adapt to advances in computer and electronics device technology and software.
• Ability to research, understand, and explain city charter or municipal code provisions relevant to requests for information from the City Council or the public.
• Ability to understand and clearly communicate the effects of proposed changes to the city charter, municipal code, state statutes, or city policies.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple assignments and projects.
• Ability to effectively represent the City Council at meetings.
• Ability to understand oral or written instructions.
• Ability to adhere to safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, elected officials, representatives of outside agencies, and members of the general public.
• Ability to bend, stand, walk, sit, and type continuously, reach push, and pull occasionally.
• Ability to move objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds occasionally.

Benefits

• Forty-hour work week.
• Paid leave per year: twelve days vacation; five days management; fifteen days sick; and fifteen holidays.
• Employee’s group health insurance, including major medical, vision, and dental, for individual or family.
• Defined benefit pension plan, plus Social Security, and more.

See hr.cityofomaha.org for detailed information.

Pay

$75,046.40 with step increases to $100,443.20 annually.

Applicants for this closed competitive posting must be current or former City of Omaha employees who meet specific eligibility criteria, including having worked at least 1,040 cumulative hours within the last 5 years and employment by the City within the last 18 months.