Program Assistant Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $29.70 - $38.17 Hourly
Location : Community Activity Center (CAC), 5600 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN
Job Type: Regular Full-Time Benefit Eligible (40 Hours)
Job Number: 2026-00065-ML
Department: Finance
Division: Finance/Financial Services
Opening Date: 05/27/2026
Closing Date: 6/14/2026 11:59 PM Central
Vacancies: 1
Address: City Hall, 5200 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN
Posting Type: Open to the public
Position Summary
The primary responsibility of this position is to provide a high level of customer support in utility billing via phone calls and email. This position also maintains records and ensures accurate and timely collection of revenues for utility services provided to the City and public.
A successful candidate will be friendly, organized and knowledgeable in finance.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The eligible list created from this exam may be used to fill Program Assistant positions as they become available in other departments within the City.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Present a welcoming and professional impression of the City of Brooklyn Park.
• Performs a variety of routine/complex general administrative support and assistance activities.
• Appropriately answer and route all incoming calls and in-person requests using multiple forms of communications and software.
• Maintains and prepares utility billings.
  • Creates and updates customer account files and meter records.
  • Reviews reports for accuracy of customer account balance including research of possible misapplied payments.
  • Conducts calculations, reviews, and verifies billing audits.
  • Obtains meter reads and prepares computerized billing and estimated utility usage when readings are not available.
  • Processes exception billings for out-of-cycle accounts and move out bills.
  • Prepares and approves bills for submission.
  • Deletes files or transfers files for archival.
• Prepares, processes, and collects delinquent accounts.
  • Processes penalties.
  • Prepares and processes delinquent notices.
  • Assists customers concerning delinquent accounts, NSF checks and payment plans.
• Analyzes utility billing records.
  • Tracks utility usage and advises supervisor of unusual readings and costs.
  • Compares utility billing reports.
• Provides customer service to utility customers.
  • Receives incoming calls for service and/or repair and processes service orders.
  • Advises homeowners when meter readings are not able to be obtained through correspondence and/or telephone calls.
  • Assists new customers in applying for utility service.
  • Resolves customer account discrepancies and questions through correspondence or phone calls.
  • Provides information on city services or refers to appropriate area.
  • Processes credit card and lockbox payments.
  • Maintains on-line web submissions.
  • Maintains utility billing email account.
• Performs general accounting duties.
  • Processes hydrant meter rentals.
  • Processes utility account refunds.
  • Monitors and reviews utility bills from other cities for internal approval and payment.
• Other duties that may vary by employee.
  • Updates all rates in utility billing system.
  • Updates and maintains specialist assessment business analytics monthly.
  • Updates and maintains gas off/ vacant lists.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications
Education
High school graduate or equivalent.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in an office environment, finance, business, public administration or closely related field.
Equivalency
An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position MAY be considered.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Possess excellent clerical and mathematical aptitude and organizational skills.
• Ability to operate a multi-line telephone.
• Ability to communicate effectively; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Ability to comply with data privacy laws and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to provide a level of customer service that meets/exceeds customer expectation and satisfaction.
• Ability to work onsite with a set work schedule. (Remote work is not an option for this position)
• Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Embrace and engage in cultural shift toward Continuous Improvement
• Ability to work independently.
• Proven ability and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive workplace related to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Desired Qualifications

• Two (2)-year associate (or higher) postsecondary degree in business or a related field.
• Advanced professional training in or additional experience providing customer service in a reception environment.
• Experience with cashiering software/systems.
• Ability to obtain notary commission.
• Experience working with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao or Vietnamese language(s).

Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully and safely perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to fully and safely perform the essential duties.

• Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Full-time, non-exempt, non-union position with a work schedule of 40 hours per week.
• Office environment; exposure to computer screens; working closely with others, frequent interruptions.
• Sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time; general manual dexterity; adequate hearing, vision and speech required.
• Works with irate customers at the counters. Must have de-escalation skills and abilities.

