Community Services Officer I/II (Open and Promotional)

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on your community? Do you excel at problem-solving and enjoy engaging with people to promote safety and well-being? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Sheriff's Office and other County personnel to tackle a variety of challenges related to problem resolution, community education, technical assistance, code and regulation enforcement, and grounds and facility security.
• Work independently or in teams to address community needs and deliver quality services to enhance public safety and well-being.
• Engage with community members and build meaningful relationships to better understand and address local concerns effectively.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 
  Investigate reported violations in municipal codes, ordinances, and resolutions and, as necessary, pursue voluntary compliance or direct enforcement.
• Educate the public regarding code violations.
• Develop and prepare reports, correspondence, and other materials that relate to the functions being performed.
• Perform traffic control duties.
• Write parking citations; enforce parking violations.
• Contact tow service for removal of vehicles parked illegally.
• Respond to calls and requests for police services not requiring a sworn police officer.
• Review police reports and traffic citations for legal issues, accuracy and completeness.
• Operate computer systems related to bookings, filings, and history docket queries.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Process cases in accordance with County procedures and standards, and state and local laws.
• Interview property owners, neighbors, and others to obtain necessary information.
• Develop and maintain contact with neighborhood groups and associations enlisting their input and support for crime prevention/public safety programs.
• Collect statistics on County-wide code enforcement activities and prepare reports.
• Coordinate County-wide code enforcement activities.

• Patrol grounds or make rounds of buildings to detect presence of unauthorized persons.
• Act as liaison with authorities who have jurisdiction over areas where County facilities are located.
• Identify fire hazards or other unusual conditions and report them to the appropriate authorities.
• Check to see whether windows and doors are locked, and lights turned off and, on some shifts, lock or open facilities.
• Escort employees to their cars late at night.
• Check alarm systems.

• Ensure criminal cases and their supporting documents are complete and submitted to the District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution in a timely manner.
• Confer with the District Attorney's Office to aid in the general preparation of cases.
• Maintain a court calendar.
• Operate computer systems for booking and filing queries, and history docket query.
• Track cases sent to DA for prosecution.
• Facilitate requests for follow-up investigations and evidence requests from the DA's Office and Superior Court judges.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Community Services Officer I: One year of work experience requiring frequent public contact and the interpretation of codes, ordinances and regulations preferably including some prior work experience with a public safety agency.

Community Services Officer II: Two years of experience performing work equivalent to a Community Services Officer I.

Knowledge of:

• 
  Local and state laws, ordinances and codes related to public safety.
• Effective public and community relations techniques.
• Principles and practices of code enforcement.
• Organization of local government and concepts of public administration.
• Safety procedures and fire hazards.

• Learn laws, codes, regulations and ordinances and interpret their application.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with community groups, community agencies, County departments, co-workers and the public.
• Make presentations to a community comprised of diverse interests, organizations and individuals.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio.
• Write clear, concise and accurate reports and correspondence.
• Type and perform basic data entry functions.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Read, comprehend and follow oral and written instructions.
• Think and act quickly in emergency and/or stressful situations.
• Walk, stand, sit, lift, bend and carry over extended periods during shift.
• Work indoors or outdoors in a variety of environments and weather conditions.

• Some positions may require possession of a Class C California driver license or equivalent.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions on the application must be submitted. When completing the application and the supplemental questionnaire please note that neatness, clarity of expression, spelling, punctuation, grammar and completeness will be considered in the application review process. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of submitting the required application materials.

The examination process will consist of an application appraisal/screening (pass/fail) based on the candidates’ application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application appraisal/screening will be invited to a written exam (weight 100%). All tests will be held in San Mateo County, California. Applicants must participate at their own expense. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time and place of the tests. Applicants must adhere to the dates listed below. Applicant requests for alternate test dates and times will not be granted. Applicants successful on the written test will have their name placed on the eligible list which will be used to fill current and possible future vacancies.

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the 'Apply' button above or below. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE:
Final Filing Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023 by 11:59PM PST
Written Exam: Saturday, August 26, 2023

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.