Front Desk Attendant

Salary: $16.50 - $21.53 Hourly
Location : 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA
Job Type: Part Time
Job Number: 2025 - 34
Department: Administration
Opening Date: 04/21/2025
Closing Date: 5/16/2025 4:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Ideal Candidate - PT Front Desk Attendant for Customer Experience

The ideal candidate for this role is a people-first problem solver with a heart for service and a mind for multitasking. You are someone who thrives on connecting with others-whether in person, over the phone, or through digital channels. You bring warmth, professionalism, and clarity to every interaction, ensuring that every customer feels heard, supported, and valued.

You don't just hear-you actively listen. You ask questions, think outside the box, and are energized by finding creative, customer-centered solutions. Whether juggling multiple tasks or collaborating with teammates, you stay composed, flexible, and ready to pivot as needed. Your approach to work is marked by initiative, curiosity, and a desire to make a meaningful impact every single day.

You're a go-getter who appreciates direction but doesn't wait to be told what needs doing-you take the lead and jump in with enthusiasm.

Technology doesn't intimidate you-it empowers you. You're comfortable working with Microsoft 365 tools (like Outlook, Word, Excel) and collaborating in Microsoft Teams. Whether you're designing a flyer, entering data, or coordinating schedules, you handle it with polish and accuracy.

You're especially suited for an afternoon shift from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM, and you bring a flexible mindset, willing and able to step in during the morning shift (8:30 AM - 12:30 PM) when needed. Your dependability makes you a key contributor to a smooth and responsive customer experience.

In short, you are:

• A champion of Customer Experience with a service-first mindset.
• A strong communicator who is both kind and clear.
• A tech-savvy organizer who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• A curious learner who takes initiative and seeks growth.
• A team player who embraces collaboration and cultural inclusivity.
• A person who wants their work to matter and who takes pride in making a difference in their community.

If this sounds like you, we can't wait to meet you.

Part time positions with the City of San Marcos are restricted to no more than an average of 20 hours per week and no more than 999 hours within the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Hours will be scheduled based on department need and budget approval.

Applications Due: Friday, May 16th
Interviews: Wednesday May 21st
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
Under supervision, serves as a key ambassador of the City's Customer Experience efforts, performing front desk attendant functions and a variety of administrative and clerical responsibilities that support departments across City Hall. This role is often the first point of contact for community members-whether in person or over the phone-and is vital to creating a welcoming, efficient, and solution-oriented environment.

The Front Desk Attendant handles a broad range of responsibilities including greeting and assisting visitors, answering and routing calls from the City's main line, providing general administrative support, and helping ensure the smooth operation of day-to-day functions. They also contribute to internal service improvements by identifying common customer concerns or service trends, assisting with special projects and communications, and partnering with the Customer Experience Division to strengthen service delivery across departments.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring residents feel heard, supported, and connected to their local government. As an extension of the City's Customer Experience Division, this role goes beyond reception-it's about creating memorable interactions, improving internal workflows, and helping make City Hall more accessible and responsive to all.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
Customer service; modern office methods and practices; filing systems; receptionist and telephone techniques; correspondence; proofreading and editing; basic business mathematics; and various office equipment and machines including copier, calculator, and computer utilizing various software programs.

Ability to:

Operate office equipment, understand and carry out oral and written instructions; express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; cooperatively handle a wide variety of tasks; effectively prioritize; perform all duties with composure; use good judgment in the scope of assigned authority; establish and maintain effective relationships with City employees and members of the public; and demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education/Experience:
Education equivalent to high school graduate with experience and/or training providing the required knowledge and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

License or Certificate:
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license, Class C, with satisfactory driving record.
This is a part time non-benefited position, however effective 07/01/2015 part time employees will receive 1 hour of sick leave accrual per 30 hours worked. Employees in this category are eligible to use up to 27 hours per year and are able to carry over up to 54 sick leave hours per year.
01

Tell us about a time you provided customer service in a front desk or receptionist role. How did you create a positive experience for the customer, and what steps did you take to ensure their needs were met or exceeded?
02

How do you define a great customer experience? What values or principles guide the way you serve others, especially when working with diverse members of the public?
03

What are the top three skills or qualities you believe are essential for creating a welcoming, helpful, and efficient front desk environment? Please explain why each one matters to the customer's experience.
04

The City of San Marcos utilizes candidate self-scheduling for those candidates selectedfor an interview. Communication will be shared via email, including instructions to signup for an interview if selected.

• I have entered a valid email address and I understand that I will be contacted viaemail to notify me of my status in the recruitment process for this position.

Required Question