Program Assistant

Program Assistant

Salary

$54,100.80 - $76,044.80 Annually

Location

City of Reno, NV

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

153226P&R

Department

Parks and Recreation

Opening Date

08/14/2026

Closing Date

8/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Join the City of Reno and become part of an amazing team that strives every day to make our community a place we are all proud to call home.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings strong clerical and administrative skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who can effectively manage multiple priorities, research and interpret policies and procedures, coordinate projects and services with other City departments and outside agencies, and identify opportunities to improve processes and service delivery.

We currently have one vacancy in the Parks and Recreation Department, with hiring expected to begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur.

This is both an internal and external recruitment to provide a promotional opportunity for all qualified current classified City of Reno employees and an open competitive opportunity for all other qualified applicants.

The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

Examples of Essential Functions

• Perform a variety of advanced clerical and routine technical, programmatic, and administrative duties requiring the application of specific program knowledge and administrative, secretarial, and clerical skills in support of a City department, division, or program; assume responsibility for specific program area duties; provide assistance in administrative and operating programs as assigned.
• Serve as primary contact and liaison for assigned functions and programs with other City staff, the general public, and outside agencies and organizations; screen office calls, visitors, and mail; provide information and assistance including responding to requests for information and assistance; assist the public and other City staff in interpreting and applying City policies, procedures, codes, and ordinances; research information related to City regulations and departmental policies; explain, justify, and defend programs, policies, and activities.
• Conduct a variety of studies and research for assigned area; collect, compile, and review information from various sources on a variety of specialized topics related to program area of assignment; participate in the preparation of reports that present data, identify alternatives, and make and justify recommendations.
• Perform a variety of special projects and assignments in assigned area including the implementation and coordination of assigned program and project components; assist with the development of policies and procedures; implement and monitor program activities.
• Verify and review materials, applications, records, and reports for completeness and conformance with established regulations and procedures; apply applicable policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and reports; provide information and forms to the public; collect and process appropriate information.
• Assist in coordinating and monitoring the assigned budget and contracts; compile annual budget requests; prepare revenue projections; recommend expenditure requests for designated accounts; monitor approved budget accounts; process progress payments and monitor contractual expenses
• Process invoices, contracts, work orders, change orders, purchase order numbers, check requests, and requisitions for assigned area; coordinate the resolution of contract and invoice issues with accounts payable and contracts functions; ensure vendor invoices and change order files are accurate and up-to-date, including having correct account codes and appropriate approvals; ensure new vendors have completed the required new vendor information form.
• Type and proofread a wide variety of reports, letters, memoranda, correspondence, contracts, agreements, Requests for Proposals, agenda items, statistical charts, and other documents and material; type from rough draft, verbal instruction, or transcribing machine; independently compose documents related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Maintain calendar of activities, meetings, and various events for assigned projects, programs, and staff; coordinate activities with other City departments, the public, and outside agencies.
• Arrange and coordinate meetings, workshops, and training sessions for various groups and committees; prepare agendas and correspondence; attend meetings and take, transcribe, and assure proper distribution of minutes.
• Establish and maintain various filing systems, schedules and records; file correspondence, reports, bulletins and cards; log reports, applications, and/or telephone calls; maintain records related to specific area of assignment.
• Perform a variety of general bookkeeping and clerical accounting duties and responsibilities involved in financial record keeping and reporting for assigned area; maintain a variety of accounting records, logs, and files; verify, balance, and adjust accounting records.
• Recommend improvements in workflow, procedure, and use of equipment and forms; implement improvements as approved; develop and revise office forms and report formats as required.
• Ensure that all required supplies are available as needed and that the facility and equipment are in proper working order.
• Operate a variety of office equipment including copiers, facsimile machine and computer; utilize various computer applications and software packages; enter data, maintain and generate reports from a database or network system; input, maintain, and utilize data to develop reports using spreadsheet software; create, format, and revise charts, graphs, flowcharts, worksheets, booklets, brochures, and forms using word processing, desktop publishing, and other computer applications; organize and maintain disk storage and filing.
• As assigned, arrange and coordinate meetings; prepare agendas and correspondence; attend meetings and take, transcribe, and assure proper distribution of minutes.
• May lead, oversee, and review the work of lower-level clerical staff; review work for accuracy and completeness.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application.

Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent supplemented by specialized office support training.

Specialized training may include on-the-job training obtained through relevant work experience.

Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible clerical, programmatic, and administrative support experience, including some experience directly related to the assigned area.

At least 60 semester or 90 quarter-hour credits with coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Recreation, or a closely related field will substitute for two years of this required experience.

