Customer Service Specialist I

Job Summary

Learn and grow:
Learn and grow in this role by being part of a team that supports enterprise-wide initiatives. The vision of the Customer Service Center is to provide a one stop shop that is valuable, innovative, and efficient to create a positive customer experience.

What you will do:
In this role you will be serving as the point of contact and providing excellent internal and external customer service on a wide range of City services and programs. This position will provide services, including accepting payments, maintaining financial records or other information in various systems, issuing licenses and non-developmental permits, processing registrations, and answering general inquiries as well as providing additional City services.

The Customer Service Specialist 1 (CSS1) will perform complex customer services transactions involving looking up information, cash handling, problem solving as well as duties involving financial and accounting, account reconciliation, accounts payable, purchasing and tracking. The CSS1 will require independent judgement in making decisions, meeting deadlines, review of documents for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate designations. This classification is the entry-level, flex classification in the Customer Service Center. Employees may request reclassification to the Customer Service Specialist 2 classification after successful completion of the probationary period as Customer Service Specialist 1, having demonstrated the knowledge, experience, and proficiency to perform complex customer service transactions in all service areas of the Customer Service Center.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• 5% Bilingual incentive for qualifying candidate
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• High school graduate/GED and two years of direct customer service experience including one year of cashiering experience, or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Must be able to work rotating shifts if assigned.

What you will bring along:

• Bilingual skills preferred.
• Candidates must be able to communicate efficiently and develop effective working relationships with all levels of management, subordinates and customers.
• A successful candidate will have experience providing customer service to diverse communities.

About us:
The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.
A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community and Urban Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members.

Where can I find out more about the position?

How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to include how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification in your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!

For benefits information, please, go to:

https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/jobs/employment-information/afscme-general-service-employee-benefits