Location
Description
Applications are being accepted for the position of Deputy City Clerk with the City of South San Francisco in the City Clerk’s Office.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED. HOWEVER, INTERESTED CANDIDATES SHOULD APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THERE WILL BE A FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025.
THE CITY OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE, AS WELL AS CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN AND SOCIAL SECURITY PARTICIPATION.
The Department
The City Clerk’s Office administers the democratic process such as elections, access to records, and all legislative actions, ensuring transparency to the public. The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for acting as a compliance officer for federal, state, and local statues including the Political Reform Act, the Brown Act, and the Public Records Act.
The City Clerk serves as a steward of the democratic process and is a liaison between the City Council and members of the public. The City Clerk is a partner in democracy, providing information and ensuring transparency. The City Clerk is an elected representative of the people and serves a four-year term. The City Clerk has legal responsibilities described in California Government Code Sections 40800, et seq., the Elections Code, and City ordinance.
The Position
Under general direction, the Deputy City Clerk is responsible for providing support to the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk. This includes but is not limited to records management, public records requests, attendance at Council and/or Standing Committee meetings, preparing and editing minutes, and assisting with special projects. With responsibility for legal noticing, advertising, and calendaring public hearings.
The position is an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for a candidate with a broad vision and proven track record of implementing best practices in a Municipal Clerk’s Office and promoting public trust in local government, good government, and transparency.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for the Deputy City Clerk position will:
- Be organized, detail-oriented, and a proactive administrative professional with a strong understanding of public records, legal documentation, and city governance processes.
- Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to work independently while maintaining a high level of confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
- Have a proven track record of providing exceptional work in taking meeting minutes, managing complex records systems, preparing public notices, and ensuring compliance with the Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
- Possess a strong understanding of office administrative practices, as well as advanced proficiency with computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases, is essential.
Furthermore, this candidate will be adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment. They will possess the initiative and independent judgment to make procedural decisions with minimal supervision and will be comfortable supporting the City Clerk and other elected officials. The ideal candidate will also show a commitment to continuous improvement, looking for ways to streamline processes and enhance departmental efficiency.
The successful candidate will be a collaborative team player with strong customer service skills and the ability to build and maintain professional relationships with both internal staff and the public. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, contributing to the success of the City Clerk’s Office and the City of South San Francisco.
QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Experience: Three years of City Clerk’s Office support with at least one year of experience in minute taking for an ongoing committee or group. Specific experience working in a City Clerk’s office environment is highly desirable.
Training: Equivalent to graduation from high school. Successful completion of one year of business college may be substituted for one year of experience.
Licenses/Certifications: Possession of the following, which must be maintained as a condition of employment:
• A valid, appropriate California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Certification as a Notary Public. (The Deputy City Clerk will be required to obtain and/or maintain certification as a Notary Public).
• Certified Municipal Clerk Designation is desirable.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered, the following REQUIRED items must be submitted at time of application:
- City application
- Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
NOTE: Applications must be filled out in their entirety. Failure to complete the application and/or supplemental questions or failure to include a required attachment will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process. Failure to list work experience, education or training or indicating “see resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application and subject to disqualification. Additionally, only the application materials and documents specifically requested within this job announcement will be accepted and considered. Any supplemental documents submitted that are not required will not be reviewed as part of the application process.
THE SELECTION PROCESS:
The process will first consist of a review of application materials, including responses to supplemental questions, which must be detailed and complete. Applicants whose submitted application materials demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities in the best alignment with the required and desired qualifications of this position will be selected to participate in the next phase of the qualification and selection process, which will include an oral panel interview and written exercise, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025, which will be weighted as follows:
- Oral Panel Interview (70%)
- Written Exercise (30%)
Following this examination, the top scoring candidates will be invited to a final selection interview with the hiring department.
To review complete job descriptions which include all special requirements, go to www.ssf.net
Benefits
Retirement: CalPERS retirement formula is 2% at age 60 for Classic members or; 2% at age 62 for “new members” as defined by Government Code §7522.04(e). Social Security and Medicare participation and the option to participate in 457 deferred compensation plans. City contributes equivalent of 1.5% of base pay towards a medical after-retirement account.
Health Insurance: City offers a choice of medical HMO (two providers) or PPO plan, and offers vision and dental coverage. City pays 100% of vision and dental premiums for employee and eligible dependents. Employees shall contribute 10% of the HMO premium cost based on category of coverage (single, two, family). For PPO, employee pays cost difference between PPO and HMO plans. City provides 100% City-paid short- and long-term disability insurances. The City offers a discretionary benefit account for employees who demonstrate health coverage elsewhere.
Vacation: Fifteen to thirty working days annual vacation, based on the length of service.
Holidays: Thirteen total paid holidays per year plus one floating holiday.
Programs: 457 Deferred Compensation, Paid Family Leave, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Long-Term Care, Disability and Life Insurance Programs, City Recreation Classes, Reduced-fee Childcare Programs and Commuter Benefit Programs are available.
This classification is in an employee bargaining unit.
Special Instructions
Prior to appointment, candidates will be required to submit to any or all of the following (as applicable):
- Reference Check
- SSF Background Check
A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to the nature and recency of the conviction and relationship to job duties. All City standards must be met before the final appointment is made.
Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process should advise the Human Resources Department upon submittal of application.
Candidates requesting veteran’s preference must provide a copy of U.S. Government DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" as an attachment to their CalOpps application.
The policy of the City of South San Francisco is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of South San Francisco that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The City of South San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).