Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Job Hubs career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity

• Common Sense

• Innovation

• Accountability

Position Data:

Office Specialist II-J23-U00-H

Regular

Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range:$23.03 - $29.21 per hour (Non Bargaining Pay Plan B22, Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $23.03 - $24.44 per hour ( Non Bargaining Pay Plan B22, Step 1-4 DOQ)

Job Closing Date: May 26, 2026

There is an Office Specialist II position open with Yakima County Pre-Trial Services. This position will perform various office administration functions including providing statistical reports to the Pretrial Services Manager, Superior Court Director and Presiding Judge and performs administrative duties for the department: greeting and checking in clients, both in English and Spanish, and preparing court documents as directed. This position also coordinates with agencies to facilitate connecting Pretrial clients with services in the Yakima Valley that assist in finding shelter, food, and other basic needs. This position will serve as a backup Pretrial Officer: doing risk assessments; completing intakes; completing appointments both over the phone and in person; completing caseload related tasks; and filing violation reports.


Benefits included in position:
-Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
-Retirement Benefits
-Paid Vacation
-Paid Holidays
-Paid Sick Leave


Note: This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Responds to telephone, mail, and in person inquiries from clients.  Greets clients as they arrive and notifies Pretrial Officer of their arrival.  Does a warrant check on every client checking in.

Provides information to Pretrial Services clients about resources for shelter, food, and places to receive assistance with mental health needs and/or substance use treatment.

Completes appointments over the phone (and occasionally in person) with Pretrial clients. Reviews client files for accuracy and corrects any erroneous information in the system.

Notifies clients of changes to their pretrial monitoring (reduction in monitoring, etc.) Checks Arraignment calendar daily to see if client is already on Awaiting Bail caseload. Completes criminal history checks for Pretrial clients.

Reviews Preliminary Appearance docket daily to determine who was released to Pretrial.

Processes Scheduling Orders, Summons and Warrant paperwork as directed by the Judge. 

Prepares summons and warrant packets based on judicial decision. Decides what day to set court appearance for violation hearing. Completes scheduling orders based on judicial decision.

Serves as a back-up Pretrial Officer as staff shortages occur. 

Administers a criminal history investigation/assessment based on information gathered from defendant arrests/convictions, current charges, and age at arrest. 

Reviews all criminal, legal and related reports to determine if there is additional information to provide to the court; sets up the criteria and behavioral expectations for successful completion of court directed pretrial requirements with defendants, identifies potential impediments to success while on pretrial and if appropriate makes referrals to assist defendant.

Performs intake appointments over the phone for Spanish speaking (and occasionally English speaking) clients who are released to Pretrial Level B or Level C.

Explains conditions of release, conditions of no contact orders, future court dates, how to contact attorney, and any reporting requirements to the defendant.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Associate Degree or two-year technical certificate in Legal Assistant or Criminal Justice AND two (2) years of previous office /clerical experience or customer service experience; OR an equivalent combination of experience or training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation and general employment verification.

Preferred:

• Work experience or knowledge of the legal system specifically, the courts.

• Knowledge and experience with Zoom

• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Equipment Used: Computer, scanner, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, shredder, and other small office equipment.

Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work, Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment:  multiple work locations, work in locked down facility

Physical Demands:  handling, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, hearing, talking, and visual acuity

Intellectual Demands: Ability to multitask , confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and Ability to follow verbal instruction

Employee will be required to successfully complete ACCESS 1 & 2 Security Test through the Washington State Patrol within 3 months of starting employment (or as WSP scheduling allows).

Knowledge:

• Computers and word processing software

• Grammar, spelling and punctuation

• Customer service techniques

• Office practices and procedures

• Data processing systems and methods for input

• Modern office procedures and customer service techniques

• Legal terminology and court rules

• The legal system, in particular the role and function of the Courts

Skills and abilities:

• Multi-Tasking in a high pressure environment.

• Organization, prioritization and time management

• Use of office equipment and computer equipment and software

• Making responsible decisions in accordance with office policies and state statutes

• Establishing effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and the general public

• Working effectively with constant interruptions

• Communicating and expressing ideas effectively, orally and in writing

• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations.

• Establishing effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and the general public.

• Communication of complex and/or sensitive information.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.