STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Civil Service Commission of the City of West Des Moines, Iowa is a special tribunal created under the Code of Iowa, Chapter 400, Civil Service.

The purpose of the Commission shall be to provide a harmonious and efficient public service which will protect the interests of the City of West Des Moines and its employees. In concert with such protection, the Civil Service Commission shall be in compliance with the federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination. No person shall in any way be favored or discriminated against because of age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.

Current members of the Civil Service Commission are Kevin Flagg, Emily Bartekoske, and Andi Lipman.

Apply to be considered for future Civil Service Commission openings.

 

EMPLOYEES GOVERNED BY CIVIL SERVICE

In accordance with Chapter 400 of the Iowa Code, civil service positions in the City include all fulltime police officers and firefighters and most other full-time employees.

The following are not civil service positions for the City:

  1. The mayor, city council, and persons appointed to fill vacancies and elective offices.
  2. The city clerk, deputy city clerk, city attorneys, city treasurer, assessor, auditor, professional or civil engineers (licensed), and health officer.
  3. The city manager, assistant city manager, department directors (except police and fire chiefs who are subject to Iowa Code Chapter 400), and the head of each division (this exclusion does not apply to assistant fire chiefs or assistant police chiefs).
  4. Principal secretary to the city manager or department directors.
  5. Employees of Boards of Trustees or Commissions established pursuant to state law or city ordinances, including the clerk to the Civil Service Commission. All employees of the West Des Moines Public Library are covered by this exception.
  6. Employees whose positions are funded by state or federal grants or other temporary revenues, except positions that will be maintained for at least one year after expiration of the grants or temporary revenues.
  7. Employees who work less than full time, including part-time employees, intermittent employees and seasonal/temporary employees.

 

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

If you meet the minimum qualifications for the job, you will be scheduled to take a Civil Service Exam, if the position is designated as Civil Service. The examination may consist of one or more of the following: evaluation of your training and experience for the job being considered, written tests, oral board interviews, and/or demonstration tests. In accordance with chapter 400 of the Iowa Code, employees who pass the Civil Service exam will be certified by the Civil Service Commission. If you are placed on the certified list, you will be considered for each vacancy in that classification for the life of the list. On July 7, 2025, the West Des Moines City Council voted to comply with the suspension of entry level certified lists.

 

VETERANS PREFERENCE

On July 7, 2025, the West Des Moines City Council voted to comply with the suspension of entry level certified lists. Veterans preference would only apply to promotional opportunities where applicable. The veterans preference provides for five (5) percentage points to be added to the passing scores of eligible veterans. Eligible veterans are honorably discharged veterans from the military or naval forces of the United States in any war the United States has been engaged as described in section 400.10 of the Code of Iowa. In applying veterans preference points, five (5) percentage points will be added to the final or composite passing score. Five (5) percentage additional points shall be added to the score if the veteran has a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation disability benefits or pension under laws administered by the Veterans Administration. (Iowa Code 400.10)

Veterans wishing to claim preference must submit Form DD 214 no later than the application deadline. Veterans claiming preference on the basis of disability must present official Veterans Administration documents verifying disability status.

Veterans preference is not applicable in the case of promotion or appointment to Chief of the Fire Department or Chief of the Police Department. (Iowa Code 400.10)

 

EDUCATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Certificate: Is a non-degree offering below the associate degree and most often offered in technical and vocational fields of study. Courses usually do not qualify for regular college credit. Candidate must transfer these earned credit hours towards an Associate’s Degree. Transferred credit hours must be accepted by the accredited institution to be counted. If the candidate has not transferred these credit hours towards a degree or if the accredited institution does not accept the credit hours then these credit hours will not be counted as an equivalent credit hour.

Associates Degree: Is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical college, and bachelor’s degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years. Equivalency to an associate’s degree is 60 credit hours towards a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Candidates bear the responsibility of providing documentation to verify that an Associate’s Degree has been attained or to prove that 60 credit hours are currently being taken towards a Bachelor's degree by an accredited educational institution. If credit hours are from more than one institution it is the candidate’s responsibility to transfer the credit hours to one institution to verify the 60 credit hours.

Bachelor’s Degree: Is an academic post-secondary degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete the undergraduate curriculum. Candidates bear the responsibility of providing documentation to verify that a Bachelor’s Degree has been attained.

Master’s Degree: An academic degree higher than a Bachelor’s degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or are of professional practice. Candidates bear the responsibility of providing documentation to verify that a Master’s Degree has been attained.

Call (515) 222-3616 with any questions about the Civil Service Commission.