Housing Quality Standard Inspector

Job Summary

Please note this position is open until filled; however, to ensure consideration applications should be received by February 9, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

King County Housing Authority (KCHA), an independent municipal organization, is a high-performing, nationally recognized leader in affordable housing and in providing innovative and effective housing solutions so that people and communities can prosper.  Our vision is that all residents of King County have quality affordable housing. KCHA is the largest housing provider in the County, and annually the agency serves over 55,000 low-income individuals.
 
We transform lives through housing.

We are recruiting to fill a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) Inspector position, based in Tukwila, Washington. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys a diversity of customers, and is committed to the highest standards in public service.

This position is dedicated to ensuring that program participants are provided with quality and affordable housing opportunities. Representing the Authority as an ambassador in the community, this key role uses a handheld tablet to conduct housing inspections and to perform a variety of duties both in and outside of the office. 

The ideal candidate will:

• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain successful working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Bring experience drafting professional correspondence.  
• Be comfortable traveling to privately owned properties to conduct inspections on housing quality standards.
• Possess knowledge and skills necessary to determine eligibility for safe and sanitary housing in accordance with federal and local housing quality standards (HQS).
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail and the ability to successfully prepare inspection and failure documentation.

The HQS Inspector will be a key point of contact for interpreting relevant policies and will negotiate with landlords and tenants on rent and/or required repairs. When improvements are reported as completed, the HQS Inspector will follow up to verify that the repairs have been completed sufficiently.   

Essential Functions

The Housing Quality Standard Inspector will:

• Contact property owners to arrange for inspections; conduct thorough inspections of the unit by evaluating the exterior, site and neighborhood conditions, all painted surfaces, plumbing, electrical, and heating systems, security, doors and windows, and interior conditions for floors, walls and ceilings; record all information and give owner a list of repairs to be completed.
• Conduct initial, annual and special inspections of housing units; document room locations and areas not meeting quality standards.
• Respond to requests to increase rent; receive written requests and conduct research using a comparable study or several other sources; recommend approval or disapproval of the increase.
• Explain the housing inspection program to landlords, owners, and tenants in a way that is understandable.

Qualifications and Competencies

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED AND
• Considerable experience in property management, housing programs, safety inspections, real estate appraisals and building construction repair and maintenance work to include carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and heating systems OR
• An equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic construction and maintenance/repair processes and materials.
• Ability to conduct a high volume of thorough inspections efficiently and effectively while applying detailed and comprehensive HQ standards; accurately document conditions that do not meet standards with clear and concise reports.
• Demonstrates responsible personal and professional conduct, which contributes to the overall mission and goals of KCHA; accepts personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work; ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Works effectively and efficiently to provide quality service to satisfy service expectations; seeks ways to improve service delivery; demonstrates strong project management skills.
• Applies effective written and verbal communication techniques to convey clear and timely messages to internal and external stakeholders; listens to people's ideas and concerns.
• Uses critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills to identify problems, analyze and evaluate various solutions, and monitor their effectiveness; keen observation skills to identify and resolve dwelling issues.
• Ability to explain complex or technical information regarding rules, rights, regulations, policies, procedures, programs, or services to answer questions, resolve problems, and communicate decisions or actions.
• Uses systems to organize, prioritize, and keep track of information and/or work in progress; maintains accurate and complete electronic and manual records; exhibits attention to detail; ability to multi-task in a high-pressure environment.
• Strong, positive interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively; remains professional, calm and tactful in stressful situations while adhering to a high standard of integrity, honesty, and confidentiality; knowledge of basic de-escalation and mediation skills.
• Values organizational diversity; treats other with respect; promotes cooperation; works effectively and positively with individuals of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and educationally diverse populations.
• Proficiency using MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and the internet; skill and ability to learn and use agency software housing management program (Tenmast).
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations in accordance with housing inspections and rent reasonable process.

Special Requirements:

• Consent to and pass required assessments.
• Consent to and pass a driver's and criminal records background check.
• Must possess a valid driver's license to regularly travel between work sites.  Must have an acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.

Position Information and Application Process

Application Requirements:
To be considered for this opportunity, you must:

• Complete the online application profile in its entirety.
• Upload a cover letter that addresses how your experience and education qualifies you to perform the essential functions listed in the job announcement. Be sure to include why you believe customer service and communication are essential in this position. (Cover Letter)
• Upload a detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience. (Résumé)

Salary & Benefits:
The starting salary range for this position is $30.19 - $36.99 per hour dependent on qualifications and professional experience. The complete salary range for this position is $30.19 - $43.78 hourly. Performance based merit increase opportunities and COLAs are reviewed on an annual basis. A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability insurance plans, vacation, sick and personal leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits are also available.

Work Environment:
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing and lifting and occasionally requires sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Equal Opportunity:
King County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.