Location
Description
Applications are being accepted for the position of Administrative Assistant II with the City of South San Francisco. The current vacancy is in the Library. An eligibility list will be established, which will be used to fill the current vacancy and any future vacancies that may arise while the list is active. Spanish language fluency is required for this position.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2025 AT 5:00 PM, OR UPON RECEIPT OF THE FIRST 100 ONLINE APPLICATIONS, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
THE CITY OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE, AS WELL AS CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN AND SOCIAL SECURITY PARTICIPATION.
THE DEPARTMENT
The South San Francisco Public Library is a full-service library committed to delivering quality services to a diverse community. Library services are available at three sites, including the Main Library (901 Civic Campus Way), the Grand Avenue Library (306 Walnut Avenue) and the Gene Mullin Community Learning Center (520 Tamarack Lane). Lifelong literacy services are provided by Project Read at the Main Library and the Gene Mullin Community Learning Center (GMCLC). South San Francisco Public Library is actively committed to providing the best possible combination of library materials and services to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of our multicultural community, in a professional manner, with a human touch.
THE POSITION
This Administrative Assistant II is an executive secretarial classification, normally coordinating the office administrative work of a department in addition to personally performing multiple secretarial duties to ensure the efficient service provision of the assigned department. Responsibilities require the frequent use of tact, discretion, and independent judgement as well as a knowledge of departmental and City activities. This class is distinguished from other office administrative classes in that the nature, scope, and diversity of responsibilities originating at a departmental level require a broader understanding of City functions and the capability of relieving a department head and/or related management, supervisory, and professional staff of day-to-day office administrative and coordinative duties.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is someone who balances technical proficiency with excellent interpersonal skills, creating a productive, positive and efficient work environment. The candidate collaborates well with others and is highly organized and detail oriented. They possess strong time-management, decision-making and problem-solving skills and maintain confidentiality while exercising good judgment in handling sensitive information. They also possess excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively manage multiple responsibilities and priorities independently while contributing to the overall success of the department and the City.
Spanish language fluency is required for this position.
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: Five years of progressively more responsible office administrative, secretarial, and/or general clerical experience along with experience in dealing with the public and working in a public agency setting.
Training: Equivalent to graduation from high school with supplemental business school or applicable college-level course work. Possession of Associates of Arts degree from a business or community college in an appropriate curriculum is desirable and may be substituted for two years of the experience listed above.
Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid, appropriate California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record, which must be maintained as a condition of employment.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered, the following REQUIRED items must be submitted at time of application:
- City application
- Responses to 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 applications. Applicants whose submitted applications demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities in 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 consist of the following steps:
1. Written Examination
The written examination is tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1, 2025 and will assess reading comprehension, written communication, and vocabulary skills. A minimum passing score of 70% on the written examination is required. Note: Achieving the minimum passing score does not guarantee advancement to the next phase. Only the top-scoring candidates from among those who pass the written examination will be invited to participate in the oral panel interview.
2. Oral Panel Interview
Candidates invited to this phase will participate in a structured oral panel interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of January 12, 2026. A minimum passing score of 70% for the oral interview is required.
Candidates who meet the minimum passing criteria on both the written examination and oral panel interview as noted above will be placed on the Eligible List. A candidate's final score will be calculated by combining results from both phases of the process as follows:
- Written examination: weighted at 40% of the final score
- Oral panel interview: weighted at 60% of the final score
Top scoring candidates on the Eligible List will be invited to the next phase of the selection process which will consist of the following: a departmental interview.
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
- Medical Exam (TB Test)
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" to recruitment@ssfca.gov before the application deadline.
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).