Administrative Assistant III

Requisition ID: 42393

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

Main Purpose and Function

The Administrative Assistant works closely with the Directors, Assistant Directors and senior level managers within the departments and is responsible for providing an extensive range of confidential and sensitive administrative support in a fast-paced environment. The position supports the Department’s senior management team with the development, implementation and monitoring of a variety of projects to ensure departmental consistency, many of which have a direct impact on labour relations.

The position attends and participates in a wide range of technical and administrative meetings, including senior management team meetings, grievance meetings, peer review meetings with industry stakeholders, public policy meetings with other municipalities and provincial and federal government agencies and professional associations. The Administrative Assistant records minutes, takes action on issues requiring follow-up and reports on the monitoring of newly implemented departmental processes, policies and procedures, ensuring that policies are being maintained and adhered to. Additionally, the position tracks and monitors activities within the department on behalf of the Directors and/or Assistant Director(s), reports findings and recommends solutions to the senior management team as required.

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for handling sensitive and confidential documents, including budget reports, departmental re-organizational structures, grievance hearings, disciplinary letters, performance and/or attendance management files, criminal/driver/police record checks (for staff and businesses and organizations), Human Resources related documents and Council reports. The position coordinates a wide range of meetings on behalf of the Director, Assistant Directors, and the Business Services Manager, conducts background research, preliminary investigations and retrieves information on various staffing, administrative, regulatory and inter-governmental issues. Additionally, the Administrative Assistant takes a lead role in the development and implementation of administrative type projects across the department such as establishing and setting up departmental databases and administrative policies and procedures. Monitors department workflow and ensures adherence to relevant departmental and corporate policies and procedures.

