The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Staff Services Section of Ecology's Administrative Services Division in Lacey, WA has a Lacey Headquarters Main Receptionist (Office Assistant 3) position. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
In this role, you will contribute to our mission by serving as the main receptionist for Ecology headquarters. You will be the first line of contact for internal and external customers in person and on the phone. You will also respond to questions on all agency programs and how to access agency services (conference/meeting rooms, Staff Services and Facilities, Ecology Service Center - JIRA, transportation office, and technical assistance). As part of the Staff Services team, we provide support to Ecology's business operations by maintaining the building and its infrastructure and by providing operations support services directly to Ecology and tenant agency staff. This position provides the opportunity to meet employees throughout the agency and gain knowledge of our different programs and the work our agency does.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land, and water for the benefit of current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of our Administrative Services Office is to provide quality customer service and asset management to meet Ecology's current and future business needs.
Tele-work options for this position: The schedule for this position is Monday thru Friday 8:00-5:00 in the Main Reception Area. Due to the nature of this position and coverage there is no option for telework or flex schedule. The duty station for this position is at our Headquarters Building in Lacey.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of July 8, 2024. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before July 7, 2024. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives(Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
About the Department of Ecology
Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan.
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:
- A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
- An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
- Continuous growth and development opportunities.
- Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.
Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.
Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.
Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.
Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.
Duties
What makes this role unique and challenging?
This position is unique because you will interact with external and internal customers, working with employees in all job classes throughout the agency. It can sometimes be challenging as we deal with last minute coverage changes, sometimes stressful work environment, and will have to shift daily tasks to accommodate our business needs.
What you will do:
- Assist in-person customers, answer phones, and assist callers.
- Knowledge of office and departmental policies and procedures.
- Schedules and approves requests for the auditorium and conference rooms.
- Responds to questions on all agency programs and how to access agency services.
- Responsible for ensuring the agency staff person whom the visitor(s) is meeting or here to see is contacted.
- Maintain log sheets for visitors for security issues.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Option 1:
2.5 years of clerical experience
Option 2:
High school diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of clerical experience.
Option 3:
An Associate’s degree or higher AND previous clerical experience
Equivalent combination of education and experience
Combination 1: | No High School degree or college credit | 2.5 years of experience |
Combination 2: | High School Diploma or equivalent | 2 years of experience |
Combination 3: | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. | 1 year of experience |
Combination 4: | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). | Some experience |
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
- Reception: Greet, direct/refer, and interact with the internal and external customers. It is essential to be reliable, dependable, and punctual for this position.
- Answer telephones: Use professional phone etiquette while answering multi-line telephones, transferring calls, and otherwise assisting others over the phone.
- Multi-task: Must have the ability to manage multiple priorities of walkup customers, phone customers, and events occurring in the area around the reception desk and strong organizational skills.
- Computer skills: Must have computer skills to operate the computerized telephone equipment and scheduling software. Must be capable of using email (Outlook) and work processing software (Word). Accurate keyboarding at a net speed of 40 words per minute or faster.
- Communication: Consistently follow accepted rules of the English language regarding grammar, word usage, pronunciation, and sentence structure in all oral and written communications.
Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
Supplemental Information
Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?
- Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
- If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
- If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
- If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology .
Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.
- A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
- A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
- Three professional references. Please make sure to notify your references to let them know that you have applied for this position and that they may be contacted for a reference check.
Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):
- Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
- Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.
Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.
Application Attestation:
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
Other Information:If you have specific questions about the position, please email Terrie Fields at: Terrie.Fields@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Terrie to inquire about the status of your application.
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov
Why work for Ecology?
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.