Do you have a passion for the outdoors, trails, and preserving open space? Do you thrive on helping others and enjoy public interaction? If so, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has an excellent opportunity for three experienced Administrative Assistants to join our growing workforce!
About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with more than 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page. At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.
About the Positions: Midpen aims to recruit and retain employees who embody professionalism, accountability, and respect, who value working in a purpose-driven agency that aspires to contribute to an inclusive and diverse community. This is a full journey-level classification where the incumbents are expected to provide high quality administrative support, performing a wide variety of administrative duties with occasional instruction. Ideal candidates are resourceful and organized self-starters with excellent oral and written communication skills and superb attention to detail. Midpen’s Administrative Assistants are energetic, outgoing, and assist with public meetings, events, projects, meetings, field trips and site visits. Midpen Administrative Assistants provide daily support to departmental staff as well as occasional public support at the front desk. We have opportunities in the following departments:
Planning
The person selected will play an active role in working with planners/project managers and staff on projects that will provide public access and protect some of our most precious and threatened open space resources in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. The ideal candidate will assist with meeting scheduling/coordination/note taking, summary preparation, project research and filing, database administration/management, public noticing requirements, community engagement, support for in-person and online meetings, budget preparation and reporting, bidding and contracting process, presentation materials, and interfacing with a variety of stakeholders, including consultants/contractors, the Counties (e.g. official document filings), and members of the public.
Natural Resources
The person selected will play an active role in working with resource management specialists/project managers and staff on stewardship projects and activities that will protect some of our most precious and threatened open space resources in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. The ideal candidate will assist with meeting scheduling/coordination, summary preparation, project research and filing, database administration/management, public noticing requirements, community engagement, support for in-person and online meetings, budget preparation and reporting, bidding and contracting requirements, presentation materials, and interfacing with a variety of stakeholders, including consultants/contractors, other governmental agencies (e.g. official document filings), and members of the public.
Real Property/Engineering & Construction (shared)
In Real Property you will assist with title/escrow transactions, recording documents, database management, and interfacing with the Counties on real estate matters.
In Engineering & Construction, work will include working with project managers and staff on projects that will provide public access and protect some of our most precious and threatened open space resources. The ideal candidate will assist with meeting scheduling/coordination/note taking, summary preparation, project research and filing, database administration/management, public noticing requirements, bidding and contracting process, presentation materials, and interfacing with a variety of stakeholders, including consultants/contractors, the Counties (e.g. official document filings), and members of the public.
For additional information about the position, see the Job Description on our website.
A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job
- Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
- You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
- Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
Work Environment: In addition to working in an office environment, the Administrative Assistant in this position may occasionally work evenings or weekends and may occasionally accompany Midpen staff to an open space preserve, traversing uneven terrain. Midpen offers a hybrid office/telecommute work environment for this position. Our administrative office is in Los Altos, California.
Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.
Education and Experience: We realize your time is valuable, so please apply only if you have at least the required minimum qualifications outlined here: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- equivalent to the completion of twelfth (12th) grade and
- three (3) years of progressively responsible general office experience.
- applicants should have experience in Microsoft Office including Outlook scheduling, Word, PowerPoint, mid-level Excel spreadsheet, and Adobe Acrobat editing.
- a Bachelor’s degree and public sector experience are a plus.
Licenses & Certifications Required: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Benefits: Midpen provides an excellent benefits package including health, life & disability insurance as well as CalPERS pension. Please see the Benefits page on our website for details.
How to Apply: apply online at CalOpps.org
(To avoid missing email communication about this recruitment, add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders.)
Application deadline: August 4, 2024. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.
The following application items are required to be considered*:
1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application
2. Cover letter
3. Resume
4. Supplemental question responses
*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.
Interview Schedule: (dates subject to change)
First Interview (virtual): August 14 or 15, 2024
Written Exercise (virtual): August 19, 2024
Second Interview (in person): August 20, 2024
A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation
by contacting the Human Resources department at
(650) 691-1200 or via email at hr@openspace.org.