OR

Two years of experience as an Office Assistant II with the City of Reno in a programmatic area that is substantially similar to the program being recruited.

At least 60 semester or 90 quarter-hour credits with coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Recreation, or a closely related field will substitute for one year of the Office Assistant II experience.

Note:

To be considered qualifying, your experience must include increasingly responsible responsibilities in each of the following areas:

• Clerical: Performing advanced office support such as reviewing and processing documents, maintaining records, preparing correspondence or reports, and responding to inquiries.

• Programmatic: Supporting an ongoing program or service by applying established procedures, processing or tracking information, providing program-related assistance, and coordinating activities.

• Administrative support: Supporting day-to-day office or program operations by coordinating activities, preparing documents and reports, maintaining administrative records, and assisting with processes such as purchasing, budgets, or contracts.

Supplemental Information

To Apply:

Submit your completed application and all additional information/documentation requested through our job board at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/reno by August 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If a computer or mobile device is not available to you, suggested locations to submit an online application include: Reno City Hall 2nd floor computer kiosk or Civil Service Office, any Nevada Job Connect location, local libraries, or educational facilities.

If you are having difficulty logging into your governmentjobs.com profile, please call the applicant support line at 855-524-5627.

Application Preparation:

A complete application is required, including detailed work experience and education. Résumés may be submitted as supplemental information but will not be reviewed when determining minimum qualifications.

Examination Process:

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire. The examination will consist of online assessments which include an Online Clerical Test, a Cognitive Abilities Test, and an Employee Personality Profile, along with a Training and Experience evaluation (T&E) weighted as follows:

Training & Experience Evaluation (T&E) = 40%

Online Clerical Test = 40%

Cognitive Abilities Test = 20%

Employee Personality Profile = For informational purposes only

Online Assessment Details:

Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the online assessments once the recruitment has closed. These tests will be self-administered with no proctor, which means candidates will be able to complete them online at their convenience during the designated testing window.

The instructions and guidelines will be emailed to qualified applicants after the recruitment closes on August 30, 2026. Please make sure to check for emails around this time, including your spam folder, so that you do not miss this testing opportunity. All assessments must be completed within the designated testing window to move forward in the hiring process.

Subject areas that may be included on the online clerical skills test include:

• Attention to detail
• Numeric filing
• Reading comprehension

Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) Details:

The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The T&E must be submitted online at the time of application.

• Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
• Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
• In order to receive credit for education or training, you must attach copies of your transcripts, diploma, or relevant certificates to your online application.
• Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments to the application will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
• "See Resume" or "See above," etc., are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
• Changes or corrections to your responses cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• TIP: It may be more efficient to develop your responses in a word processing document and then paste them into the online questionnaire to be submitted.

Notification:

Applicants are notified by email of their examination results. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified within two weeks of the job posting closing.

We highly recommend opting in to receive text message notifications. Follow-up text messages may include updates about your application, next steps, and interviews. If you haven't opted in before, the option will appear before you submit your application. If you've previously opted in or out, you can update your choice anytime in account settings in your governmentjobs.com profile.

Testing Accommodation:

We strive to ensure equal access for all individuals. If you require an accommodation due to a disability, you must inform the Chief Examiner by completing the Accommodation Request Form by the closing date of this announcement. All requests will be handled with confidentiality and respect.

Contact Information:

Reports (Rule XV, Section 2)

Applicants are responsible for keeping the Reno Civil Service Commission informed of their current contact information, including phone number, email, and mailing address.

Employee/Veteran Preference in the Event of Tie Scores:

Open Competitive Examination (Rule VII, Section 7):

In the event of tie scores, candidates will be provided a rank preference in the following order:

• City of Reno classified employees who are veterans
• City of Reno classified employees who are not veterans
• City of Reno non-classified employees and external candidates who are veterans

This preference is only used to break ties. Proof of honorable discharge must be submitted with the application.

Promotional Examinations (Rule VIII, Section 7):

If two or more employees earn the same final score (including seniority points), veterans' preference will be applied if any of the tied employees have submitted proof of an honorable military discharge. This preference is only used to break ties. If a tie still remains, it will be broken based on seniority in the current classification. Proof of honorable discharge must be submitted with the application.

Seniority Points:

Seniority Credit (Rule VIII, Section 9):

Classified employees of the City of Reno shall receive seniority credit computed by adding to a passing score as follows:

The final ranking will include the applicable seniority points added to the overall grade of the examination process. For each full year of continuous service completed, 0.2 points will be added up to a maximum of ten (10) years... 2 points will be the maximum.

Appointment and Certification:

Appointments to positions in the Citys Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a persons rank on an eligible register. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.

Questions and Updates:

Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at (775) 334-2223 or civilservice@reno.gov.

