Senior Clerk - Pierce County Council Public Records Management

Full Job Description

Requirements

Why it’s a Great Opportunity: You will have the unique opportunity to help build the County Council Office’s public records function while supporting local government in a nonpartisan legislative office.

Much of the work will initially focus on managing public records requests and improving how records are organized across paper and electronic systems to ensure compliance with the Washington Public Records Act.

Over time, you will also learn and provide backup support to the Clerk team and Council Committees —gaining exposure to Council meetings, agendas, and legislative processes.

This combination offers a rare opportunity to grow your expertise in both public records compliance (records management) and legislative operations within a collaborative government environment.

Why It's a Great Department: The Pierce County Council Office supports the legislative branch of Pierce County government, where policy decisions are debated, developed, and adopted to serve the community.

As a nonpartisan professional staff, the team works closely with seven elected Councilmembers to support public meetings, legislative processes, and government transparency for one of Washington’s largest counties.

Working in the Council Office offers a unique opportunity to be part of the democratic process, support open government, and contribute to decisions that shape Pierce County’s future.

Learn more about the Pierce County Council here.

How to be Successful in the Role: We are looking for someone who is analytical, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, with the ability to follow records across multiple systems and locations to identify responsive documents.

Who will bring strong knowledge of public records laws and redaction practices, communicate clearly with requesters about timelines and requirements, and use sound judgment when handling sensitive information.

You are comfortable as a non-partisan staff member working in a fast-paced legislative environment and have familiarity with the protocols associated with public meetings and the legislative process.

Strong project management, technology skills, and the ability to work with ambiguous information while communicating positively with internal and external partners will help you succeed in this environment.

Your Future in this Role: A career with Pierce County means joining an organization invested in your growth.

Through leadership development, robust online learning, and a variety of training opportunities, we provide continuous professional development at every stage.

This commitment empowers you to contribute meaningfully while advancing your skills and supporting resilient communities, reliable infrastructure, and equitable outcomes for all.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Performs a variety of complex administrative and technical duties, with a high degree of independence and often of a highly sensitive and confidential nature in support of the Pierce County Council and its nonpartisan staff.
• Attends assigned meetings of the legislative body; prepares and distributes informational packets, drafts and submits meeting minutes/summaries for approval.
• May perform lead functions such as assigning, reviewing and approving the work of others to ensure quality control and accuracy of meeting agendas, schedules, minutes, and other materials.
• Recommends changes in procedures and amendments to policies as appropriate to provide a more efficient operation for the assigned functions and overall Council Office.
• May be designated as Deputy Clerk to the Council and may be called upon to work out of class in the capacity of Clerk to the Council during periods of extended Clerk to the Council absence.

May be designated as Senior Clerk specializing in Public Records.

In this role, the position serves as the primary public records contact and independently manages the full lifecycle of public records requests, including intake, tracking, acknowledgement, review, redaction, exemption analysis, production, and closure.

This position coordinates with Councilmembers, Council staff, legal counsel and external agencies to locate, review and produce responsive records.

A complete job description can be found here.

Qualifications

Additional education or experience, which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of this position may substitute on a year for year basis.

• A minimum of six (6) years of experience providing administrative support to mid- or senior level management, a Board of Directors, or within a government office.
• At least two (2) years of experience in a public agency with direct support to elected officials through the legislative process is required.
• Two (2) years of experience processing public records requests in a government or local municipality setting.
• High School diploma/GED
• Associate degree and two (2) years of experience working in increasingly responsible administrative or records management roles for a public agency
• Attach a current resume and cover letter.

Licenses or Certifications
• Certified Public Records Officer (CPRO) certification preferred for Senior Clerk specializing in public records.
• Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks is preferred.
• Certified Notary Public, or obtains certification within 90 days of hire, required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.




Additional Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• **Attach a current resume and cover letter.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application form will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration.

Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date.

Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include written, oral and performance examinations, and final interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step.

We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career.

We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.

Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?