Background Check
The City has determined that a criminal background check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal record. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience and/or an oral examination (100%). It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process.Brooklyn Park is a thriving northwestern suburb of Minneapolis and the sixth largest city in the state with over 86,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. As the 6th fastest growing city in Minnesota, the city has become even more vibrant because of our remarkable racial and cultural diversity. Approximately 60 percent of our residents are people of color, 22 percent are foreign-born, and more than a quarter speak a language other than English at home.
Our Vision, Values and Goals
Additional Information
Department/Division: Finance
We welcome applications from all individuals, including (but not limited to): people of all abilities, persons of color, Veterans, LGBTQ+ and women. If you need these materials in an alternate format or if you have a disability-related need and need assistance with the application process, please contact Human Resources at either 763-493-8016 or via e-mail at
Regular, full-time City of Brooklyn Park employees (40 or more hours per week) are eligible for a benefits package including:
Vacation

• New employees generally earn 10 days of vacation per year
• Vacation accruals increase with longevity up to a maximum of 20 days per year

Sick Leave

• Sick leave is accrued at the rate of 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation

Holidays

• 12 paid holidays per year
• 1 floating holiday to be used any day in the year with supervisor approval

Health Insurance:

• Employees may choose a health plan with an option to waive coverage if covered under another qualified plan
• The City contributes a portion to the cost of health insurance
• Available to City of Brooklyn Park employees working 30 or more hours per week

Dental Insurance

• Employees may choose between two dental plans with an option to waive coverage if covered under another qualified plan

Life Insurance

• The City provides term life insurance with an option for employees to purchase additional and dependent term life insurance at group rates

Disability Insurance

• Short-term disability insurance available at group rates
• Long-term disability insurance available at group rates

Retirement

• Public Employee's Retirement Association (PERA) pension plan (employer/employee contributions)
• Optional 457 pre-tax and post-tax (Roth) deferred compensation plans for tax-deferred retirement savings

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Reimbursement account for health care and daycare expenses using pre-tax contributions

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling and referral services

Fitness

• Free on-site fitness facilities; Wellness program and fitness classes offered

Direct Deposit (mandatory)

• Payroll checks are automatically deposited into designated account(s) on payday

Regular, part-time benefited City of Brooklyn Park employees (20-29 hours per week) are not eligible for Health Insurance, but are eligible for the following benefits:

• Sick and Vacation at a pro-rated rate
• Decreasing Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account(s)
• Deferred Compensation, if enrolled.

Seasonal/Temporary employees

• Temporary, Seasonal, and non-benefited part-time employees earn one hour of Sick Leave for every 30 hours worked by an employee, up to a maximum of 48 hours of Sick Leave per year.

Benefits may differ based on union contracts for employees represented by a collective bargaining unit. This summary is for information only and is subject to change or revocation without notice. This summary shall not constitute a contract or guarantee, express or implied.
01
Which best describes your highest level of education?

• No high school diploma or equivalent
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher

02
Do you have two (2) years of professional administrative support/clerical/customer service experience in an office environment, business, public administration or closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03
Which best describes your professional training in or experience in providing customer service?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

04
How many years of paid work experience do you have working in a high volume/face-to-face customer service position?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year experience
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

05
How many years of experience do you have providing customer service through the phone, walk-in customers, work orders, and email requests?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06
Which of the below best describes your skill level using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)?

• No experience
• Beginner: I use it every now and again
• Intermediate: I use it daily for work, create documents/formulas
• Advanced: I assist/teach others as part of my work duties, create complex documents/formulas

07
Which level best describes your knowledge of and experience with the organizational structure, functions, and operations of municipal government?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

08
Which level best describes your experience processing payments and performing cashier/basic accounting functions?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

09
The City of Brooklyn Park is a diverse community. Please describe your experience and skill level in cross-cultural communication and experience with non-English speakers (your ability to communicate effectively with persons from very different cultures than your own and persons who do not speak English.) Enter NA only if you have no experience with cross cultural communication and persons who do not speak English)
10
Are you able to fluently speak, write, and understand any of the following languages? (Check all that apply)

• Spanish
• Hmong
• Russian
• Somali
• Vietnamese
• Lao
• None of the Above

11
If you answered yes to being fluent in a language other than English,...