LAFCO Administrative Specialist I

The Yolo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo or Commission) is seeking an experienced professional to fill one (1) regular, part-time position (24 hours per week) in the class of LAFCO Administrative Specialist I. This person will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of a long-term staff member.

About Yolo LAFCo
LAFCo's were created by the state legislature in 1963 and represent a unique California experiment in rationalizing growth and development through local control of the formation, expansion, and alteration of local agencies within each county. The legislative intent for LAFCos is “discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands, efficiently providing government services and encouraging the orderly formation and development of local governmental agencies based upon local conditions and circumstances…”. Yolo LAFCo is an independent government entity, separate from Yolo County and the four cities (but are Yolo County employees for HR purposes). LAFCo’s staff report to the Commission comprised of two Board of Supervisors members, two city council members, and one public member. 

With a small but mighty staff of 2-3 professionals, our work primarily involves: (1) functioning as a “think tank” or research institute recommending the evolution of local government countywide via Municipal Service Reviews and Sphere of Influence studies; (2) processing change of organization applications to form/dissolve, annex/detach area from, and merge/consolidate local agencies in compliance with the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act; and (3) other special projects as directed by the Commission including facilitating shared services and convening collaborative conversations on policy issues of local interest. 

The Position & Ideal Candidate Profile

LAFCo staff are expected to work in a responsive, collaborative, and creative manner to support both our mission and local agencies in Yolo County. The position covered by this recruitment will have primary responsibility for providing skilled clerical and administrative work in support of, and serves as Clerk for, LAFCo. 

The most competitive candidates will demonstrate:

• At least three years of experience as a team player, preferably in local government. Experience clerking meetings is a plus. 
• Skills using Microsoft 365 software (including Excel), maintaining websites, GIS, and willingness to learn and work with a bureaucratic financial system.
• Excellent internal and external customer service, interacting with Commissioners and local agency staff.
• Strong organizational skills tracking multiple deadlines and be self-motivated. 
• Ability to provide research to support LAFCo’s informational studies and special projects. 
• The ability to be both detail-oriented and see issues with a broader view.

Note on Part-Time Work:

Due to LAFCo’s small staff, this position is offered as part-time at 24 hours per week in the office with a work schedule at the Executive Officer’s discretion, balanced with the need to maintain regular public hours at LAFCo’s offices in the County Administration Building in Woodland.

Experience:Three (3) years of clerical experience.
 
Education Substitution:  Completion of coursework from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to one (1) year of experience.  Thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units is equivalent to one (1) year of experience. 

Knowledge of: 

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• Style and format of business correspondence
• English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation
• General and financial record keeping and maintenance techniques
• Basic accounting and personnel principles, calculations and record keeping practices
• Basic organizational structure and functions of County and City governments

Ability to:

• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Apply customer service skills, including the identification of customer needs and follow up to ensure customer commitments have been met
• Interpret, evaluate, select, organize and condense a variety of discussions in order to prepare the official minutes of LAFCo meetings and public hearings
• Organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines and follow-up on assignments
• Research and evaluate work problems, and recommend solutions
• Develop and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with others
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Proofread and/or edit for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation

• Screen for Minimum Qualifications
• Screening for Best Qualified
• Department Selection Interviews
• Reference Checks
• Conditional Job Offer, pending:
  1. Pre-Employment Exams 
     • Drug & Alcohol Screen
     • Department of Justice Live Scan
• Confirmed Job Offer: TBD

Salary : $55,432 - $67,371