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.

Please use this Health and Welfare Benefit Link to learn more about the City of Renos great employee benefit plans and wellness programs.

01

Minimum Qualification Review

The following questions are a required part of your application for this position. Your answers will be used to assist us in evaluating your related work experience and education to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position as outlined on the job posting.

Things to consider before you proceed:

• Resumes are not reviewed or considered in the evaluation process.
• All of your relevant experience must be clearly listed in the work experience section of your application.
• Unlike a resume which summarizes duties, your application should include detailed descriptions of your job responsibilities, tasks performed, and scope of work.
• Complete information assists us to accurately evaluate your qualifications, training, and experience.
• List multiple positions with a single employer separately within the work experience section.
• Failure to attach copies of required certifications, licenses, and/or proof of education beyond high school may result in disqualification during the minimum qualifications review. Proof of high school diploma does not need to be submitted.
• Information provided in your application may be verified.

By checking below, you confirm your application contains accurate, complete and truthful information. Any evidence of falsification or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from the recruitment process in accordance with Civil Service Rules.

• I confirm

02

Are you a current classified City of Reno employee?

• Yes
• No

03

Which of the following best describes your highest level of qualifying education?

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 60 semester/90 quarter-hour credits with coursework in Public Administration, Business Administration, or Recreation
• 60 semester/90 quarter-hour credits with coursework in a closely related field
• None of the above

04

Only answer this question if your course work is in another field related to this position.

How has your course work prepared you to perform the work of this position?

05

Education Documentation Requirements:

In order for education beyond high school to be considered in meeting the minimum qualifications and/or credited as part of the assessment process, you must attach supporting documentation to your application.

Important Guidance:

• Transcripts (official or unofficial) are highly recommended and preferred as they provide detailed information about coursework and area of study.
• A diploma may be accepted; however, diplomas alone may not provide sufficient detail to determine if your education is directly related to the minimum qualifications (such as not having a major listed, or being in a non-related field).

Applications submitted without documentation will be evaluated without consideration of education. If minimum qualifications cannot be met through work experience alone, the application may be rejected.

Have you attached transcripts or other verifiable education documentation?

• I have attached transcripts and/or diploma(s)
• I have not attached documentation. I understand that my education beyond high school will not be considered and my application may be rejected if minimum qualifications are not met through work experience alone
• I have not attached documentation. I understand that my education will not be evaluated or used in determining whether I meet the minimum qualifications

06

Have you had any specialized office support training? This can include on-the-job office support training.

• Yes
• No

07

Which of the following best describes your qualifying paid work experience?

Note: To be considered qualifying, your experience must include increasingly responsible responsibilities in each of the following areas:

• Clerical: Performing advanced office support such as reviewing and processing documents, maintaining records, preparing correspondence or reports, and responding to inquiries.
• Programmatic: Supporting an ongoing program or service by applying established procedures, processing or tracking information, providing program-related assistance, and coordinating activities.
• Administrative support: Supporting day-to-day office or program operations by coordinating activities, preparing documents and reports, maintaining administrative records, and assisting with processes such as purchasing, budgets, or contracts.
• I have less than one year of increasingly responsible clerical, programmatic, and administrative support experience or as an Office Assistant II with the City of Reno.
• I have one year but less than two years of increasingly responsible clerical, programmatic, and administrative support experience or as an Office Assistant II with the City of Reno.
• I have two years but less than three years of increasingly responsible clerical, programmatic, and administrative support experience or as an Office Assistant II with the City of Reno.
• I have three years or more of increasingly responsible clerical, programmatic, and administrative support experience or as an Office Assistant II with the City of Reno.

08

This is your opportunity to provide any additional details about duties you performed that may qualify toward the required experience. Only positions listed in the work experience section of your application will be considered.

For each employer where you gained qualifying experience, provide:

• The employer's name
• Your job title(s)
• Clarifying details about your duties/responsibilities you performed that demonstrate how you meet the required minimum qualifications

If the information you provide in the work experience section and response to this question does not clearly demonstrate that you meet the specific experience requirements, you will not move forward in the recruitment process.

09

Training and Experience Evaluation

The following section of the Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the Civil Service test for this position and must be completed online at the time of application. Questionnaires submitted as an attachment to the online application will not be considered. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers and provide all requested information. All responses must be verified by the applicant in the work experience section of this application.

Failure to provide adequate responses to the following questions may result in lower scores or disqualification from the selection process.

Do you certify that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true and correct to the best of your knowledge?

• Yes
• No

10

How many years of work experience do you have performing complex administrative/clerical support work?

