Part-Time Hourly Office Assistant (Merrionette Park)

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do. 

SALARY: The average hourly salary for this position will fall in the range of $18.00 - $20.00 per hour.  Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Greet staff, clients, and visitors professionally, following safety and compliance practices.
• Answer and direct phone calls, handling difficult or sensitive inquiries with professional judgment.
• Monitor and maintain electronic and physical records and client files, managing open and closed files and responding to record requests and subpoenas.
• Use intermediate skills to create and edit documents and reports with agency software.
• Manage client interactions per agency policies, including check-in/check-out, processing payments, obtaining signatures, and managing physical and electronic documents.
• Schedule appointments, arrange meetings, and make reminder calls to clients.
• Process account receivables, payables, and program billing as assigned.
• Make frequent contacts with community partners and vendors.
• Prepare information for dissemination with community partners or at events.
• Support direct service and administrative staff in agency-wide committees and initiatives, including site/community events.
• Set up, coordinate, and purchase items for site events as needed.
• Collaborate with leadership on additional needs for meetings and events, including taking minutes.
• Operate and troubleshoot office equipment, reporting issues to the IS Department.
• Order and maintain office supplies and process mail and packages.
• May travel to other MFS sites to serve as backup for support staff, training, or operational tasks.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in office software (e.g., MS Office and Outlook).
• Effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask effectively.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to interact appropriately with diverse clients and staff.
• Use discretion and judgment in handling sensitive situations.
• Learn new systems quickly, adapt to change, and take initiative.
• Adaptability, reliability, and dependability are essential skills.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent education required. 
• 2+ years of office experience, including automated systems experience required. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.
• Required to work evening shifts and weekends (Saturdays). 

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driving for work with a personally owned vehicle. Travel between sites is required.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal. 

 MORE ABOUT US:

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.