Key Contacts and Reporting Relationships

• The position reports directly to the Business Services Manager of Development, Buildings and Licensing, but also provides support to the Director of Permitting Services, Chief Building Official, Chief Licensing Inspector, Director of Digital Services, and their teams.
• Organizes and provides administrative support to the Building Board of Appeal.
• Communicates with various City staff members, members of the development, building and business community and the external parties.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains the Directors’ calendars, plans, organizes and schedules priorities, appointments and internal and external meetings. Coordinates group meetings, schedules attendees, drafts agendas and arranges for room and equipment procurement as required. Works with multiple, competing, and challenging priorities to organize appointments, proactively resolve conflicts, and ensure optimal use of Directors’ time.
• Advises the Director(s) and/or Assistant Director(s) on key issues and concerns regarding meetings, urgencies and other priorities. Determines priority/urgency of issues and delegates requests as required.
• Drafts a variety of confidential departmental correspondence such as budgetary reports, briefing notes for Council, other department heads and/or general managers reports related to organizational re-structuring initiatives and minutes of meetings resulting from public meetings and appeal panels. Many of these reports related to changes in methods and procedures of operations that may impact wage rates, working conditions, promotional opportunities or reductions, changes or increases in staff. Responds to complaints from the public related to staff performance.
• Drafts, edits, and formats sensitive and confidential departmental correspondence and creates and edits presentations, including PowerPoint. Prepares, photocopies and distributes reports, presentations, correspondence and spreadsheets as required.
• Carries out preliminary investigations to gather information for the Director and/or Assistant Director(s). Conducts preliminary interviews with the public filing complaints about employees and/or service delivery, carries out preliminary criminal record checks on bargaining unit staff with Police Departments and forwards as required.
• Develops, leads and implements a variety of departmental administrative quality control projects as assigned on behalf of the Director and/or Assistant Director(s). Monitors records, identifies gaps in established policies and procedures and makes recommendations to address identified issues.
• Organizes materials for, participates in, and prepares minutes for various City committees /meetings, including the Community Services Department Head’s meetings and Departmental Manager Meetings.
• Manages the Department’s flow of documents and inquiries. Screens, reviews, edits and proofreads the Director’s correspondence, including e-mail, telephone calls, and voice mail.
• Makes decisions in the absence of the Director(s) by determining if an issue needs to be forwarded to the GM, GM Executive Assistant, or may be dealt with by another senior leader.
• Researches, analyzes, summarizes, prepares and distributes a variety of reports, including budget reports, staff movement and turnover, statistics (permits, inspections, license applications etc.), presentations and spreadsheets for the Directors and/or Assistant Director(s) action. Maintains active project files and handles confidential materials.
• Reviews draft job descriptions and job evaluation requests for staff, ensures consistency with established departmental policies and procedures and communicates with bargaining unit staff and managers. Reviews parking decal assignments for departmental staff to ensure applicability with corporate policies.
• Reviews administrative processes and/or statistical reports related to the quality and quantity of services to identify issues/trends. Recommends solutions aimed at ensuring optimal efficiency within the department to address service delivery gaps for consideration by the Directors and/or Assistant Director(s).
• Screens signing documents such as refunds for permit and license fees, staff travel/expense forms, DLC waiver forms, HR offer letters, and purchasing requests ensuring departmental procedures and policies have been met prior to the Director’s signature.
• Develops and maintains departmental filing systems, tracks and follows-up on correspondence and inquiries on a variety of administrative, financial and human resource issues, ensuring that responses to requests for information from the public, Mayor and Council, and other City departments are completed in a timely manner.
• Conducts background research and investigations on a variety of regulatory and inter-governmental type issues related to permitting, inspections, licensing, animal control and administrative type issues. Researches and compiles alternate service delivery models, statistical information related to compliance rates and monitor inspection level activities within various inspection branches providing service to the public.
• Leads, develops, implements and maintains a variety of departmental databases for employees on information such as technical and administrative policies and procedures and information related to the design and construction of buildings, business industries as well as other stakeholders and the general public.
• Provides back up coverage for the GM’s Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant III, and under exceptional circumstances, provides back up coverage for the Business Services Manager.
• Schedules and tracks annual performance reviews for Directors and electronically files their teams’ performance reviews.
• Create and submit Electronic Staff Actions Forms, Electronic Compensation Authorization Forms and SuccessFactors Job Requisitions.
• Monitors TFT roles and follows up with Managers regarding extensions.
• Monitors outstanding job requisitions to ensure timely posting.
• Performs other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Completion of grade 12 supplemented by courses in office administration
• Minimum of two to three years’ Executive Assistant experience, including experience working at the senior level handling sensitive and confidential information or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Highly developed customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range of employees across the City, including the political level, the members of the public and external contacts;
• Ability to exercise substantial discretion and deal with sensitive and confidential material in support of senior management, internal audit, and other sensitive areas of City business;
• Interpersonal skills to promote a supportive, respectful, and safe work environment;
• Ability to set priorities and meet goals in a timely manner;
• Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with a wide variety of internal and external contacts including comprehending and interpreting departmental rules and regulations;
• Ability to plan, organize and manage the work of a number of departmental staff while leading administrative type projects on behalf of the Business Services Manager, Directors and/or Assistant Director(s);Ability to record the minutes and report the proceedings of various departmental and committee meetings;
• Ability to be resourceful, flexible, adaptable and possess a high degree of common sense and initiative;
• Ability to research and gather information;
• Ability to make accurate complex arithmetical and statistical computations;
• Superior clerical, mathematical, and statistical aptitude and accuracy with skills at an advanced level using MS Office programs;
• Effective knowledge of correct punctuation, grammatical usage and a comprehensive vocabulary for preparation of business letters, reports and statements;
• Superior knowledge of departmental responsibilities as well as other departments within the City;
• Effective organizational skills to manage a changing workload, track and follow up/follow through on delayed assignments, projects and reports involving other departments;
• Ability to work independently and effectively with minimal supervision, prioritize work schedule, complete assigned duties within timelines;
• Independent judgement and action is exercised in complex and non-routine matters where decisions are made within the framework of established procedures; policy or unusual problems referred to the Directors. An awareness of ongoing and sometimes sensitive issues and use of discretion in dealing with confidential matters is an essential component of this position.

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 1 – 4 days a week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department: Development, Buildings & Licensing (1250)

Affiliation: Exempt

Employment Type: Regular Full Time

Position Start Date: February, 2025

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-030: $56,567 to $70,714 per year

Application Close: January 26, 2025

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.