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Administrative Assistant III (Santa Cruz Police Department)

City of Santa Cruz, CA -
Santa Cruz, CA

Job Details

Full-time
$58,776 - $82,716 a year

Benefits

Commuter assistance
Disability insurance
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Vision insurance
Life insurance

Qualifications

Computer operation
Staff supervision
Confidential information handling
Office activity coordination
Database systems
Phone communication
Word processing
Spreadsheets
Writing skills
In-person customer service
Employee relationship building
Data summary reports
High school diploma or GED
Driver's License
Data management
Typing
Clerical experience
Productivity software
Local ordinances
Legal compliance
Editing
File organization

Full Job Description

The Position

RECRUITMENT UPDATE: As of 06/30/26, this job posting has been reopened with a new application deadline of 5 pm PST, Monday, July 6, 2026. Candidates who have already submitted their application are not required to reapply and will be notified of their status. The selection timeline below has been revised.

The current vacancy is for Administrative Assistant III in the Police Department. As an internal recruitment, this recruitment is open to City regular and temporary employees who participated in and passed the May 2026 Administrative Assistant III Examination (26-EXAM-01) through the City of Santa Cruz.

The Administrative Assistant III for the Santa Cruz Police Department plays a vital role in supporting the Department's operations in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment. This position works closely with department leadership, including the Deputy Chief of Operations, four Lieutenants, sworn personnel, and Community Service Officers, providing administrative support that contributes to the efficient delivery of public safety services.

Responsibilities include coordinating department-wide training and travel arrangements, managing specialized permits, and serving as the Department's POST Account Coordinator. The position regularly handles highly sensitive and confidential information, including materials related to DOJ and FBI matters, requiring the highest level of discretion, professionalism, and integrity.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, adaptable, and customer-service focused, with exceptional communication skills and the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities while supporting a mission-driven organization dedicated to serving the community.

The worksite for this position is the Santa Cruz Police Department at 155 Center Street in Santa Cruz. This is a 40-hour per week position with consideration for alternative work schedules such as 9/80, 4/10, or Monday–Friday 8am to 5 pm.

The eligible list that was established from the Administrative Assistant III examination (26-EXAM-01) is valid for up to one year from the date it was established unless the list is extended or abolished by the Human Resources Director.

Recruitment #26-PD-10

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:

The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Who is eligible to apply: Current City of Santa Cruz regular and temporary employees who participated in and successfully passed the May 2026 Administrative Assistant III Examination (26-EXAM-01) are eligible to submit an application.

On Monday, 07/06/26 recruitment will close (previous deadline 06/26/26), All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5:00 pm; postmarks are not accepted. To apply, submit:
- Application- online application only. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out the application form completely. Click the Apply button to begin the online process.
- Response to supplemental questions- will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Any work experience described here must also be included in your employment history on the main application.
Week of 06/29/26 and 07/06/26: Interested and qualified candidates who have successfully passed the application process and Administrative Assistant III Examination will be asked to submit a Non-Sworn Personal History Statement with a two-week deadline to return. **See below for information on the required NS-PHS, background investigation, and polygraph**
Week of 07/13 and 07/20/26: Application and Personal History Statement review. Candidates will be informed of their status within 10 business days of their Personal History Statement submission.
Panel Interview: All candidates who pass the PHS review will be invited to a panel interview, which may include a written and/or performance exercise. Candidates will be notified of the date and location of the panel interview at least one week in advance.
Chief's Interview - important information: The Chief's interview will be conducted for finalists following the results of the panel examination. Finalists will undergo a thorough background investigation including polygraph examination before the Chief's interview.

Internal candidates who are current regular SCPD employees who have already undergone and passed the background investigation will not be required to re-submit a Personal History Statement or repeat the background check and polygraph.

**For Police Department Positions**

An intensive background investigation will be conducted on final candidates in accordance with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines. Candidates will also be required to successfully pass a polygraph examination administered by a licensed polygrapher.

Qualified candidates will be requested via email to submit a Non-Sworn Personal History Statement form (PHS). To view this PHS form and the questions asked, go to https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/92576/638403973090670000.

IMPORTANT: Please wait until requested to submit a Personal History Statement, but you may review the form and reasons for disqualification, but DO NOT submit with your application. You must wait until requested to submit your form.

