IRC Branch Support Assistant

About the Role

Join the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and be part of an organization that serves as a leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all. This position is within the Recovery Directorate, specifically the Interagency Recovery Coordination Branch (IRC), supporting six primary recovery outcomes: Community Planning and Capacity Building, Economic Recovery, Health and Social Services, Housing, Infrastructure, and Natural and Cultural Resources. The role also provides support for other disaster-related programs including Public Assistance (PA), California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA), Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and Individual Assistance (IA).

Under close supervision of the Program Manager III (PM III), the Office Assistant (Typing) performs a variety of general office work functions to ensure internal support during normal operations and disaster activations. The position requires the ability to type at least 40 words per minute from ordinary manuscript or printed material, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and function in an environment with demanding and changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide efficient and timely clerical support while maintaining a standard workload and responding to frequent short-term tasks.
• Perform general administrative, clerical, and technical assistance tasks.
• Support meetings, workshops, trainings, and conferences, including room setup, preparing materials, managing technology, and sending invitations.
• Review documents for completeness, accuracy, grammar, ADA compliance, and adherence to procedures.
• Update manuals, desk guides, procedures, and other documentation to support operational consistency.
• Provide courteous, timely customer service to internal and external partners consistent with the Cal OES Strategic Plan values.
• Interpret technical and legal documents and apply this understanding when preparing administrative or recovery-related materials.
• Maintain filing systems, process mail, perform data entry, and handle other clerical duties.
• Work independently with limited supervision while exercising good judgment, initiative, tact, and resourcefulness.
• Support disaster recovery programs by assisting in the management of statewide disaster recovery efforts.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and ability to learn additional software used for correspondence, record keeping, and tracking.
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute accurately from printed or typed material.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise, and grammatically correct correspondence, reports, and documentation.
• Experience performing clerical and administrative duties, such as photocopying, preparing folders, data entry, processing mail, and maintaining filing systems.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage multiple short-term tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including Recovery staff, local agencies, executives, and federal/state partners.
• Familiarity with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, particularly those relevant to disaster recovery programs.
• Experience working in environments with demanding and changing priorities, including readiness to respond to emergencies as part of activation duties.
• Comfort working under stressful conditions, during tight timelines, extended hours, weekends, holidays, or rotating shifts when emergency activations occur.

Working Conditions

This position is located in the Interagency Recovery Coordination Branch Support Unit in Mather, CA. It is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, though additional in-office days may be required based on business needs.

In the event of an emergency, employees may be contacted and requested to report to work outside of normal working hours (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays). This service may require irregular work hours, work locations other than the official duty station, and duties beyond those specified in the position description. Travel in support of emergency operations may be extensive (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require relocation to emergency sites.

Benefits

• Free parking
• On-site gym and locker room
• Electric carport
• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) retirement plans
• Flexible schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental, and vision insurance for the employee or the employee’s family
• Investment in career development
• Proximity to local eateries, financial institutions, and Light Rail Station

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.