• I do not have experience in this area
• Minimal, less than one year
• One year but less than three years
• Three years but less than five years
• Five years or more

11

Select all of the following clerical and administrative support duties have you performed as a regular part of your work for two years or more.

Select a task only if you personally performed the work on a recurring basis. Do not select tasks for which your experience was limited to occasional assistance, general familiarity, training, or oversight without direct involvement.

• Provided administrative, secretarial, or clerical support to professional, supervisory, or management staff.
• Prepared correspondence, memoranda, reports, forms, or other business documents.
• Reviewed applications, forms, records, reports, or other documents for completeness and accuracy.
• Maintained calendars and scheduled meetings, activities, or events involving multiple departments, outside agencies, or members of the public.
• Established and maintained electronic filing systems.
• Maintained logs, databases, spreadsheets, tracking systems, or other administrative records.
• Maintained confidential or sensitive records and information.
• Monitored and ordered office supplies, equipment, or other materials.
• Assisted with developing or revising policies, procedures, forms, workflows, or administrative processes.
• None of the above

12

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, briefly describe your clerical/administrative experience. Include: a. Employer(s) b. Job title c. Clerical/administrative duties you performed Your response must provide enough detail for the evaluators to determine the depth, recency, and relevance of your experience. References to your resume or statements such as "see application" will not be accepted as a complete response.

13

Select all of the following accounting functions you have performed as a regular part of your work for two years or more. Select a task only if you personally performed the work on a recurring basis. Do not select tasks for which your experience was limited to occasional assistance, general familiarity, training, or oversight without direct involvement.

• Processed invoices, purchase orders, and reimbursements
• Maintained accounts payable and/or accounts receivable records
• Reconciled accounts or financial records
• Tracked expenditures against an established budget
• Compiled and verified financial data for accuracy
• Researched and resolved invoice discrepancies
• Prepared financial summaries for management
• None of the above

14

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, briefly describe your accounting experience. Include: a. Employer(s) b. Job title c. Accounting duties you performed Your response must provide enough detail for the evaluators to determine the depth, recency, and relevance of your experience. References to your resume or statements such as "see application" will not be accepted as a complete response.

15

Which of the following best describes your approach to managing multiple priorities with competing deadlines?

• I prefer to focus on one task from start to finish before moving on to the next
• I am comfortable shifting between tasks and adjusting priorities based on changing needs and deadlines.
• I rely primarily on direction from my supervisor to determine task priorities
• I develop a plan to accomplish all my tasks and follow it regardless of any unexpected changes or shifting priorities

16

Select all of the following meeting, board, commission, or committee support tasks you have performed within the past five years as a regular part of your assigned job responsibilities. Select a task only if you personally performed the work on a recurring basis. Do not select tasks for which your experience was limited to occasional assistance, general familiarity, training, or oversight without direct involvement.

• Preparing meeting agendas, packets, and/or supporting materials
• Coordinating meeting schedules and logistics
• Posting public meeting notices
• Recording, preparing, and distributing meeting minutes
• Maintaining official meeting records
• Writing staff reports
• Coordinating presentations or meeting technology
• Tracking assignments or follow-up items from meetings
• Communicating with board, commission, committee, or council members
• None of the above

17

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, please provide the following information for each task you selected: a. Your job title and department b. The approximate dates and length of time you performed the task c. How frequently you performed the task d. Your specific role and level of responsibility, including whether you completed the work directly, reviewed the work of others, tracked transactions or records, or resolved related issues e. The systems, forms, records, and/or processes you used for this task f. An example that demonstrates the scope or complexity of the work Your response must provide enough detail for the evaluators to determine the depth, recency, and relevance of your experience. References to your resume or statements such as "see application" will not be accepted as a complete response.

18

Instructions

Answer the next three questions by identifying your level of proficiency in each of the computer programs or systems.

Basic proficiency = understanding and utilizing the most common elements associated with the program, mostly used for personal or educational purposes. Not used to complete professional level projects as part of my paid work experience.

Intermediate proficiency = Includes a moderate amount of professional use and moderate amount of understanding of the more advanced features and operations.

Advanced proficiency = Includes extensive use professionally and the ability to use most of the features and operations to their fullest capacity.

Do not understate or overstate your level of proficiency. Your answers may be confirmed during the interview process and candidates found to have misrepresented their abilities will be disqualified from the hiring process.

• I understand

19

Microsoft Excel

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None of the above

20

Microsoft Word

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None of the above

21

Misrosoft Outlook

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None of the above

22

New World

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None of the above

Required Question

Employer City of Reno

Address PO Box 1900

Reno, Nevada, 89505

Phone (775) 334-2223

Website https://www.reno.gov/government/jobs-recruitment.php