Council Assistant - District 3

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

CITY OF BALTIMORE, OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

COUNCIL ASSISTANT, District 3

SALARY: $50,053 - $59,740

HOURS: Full-time, generally during normal weekday business hours. In-person at least three days per week. At least two days at City Hall and one at district office each week. Fridays in community doing direct constituent outreach during good weather. Occasional evenings or weekends for meetings or events.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint screening and must be successfully completed. 

CLASS DEFINITION

A Council Assistant performs a variety of administrative tasks for a city council member. Work of this class involves no supervisory duties or responsibilities.

Incumbents receive general supervision from a council member. Employees in this class work evening and weekend hours. Work is performed in an office where normal working conditions are encountered. Work of this class requires minimal physical exertion.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Council Assistant provides a range of general assistance to the Council Member and other Office personnel. They will interact with other elected officials and their staff, representatives from City and other government agencies, outside organizations, and members of the public. Tasks will involve clerical, research, writing, and organizing tasks, for which both formal and informal training and learning will occur on-job. Timeliness, attention to detail, independence, and initiative are expected. Many responsibilities are shared and collaborative with Council Member and other staff members. Be ready and eager to learn a lot and work hard, but with satisfaction and enjoyment. This job is about not only making Baltimore a better place to live, but making Baltimore an example of what is possible for all if we undertake difficult change and embrace the challenges along the way.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Compile and send weekly newsletter with Mailchimp. Requires writing skills to summarize events and opportunities, and to work with Council Member on introductory message, often via dictation.

Responsible for management of constituent case records, general constituent service assistance, and follow-up on cases and agency inquiries that the Council Member has begun or assisted on. Requires clerical skills, methodical consistency, and a balance of politeness and assertiveness both in writing and over the phone.

Will assist in scheduling, organizing, and attending meetings as needed, and occasionally attend evening community meetings to represent the Office, taking notes, relaying information, and following up as necessary with various parties.

Will assist in community and citywide organizing and coalition-building efforts to support legislative and other political initiatives.

Will assist in research and data collection, compiling, analysis, and reporting.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s Degree

LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

N/A.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Written and oral communications;  use of Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva or other similar programs; data collection and analysis; Freshdesk constituent case management, 311/Salesforce and other web-based tools to be learned on-job; reading and comprehension of City and State code and legislation; knowledge of government operations and structure; knowledge of Baltimore geography, neighborhoods, politics, and history; understanding of and interest in public policy and administration, especially YIMBY policies; Alinsky organizing.

BENEFITS

The City of Baltimore offers a generous and competitive benefits package. You can learn about our benefits here: https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.

Financial Disclosure:

This position is required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law. 

ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL

The City Council is the City's legislative body, with the power to enact all ordinances and resolutions. City Council members are elected from fourteen districts, and the President is elected at large, by all voters of the City. The fifteen City Council members, along with the Mayor, act only by ordinance, resolution, or motion. They adopt and may alter the annual budget and confirm the Mayor's appointments. The City Council is responsible for the appropriation and issuance of bonds. The City Council determines its own rules of procedure, and its meetings are open to the public. City Council members are elected every four years. They are elected to geographic districts of roughly the same proportion of population.