Office Specialist I

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Job Hubs career section to apply for this position. The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs. Our Values: Integrity Common Sense Innovation Accountability Position Data: Office Specialist I-J23-U10-H Regular Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime) Overview: Salary Range: $21.29 - $27.00 per hour (AFSCME 87Pay Plan B21 Step 1-13) Hiring Range: $21.29 - $22.60 per hour (AFSCME Pay 87 Plan B21 Step 1-4 DOQ) Job Closing Date: January 26, 2026 There is one opening in the Yakima County Department of Property Assessment for an Office Specialist I. The position is responsible for providing customer service and technical assistance to the public and other in person or over the phone for the Department of Property Assessment Benefits included in position: Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD) Retirement Benefits Paid Vacation Paid Holidays Paid Sick Leave This is an AFSCME 87-Master Courthouse Bargaining Unit Position. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections) Responsibilities: Essential Duties: Assists public by phone and in person. Greets visitors at counter, answers questions, directs them to appropriate parties. Researches land and legal records, including plat maps, microfiche and computer records for questions regarding ownership and/or parcel characteristics. Takes payment for copies and maps and uses cash register. Responsible for balancing cash drawer and preparing funds for deposits. Processes current use exemption applications. Audits of Current use properties to ensure continued qualification in exemption program. Calculates removal fees when property removed. Processes Real Estate Excise Affidavits. Verifies Legal Descriptions of transferred property. Ensures current owner and grantee match. Determines final name(s) to enter as new owners along with percent of ownership if relevant. Creates sale record when indicated by procedure and forward to appraisers. Processes Senior Citizen and Disabled Person exemption applications and renewals by verifying income levels from IRS filings and other income forms; Verifies address, parcel number and other required information. Makes calls or send inquiry letters to obtain additional information. Maintains filing system for physical and electronic records by scanning files into document imaging system, assigning document type, subtype and associated parcels or document numbers. Maintains physical files of building permits for appraisers and Open Space documentation. Other duties required. Education and Experience: High School Diploma or GED AND three (3) years of general office experience or office training or equivalent; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience which provides knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. As part of the interview process, there will be a keyboarding proficiency test. Required: Successful completion of a criminal and financial background investigation and general employment verification. Preferred: Use of personal computer and Microsoft Office Products (Excel, Word) Keyboarding (typing speed/accuracy) test with a minimum of 35 net w.p.m. Cash Registers Scanning equipment Customer service experience Multi-line phone experience Bilingual in English and Spanish Equipment Used: Computer, Fax Machine, Multi-line Phone, Calculator, Date Stamp, Microfiche Reader/Printer, Scanner, Other General Office Equipment Working Conditions: This job is rated as Sedentary Work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Environment: May be subject to hostile individuals. Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, crouching, kneeling, hearing, talking, and visual acuity. Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written and verbal instruction. may be subject to hostile individuals. Knowledge: Grammar, spelling and punctuation; File maintenance; Basic Mathematics; Office practices and procedures; Customer service techniques; Phone etiquette. Skills ( and abilities): Creating and maintaining file systems; Applying customer service techniques; Preparing and processing documents; Performing a variety of calculations for property taxes; Paying attention to detail and accuracy; Using office equipment such as phones, copiers, calculators and fax machines; Using computers and related software applications; Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels; Communication, both oral and written, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply. Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a persons age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute. PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish the information. Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information. Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer. Yakima County is one of the largest employers with over 1,000 employees providing services in all areas of law and justice, corrections, administration, public services and social services. Work locations are throughout the Valley and vary based on department. Check out the Countys website at www.yakimacounty.us for more information. Eligibility for benefits are dependent upon Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and if your position type is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Medical, Dental, Prescription and Vision Coverage Basic Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Health Reimbursement Account (HRA- VEBA) Health Savings Account (HSA) Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Voluntary Benefits vision, term life, critical illness, disability and other insurance plans Washington State Retirement Plan (DRS) 457 Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays and Sick Leave Click here for a full list of Yakima County Benefits Located in Central Washington, Yakima County is large (4,200 square miles) and diverse. Residents enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year and four distinct seasons. Yakima County is ranked first in the state in agricultural production, and is one of the top five areas in the nation in production of specialty crops. Irrigated farmlands and rolling foothills provide a backdrop to the nearby Cascade Mountains. Around 70 percent of the Countys 226,000 residents live in its 14 cities, towns and urban growth areas. The unique blend of rural and urban lifestyle choices offers a quality of living unsurpassed in the Northwest. Learn more at www.visityakima.com Looking for an exciting career with the Yakima County Sheriff's Department? To apply as a Lateral Deputy Sheriff, Click here To apply as an Entry Level Deputy Sheriff or a Law Enforcement Dispatcher, you must go through Public Safety Testing.