Front Desk Office Attendant I - Activity Center

Do you have a passion for directly serving the citizens in your community? Do you enjoy providing thoughtful conversation, resources, and participation in a variety of activities or programming? The City of Des Moines Activity Center offers programs that support active aging, including daily meals, fitness classes, social outings, and caregiver resources. This part‑time, hourly Office Attendant will be front and center to welcome and provide customer service to activity‑center participants who may need additional support, time, and inviting conversation.

Pay

$17.22 – $19.33 per hour, depending on experience.

Schedule

The typical schedule is Monday‑Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., averaging about 20 hours per week. Hours may vary depending on program or departmental needs. This is a variable‑hour, part‑time, year‑round position.

Responsibilities

• Greets customers, answers telephone, assists customers with requests, directs calls to appropriate personnel, and resolves grievances and complaints when needed.
• Provides information on department and program policies and procedures; refers inquiries as appropriate.
• Accepts and processes program participant registrations and collects fees.
• Processes bank deposits and prepares Revenue Transmittal Report as needed.
• Performs general clerical duties related to the assigned functional area and facility.
• Types, proofreads, and processes a variety of documents including general correspondence, customer‑related correspondence, and memos, from rough draft or verbal instruction.
• Assists with collections of past‑due accounts as needed.
• Provides support for department programs, meetings, and special events as needed.
• Operates standard office equipment (computer, copy machine, etc.) and assists with office machine maintenance.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative, effective working relationships with co‑workers, other City employees, and the public using good customer‑service principles.
• Reports for scheduled work with regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including covering absences, equalizing peak work periods, or balancing workload across functional areas.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least one year of experience as a customer service representative, office assistant, secretary, or related position (recreation work experience preferred).
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of cash handling and cashiering.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word for Windows, Excel, and Recreation “Class” registration software.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy office environment.
• Ability to deal with the public with poise and tact in sometimes stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible, self‑starting, and follow directions.
• Ability to read, interpret, and follow rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to recognize safety hazards.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in a professional manner using tact, discretion, and courtesy.
• Ability to perform basic math calculations.
• Ability to type a minimum of 35 words per minute.
• Must obtain a First Aid/CPR card prior to employment.
• Successful completion of a pre‑employment background and criminal‑history check.
• Applicants who use tobacco products are not eligible for hire.

Qualifications

Positions in this job classification series are flexibly staffed depending upon qualifications, with advancement to higher levels as recommended by the assigned department:

• Office Attendant I – Entry‑level; typically no work‑related experience; works under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.
• Office Attendant II – Basic work‑related experience; works under immediate supervision while learning tasks and progressing to general supervision.
• Office Attendant III – Several years of work‑related experience; works independently after learning assigned responsibilities.
• Office Attendant IV – Highest level; provides lead direction and training to other extra‑hire employees.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office environment, typically sitting at a desk or standing behind a counter for long periods. The position requires continuous fingering, repetitive hand and wrist motions, frequent standing, walking, bending, talking, reaching, and handling of light objects (less than 20 lb). Employees may be exposed to noise from office equipment and may occasionally work evenings or weekends. Hand‑eye coordination and fine‑manipulation skills are necessary to operate computers and office machinery. The role also requires the ability to speak and hear to exchange information.