This position will be open until filled.
The purpose of this position is to plan, coordinate, direct, implement and perform City Clerk programs, operations and services consistent with governing State of Wisconsin Statutes and ordinances of the City of Wausau.
The City Clerk plays a central role in the effective and transparent operation of municipal government. This position leads the administration of elections, legislative records, licensing, and statutory compliance. The City Clerk ensures that City processes are conducted with integrity, accuracy, and adherence to Wisconsin law, while fostering public confidence in local government. This role offers an opportunity for a motivated public administration professional to develop deep expertise in municipal governance and obtain Wisconsin Municipal Clerk certification.
We encourage interested candidates to read the following articles that provide more insight to the role of the Municipal Clerk!
Article 1.pdfArticle 2.pdfArticle 3.pdf- Serve as Clerk of the Common Council.
Attend Council meetings; prepare and maintain official records of proceedings; ensure compliance with open meetings and public notice requirements. - Administer and oversee all municipal elections.
Serve as the City’s Chief Election Official; ensure full compliance with state and federal election laws; supervise voter registration, election preparation, poll worker training, equipment testing, tabulation, and certification of results. - Direct and oversee issuance of City licenses and permits.
Ensure compliance with applicable ordinances and statutes; provide regulatory guidance to applicants and departments. - Maintain and safeguard official City records.
Develop and implement records management procedures for retention, preservation, retrieval, and lawful disposal; maintain custody of the Corporate Seal. - Oversee public records administration.
Ensure timely and lawful response to public records requests in coordination with the City Attorney. - Serve as Clerk to the Board of Review.
Coordinate meetings, training, documentation, and statutory compliance. - Administer statutory filings and official documentation.
Receive and process claims, petitions, oaths, legal notices, and required state reports. - Lead census and redistricting processes.
Prepare required documentation and administer redistricting in accordance with population data and legal requirements. - Provide policy guidance and high-level consultation.
Advise the Mayor, Common Council, and leadership on statutory requirements, governance matters, and procedural compliance. - Supervise and direct Clerk’s Office staff.
Establish work priorities, ensure effective service delivery, and oversee daily operations of the Clerk’s Office. - Manage public communication and transparency efforts.
Ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information regarding elections, Council actions, licensing, and related City matters, including website oversight. - Maintain professional knowledge and statutory compliance.
Monitor changes in laws, regulations, and technology affecting Clerk operations; ensure staff training and organizational compliance.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
- Work the front service counter when needed.
- Perform various duties and special projects as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position directly supervises the front service counter employees, assigns work tasks and duties, conducts performance evaluations, approves time off, and handles disciplinary actions in accordance with organizational policies.
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field, and
- Three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in office management, and
- Ability to obtain certification as a State of Wisconsin Municipal Clerk from the Wisconsin Municipal Clerk’s Association within four (4) years of hire.
A combination of education and experience that provides the equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Two or more years of supervisory experience.
- Possession of certification as a State of Wisconsin Municipal Clerk from the Wisconsin Municipal Clerk’s Association.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of governing election law, current technology of the Wisconsin Elections Commission Statewide Voter Registration System, and electoral principles and practices and knowledge of record management principles and practices.
- Ability to interpret, apply and ensure compliance with Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials.
- Ability to perform advanced levels of MS Office Suite products and several other specialized software programs.
- Ability to manage workflow and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution. Ability to analyze and categorize data and information using established criteria, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.
- Ability to counsel, mediate and/or provide first line supervision. Ability to persuade, convince, and train others. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.
- Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as financial statements, cash reports, tax bills, assessment reports, tax rolls, time sheets, bank reconciliations, tax increment district reports, trust fund reports, journal/payment vouchers, tax levy information, debt schedules, census reports, government accounting system manuals and standards, City ordinances and resolutions, state statutes, computer software operating manuals, audit summaries, investment literature, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing with internal and external customers of the City.
- Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values, and spatial relationships. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.
- Ability to use functional reasoning in performing influence functions such as supervising, managing, leading, teaching, directing and controlling.
- Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable criteria.
- Ability to operate equipment and machinery with some requiring complex and rapid adjustments, such as computer keyboard/terminal, computer printer, calculator, council voting system, presentation audio/visual equipment, telephone and fax machine.
- Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements such as rapid keyboard use.
- Ability to exert moderate to substantial heavy, physical effort, typically involving lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
Physical and Working Environment
Normal office working conditions within minimal exposure to disagreeable elements.
Normal mental and visual attention is required. Moderate physical demands to include bending, twisting, turning, and some heavy lifting. Limited exposure to workplace hazards.
Work extended hours to clerk regularly and specially scheduled council, committee meetings and Election Day duties. Attendance at the Council meetings held twice a month and election night tabulation is expected.
IMPORTANT! All applications must completely filled out and have a Resume attached in the "Attachments" section of the application. A Cover Letter is highly recommended, but not required. Applications that are not complete and do not have the required attachment will not be considered.
When completing References section, include 3 professional references with current and valid email addresses. References will not be contacted unless a conditional offer of employment is extended and accepted.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:
The City of Wausau will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Human Resources Department or phone (715) 261-6630 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS:
Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the City not provide access to this information.
If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Human Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law.
ADDITIONAL NOTICES:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/posters/fmla
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/posters/employee-polygraph-protection-act
The City of Wausau is an Equal Opportunity Employer.