Job Description

Housing Inspector

Salary
$33.01 - $41.79 Hourly

Location
1120 SW 5th Ave, OR

Job Type
Regular

Bureau
Bureau of Development Services

Job Number
2022-01360

Closing
10/17/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

The City of Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS)is actively recruiting for two Housing inspectors to help the community understand and comply with Title 29, the Portland Property Maintenance Regulations and Oregon building codes for residential housing units. Excellent customer service, sound professional judgement and problem-solving skills are key to successfully resolve complaints and help owners with the most effective path to compliance. Our Housing Inspectors do their work in collaboration with other BDS workgroups, city bureaus, and partner agencies. Housing Inspectors receive training and support in finding new and creative ways to provide services in an equitable manner to the community.

As a Housing Inspector, you will:

• Inspect residential dwelling units and the exterior of non-residential commercial buildings to identify maintenance violations of the Title 29 and building work done without permit.
• Use judgement and discretion to cite violations and manage customer expectations.
• Research historic building records and interpret case evidence to make informed determinations.
• Document inspections with photographs and comments. Prepare accurate violation letters.
• Communicate with owners, renters, occupants, property managers, and other interested parties over the phone, via email, and in person to problem solve and communicate expectations.
• Collaborate with other housing inspectors, BDS workgroups, and city bureaus to make informed decisions and assist customers manage their cases.

As a person, you have:

• Construction knowledge and some experience with building construction, maintenance, and terminology. This may be previous experience in construction, building maintenance, building inspections, building design/plan review, or work with a non-profit provider of home repair services, or other construction related experience.
• Customer service skills: you are comfortable meeting and communicating with variety of customers including occupants, owners, complainants, and contractors especially in situations where you are “knocking and talking” without a scheduled appointment.
• Diplomacy and tact: you have experience working with customers who are frustrated, angry, confused, or upset.
• Self-direction and are able to work independently in the field and office to perform inspections and manage cases.
• Communication skills: you have great verbal and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills: Are organized and able to develop personal systems to accomplish your work and use time efficiently.
• Collaboration skills: you work well with team members, employees from other BDS divisions, and agency partners to generate solutions for customers.
• Equity awareness: you are open learning about racial and disability equity issues and operationalizing anti-racism in your daily work with BDS customers and staff.

Although not required, you may have:

• Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing a language other than English. Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese would be particularly helpful in our work.
• Experience in reading building plans.
• Experience in reading and interpreting code regulations.
• Experience with researching and analyzing records to make determinations and summarize findings in written reports.
• Experience with Microsoft products and proficiency with Amanda 7, Portland maps, Mapworks and Google Maps.

This classification is represented by the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). To view this labor agreement, please go to https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements and click on the appropriate link. Applicants start at the entry salary rate. If you are a DCTU represented employee, see labor agreement for additional information or talk to your union representative.

Our Equity Commitment:
The Bureau of Development Services is committed to eliminating racism and all discriminatory practices in our services and in our workplace because we understand the positive value of equitable systems.

Equity: Conditions that allow everyone to flourish so that race, gender, ability and/or other held identities do not determine access or outcomes.

To learn more at The Bureau of Development Services equity commitment - please review our equity commitment: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/article/670171

The City of Portland also participates in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). For more information on the City of Portland's benefits please click here.

The City is offering optional information meetings for this recruitment. Please see the Additional Information section below for details.

To Qualify

Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate in their supplemental question responses and resume how their education, training, work experience and/or lived experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of – and some experience with – construction methods, practices, terminology, building systems and components used in the construction, rehabilitation and repair of residential structures.
2. Experience and skill communicating effectively with people who are angry, hostile and/or confused.
3. Experience and skill with organizing and scheduling daily work activities.
4. Ability and experience using computers and related software.

Applicant must also:

• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per City/State mandate or have an approved exception by date of hire.
• By the date of hire, a valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record; and
• Within one year of appointment, employee must possess one of these Oregon Residential Inspector certifications: Structural, Electrical, or Plumbing, or must meet the Oregon certification requirements to perform residential mechanical inspections.

The Recruitment Process

An evaluation of each applicant's training and experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions are weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not requested. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Recruitment Activity Schedule:

• Job Posting closes: 10/17/2022
• Applications Reviewed: week of 10/24/2022
• Eligible List / Notices Generated: week of 10/31/2022
• 1st Round of Interviews: early November
• Job Offer: mid November

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit a professional resume and responses to the supplemental questions online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, as identified below, please describe in your responses to the supplemental questions and resume any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the "To Qualify" section above.

Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment. All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. Do not attach materials not requested. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Additional Information

Work Status: Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

Veterans' Preference: If you are requesting Veterans' Preference, attach a copy of your DD214/DD215 and/or Veterans Administration letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veterans' Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment to which you apply. Veterans' Preference documentation must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM on the closing date of this recruitment.

ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability, are pregnant or nursing, or observe a religious practice(s), and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please contact the Recruiter below for assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply.

Language Pay Differential: City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a “language pay differential.” This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skill to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here.

Did you know? The City of Portland offers How to Apply Classes that are free and review best practices for applying to the City. Follow the link for the most recent list of scheduled dates: https://www.portland.gov/bhr/events.

Contact Information:
Bureau of Human Resources
Karen Ehn, Senior Recruiter
karen.ehn@portlandoregon.gov

To assist you in understanding this position and the recruitment process, we will offer an Optional Information Sessions that will provide you with details about the position and about the application process. You are not required to attend to apply for this job. You are welcome to join us for the optional session below:

Information Session 1 -Housing Inspector
Wednesday, October 5th, 2022, 6PM-7PM (PST)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvduqppjkpGdPp3d6No3R2Rh3LPIZXxAKJ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Information Session 2 -Housing Inspector
Monday, October 10, 2022, 6PM-7PM PST
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlceCupj0tGNU_hXrETEY4xQ6GrDQ5joDR
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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