Job Description

Posting number: 17096

Department: Commissioner Precinct 1

Division: Reservations & Transportation

Job classification: Administrative Assistant

Posting type: Open

Categories: Administrative Assistant, Customer Service, Communications, Office and Administrative Support

About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis

There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county’s government. Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents the constituents of Precinct One.

With approximately 1.17 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles. Precinct One’s multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 33 percent African American, 38 percent Latino, 21 percent Anglo, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent other or multiple races. Precinct One stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct’s territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium. Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex and the renowned Texas Medical Center. The Precinct is also the higher educational home to Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas. Precinct One manages more than 21 parks, 10 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Office Mission Precinct One:

Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Office, is committed to becoming a national model for delivering responsive public service that utilizes inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approaches to improve the quality of life, advance equality of opportunity, and promote the fair treatment of all people in Harris County. Key Areas of focus for our organization include, but are not limited to:

• Advancing more effective, fair and equitable criminal justice system.

• Furthering economic justice, equity, and opportunity for all Harris County residents, especially those often and historically left behind by government programs.

• Ensuring equitable outcomes in health and access to quality, affordable healthcare

• Fighting for environmental and climate justice that keeps all communities safe and healthy.

• Equitably investing in developing and maintaining resilient infrastructure and transportation for the 21st century

• Building and defending voting rights and a democracy that ensures equitable representation.

• Progressing equity and social and racial justice as common threads through all areas of public policy and public service.

The ideal candidate will manage a high volume of incoming calls, warmly greet all visitors, and efficiently direct inquiries and guests to the appropriate personnel. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to maintaining a welcoming and organized front desk area, ensuring a positive first impression for all constituents and visitors and managing conference room reservations. This position requires exceptional communication skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, public-facing setting. This role is for a highly organized and professional Front Desk Assistant to support a high-profile elected official’s office in a formal and busy office environment.

Essential Duties:

Front Desk Customer Experience

• Manage High-Volume Communications: Efficiently answer and screen a large volume of incoming phone calls, directing them to the appropriate staff or department while maintaining a professional and courteous demeanor.

• Guest Reception and Direction: Warmly greet all constituents, visitors, and dignitaries entering the office, verifying their identities and ensuring they reach their intended destinations or appointments.

• Administrative Support and Information Dissemination: Provide accurate general information about the office's functions, services, and upcoming events to callers and visitors.

• Handle all sensitive information and constituent details with the utmost discretion and confidentiality.

• Provide general administrative support, including data entry, filing, copying, and preparing correspondence, to assist Shared Services as required.

• Complete daily opening and closing procedures.

• Collect, track and disperse mail received by office.

• Update Front Desk Resource Guide, as needed.

• Coordinate and Manage Conference Room Schedules: Processing booking requests, resolving scheduling conflicts, and maintaining an organized, up-to-date calendar for each room.

• Responsible for communicating schedule confirmations and changes to relevant conference room reservations.

Professionalism – Personal Appearance and Environment

• Maintain Front Desk Presentation: Ensure the front desk and reception area remain tidy, organized, and presentable always, reflecting the professional image of the office.

• Professional Dress: Always adhere to professional dress code.

• Problem Resolution:

• Skillfully address and resolve basic inquiries or concerns from the public, escalating complex issues to the appropriate personnel.

Other duties as assigned.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Examples of duties

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent

Experience:

• 5 years of administrative and clerical experience in a fast-paced office environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Professional Protocol & Etiquette: Understanding of appropriate decorum, protocol, and etiquette required when interacting with elected officials, dignitaries, high-profile individuals, and the public in a formal setting.

• Customer Service Best Practices: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing excellent customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• Multi-line Phone Systems: In-depth knowledge of operating high-volume multi-line phone systems, including call transfer, conferencing, and voicemail management. Excellent problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills

• Basic Security Procedures: Awareness of visitor sign-in procedures, building security protocols, and emergency response guidelines.

• Exceptional Verbal Communication: Ability to articulate information clearly, professionally, and courteously over the phone and in-person, demonstrating active listening and effective questioning.

• Ability to Remain Calm Under Pressure: Capacity to maintain composure, professionalism, and effectiveness when managing high call volumes, multiple simultaneous tasks, and unexpected situations.

• Ability to Adapt and Be Flexible: Capacity to quickly adjust to changing priorities, schedules, and unforeseen circumstances without compromising service quality.

• Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution: Skill in identifying issues (e.g., scheduling conflicts, visitor concerns) and effectively resolving them or escalating appropriately with sound judgment.

NOTE Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Supplemental information

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a workstation in a professional office environment.

• This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, tablets, phones, printers, and copiers.

• Travel within Harris County to other Offices for coverage, as required.

Physical Demands:

• Able to lift at least 20 pounds.

• Occasional standing and bending. Lifting, pushing, and pulling of equipment, as needed.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.