Principal Clerk

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This position involves responsibility for independently performing highly difficult and complex clerical duties and for relieving superior of administrative details by arranging conferences and by relieving him or her of contacts which should properly be made with subordinate officials. This position may be responsible for utilizing a micro-computer, remote computer terminal or similar computer equipment in the performance of daily work-related tasks. If this position has the responsibility for utilizing this equipment more than 70% of the work time, it is not properly classified as a Principal Clerk, but rather is classified in another appropriate series based on the duties and responsibilities performed. The correspondence duties of these employees are distinguished by the fact that most letters and releases of a routine recurring nature are composed personally. General supervision is received from higher level administrative staff, with wide leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgement in giving out information regarding departmental policies and practices, and in planning the routine of the office. Direct supervision is exercised over the work of one or more clerical assistants. The incumbent does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Relieves superior of administrative detail by assisting in maintaining contracts with reporting units;
• Reviews material submitted by staff members for compliance with procedures and policies before forwarding it to department head for action or decision;
• Collects information to be used as a basis for reports and memoranda and prepares summaries and reports of various phases of the agency's program;
• Maintains personal files for superior, and may direct the operation of the files' system of the agency;
• Receives and reads addressed to the superior, personally answering many letters, and attaching background material to those referred to superior for decision;
• Keeps complex records of the agency's activities;
• May supervise the work of a number of clerks, stenographers, typists, clerks and other clerical staff;
• Assigns work, furnishes guidance while work is in process, and reviews finished work on completion;
• Maintains office discipline;
• Trains new employees;
• May operate addressograph, mimeograph, calculator, adding machine, typewriter, word processing equipment and other office machines;
• Performs a variety of related duties as required.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment; thorough knowledge of the pertinent policies and practices, laws and regulations of the agency; good knowledge of Business Arithmetic and English; ability to plan and supervise the work of others; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to handle routine administrative details independently, including the composition of letters and memoranda without dictation; ability to proceed independently in solving difficult clerical problems; skill in carrying out public relation activities with operating officials and the general public; clerical aptitude.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(A) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and three years of clerical experience, one year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity; OR

(B) Four years of experience as outlined in (A) above; OR

(C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B) above.

NOTE: The essential functions of this job are determined by the department/jurisdiction where the job is located.

Candidates interested in applying must complete an online application. In addition, all applicants are requested to submit a current resume.