Basic Function

Under general supervision of Department Director or assigned manager, performs a full range of both clerical and administrative support functions for the Department Director or assigned manager, includes performing responsible, confidential, and complex clerical work, including but not limited to assisting with the departmental budget, processing personnel, payroll and other relevant records, and coordinating the work of other departmental clerical staff as assigned or needed.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Positions in this class are distinguished from the Office Assistant and Administrative Assistant I/II classes by the more difficult, complex, responsible, confidential and sensitive duties. Work involves a high degree of independent judgment requiring a thorough knowledge of department programs, procedures and policies, applicable legal statutes and the ability to choose among a number of alternatives in determining procedures, interpreting policies, and performing a variety of assignments without instruction. Incumbents may lead a small number of subordinate clerical positions.

Typical Duties

(May include, but are not limited to, those duties listed below.)

Prepares various departmental materials from meetings, drafts, and/or machine dictation.
-person inquiries for the Department Director and staff.
Interprets City policies, procedures, and regulations; exercises discretion in determining the nature of inquiries and how they may be most appropriately expedited.
Coordinates appointments and itineraries for the Department Director and management staff.
Makes logistical arrangements for advisory bodies, committees and other meetings; notifies all participants including any public noticing requirements as required by State Law and/or the Municipal Code; prepares agendas, coordinates the production and distribution of agenda packets.
Maintains procedures that comply with legal statutes and the Santa Cruz Municipal Code.
Independently composes correspondence and reports relative to routine departmental business.
Takes notes of open meetings as required; and prepares final minutes of meetings.
Processes and manages filing systems for various department records including personnel, legal, safety, and technical materials; maintains the security of confidential files as required.
Researches, collects, and provides records for Public Records Requests.
Enters staff reports into the City’s document management system for City Council meetings.
Prepares, processes, and maintains all personnel and payroll records for department staff.
Orders, issues and maintains departmental supplies and equipment; maintains inventory controls.
Coordinates facility/building maintenance and repairs.
Organizes, assigns, and reviews the work of other department clerical staff as assigned.
Assists in preparing the departmental budget and controlling expenditures, coordinates the processing of purchasing documents.
Responds to inquiries of a complex and technical nature requiring personal discretion and some familiarity with the subject matter.
May prepare administrative reports by researching, assembling, and summarizing information and data.
May perform any of the duties of an Administrative Assistant II including updating department websites and social media.
Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires
grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires far and near vision when reading and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper and documents weighing up to 25 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the following:

Education and Experience

High school graduation or tested equivalent and,
Four years of increasingly responsible clerical experience.

High school graduation or tested equivalent and,
Successful completion of two years of college-level course work (60 semester units) in Business or Public Administration or a directly related- field and,
Two years of clerical experience.

Knowledge:

Standard office procedures, practices, and equipment.
Proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and business correspondence format.
Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications.
Principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.
Filing and record-keeping systems.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Skills:

Type 55 words per minute or better.
Effectively compose correspondence, assemble routine administrative reports, and edit the work of others.
Effectively develop and coordinate office systems, arrange meetings and itineraries, and to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Abilities:

Perform responsible administrative and clerical support work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
Communicate information clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Analyze situations appropriately and adopt effective courses of action.
Frequently exercises independent judgment and in the absence of specific instruction.
Effectively organize, direct and review the work of other clerical staff.
Interpret and apply legal statues, municipal code administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions, maintain records and databases.
Establish and maintain effective working relations with City staff, City officials, outside agencies, and the public.
Take and transcribe comprehensive minutes and other notes during meetings or from recorded dictation which involve technical information and terminology.
Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Operate desktop and laptop computers.
Learn specialized software application programs, including programs for updating website and social media.
Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
Make routine mathematical computations accurately.
For positions assigned to the Police Department, successfully pass a law enforcement background investigation.

Licenses and Certificates

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Bilingual in Spanish, based on assignment.
Experience providing administrative support within a municipal or public sector environment, including work aligned with departmental practices, procedures, and service delivery needs such as safety coordination, regulatory compliance, customer service operations, and other department-focused initiatives.
Experience using Microsoft 365 applications, or other similar platforms, including SharePoint, to manage documents, track workflows, and support team collaboration.

Career Ladder

Career Ladder

Administrative Supervisor
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Administrative Assistant III
Administrative Assistant I/II

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