PRINCIPAL CLERK (CITY CLERK)

Full Job Description

Under general supervision, supervise a small group of employees or assist in supervising a large group engaged in a specialized office or clerical process; or handle the office routine of a small central office of a division or section of a large organization including the supervision of a few subordinates; or, individually perform difficult and responsible general clerical work.

Requirements

• Exercise immediate supervision by assigning and distributing work, checking, and recording work processed.
• Instruct and advise new and less experienced office clerical staff on work details and routine methods and procedures.
• Supervise a small office clerical staff engaged in specialized and moderately difficult activities including, but not limited to, the preparation and checking of routine financial, personnel, materials, and municipal government records.
• Initiate actions for the settlement of problems falling outside of routine procedures.
• Relieve superior in a large section of the more routine office support supervisory duties and acts as the supervisory head of the section in the absence of superior.
• Handle the office routine of a small but general central office of a division or section of a large organization by handling details pertaining to personnel matters, and requisitioning and handling of materials.
• Perform routine correspondence, handle routine contacts with other divisions or sections of the organization and performs non-technical research.
• Performs, individually, any of the work involved in the activities supervised as conditions require and the more difficult and/or responsible clerical or office tasks including, but not limited to, those involved in billing activities, the recording of cost data in the preparation of work schedules for field employees and the coordinating of activity records for the preparation of periodic or special reports.
• Receive complaints from the public concerning service delivery, initiate steps for the investigation and redress of issues, and, when possible, provides follow-up correspondence as to the disposition of complaints. 
• Collect and account for cash receipts in a public service activity.
• Maintain important municipal government records.
• Provide information to the public, either through correspondence or personal contacts regarding departmental policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Qualifications (required):

• High school graduation or G.E.D (General Educational Development) equivalent.
• Two (2) years of recent experience performing semi-specialized and non-routine clerical and office work.

Qualifications (preferred):

• Completion of two (2) years of college coursework in business, public administration, or a related field.
• One (1) year of supervisory or team leadership experience.

Additional Information

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 point

LRD: 10/16/2025