Housing Zoning Inspector

The Code Compliance division of the Department of Construction and Inspections improves the safety and quality of life of the people of the City of Seattle. We do this by inspecting rental housing, vacant buildings, and other properties in residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, and enforcing city codes governing housing conditions, property maintenance, and use of land.

We have an opportunity to add a few energetic and dedicated Compliance Inspectors to our staff to ensure we continue to serve our customers effectively and professionally. It’s an exciting time in our unit as we implement expansion of our vacant building monitoring program and our services to tenants, ensure that activities in changing neighborhoods continue to comply with code standards, and help maintain our beautiful city for the benefit of all.

In This Position You Will

• Investigate complaints regarding violations of the Land Use, Housing and Building Maintenance, Weeds and Vegetation, and other City codes.
• Interact with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures both in the office and in the field.
• Resolve some violations cooperatively and others by escalating enforcement with fines and sometimes with legal action.
• Prepare notices and orders and testify in court and administrative hearings.
• Be an expert in the various codes that protect and maintain our buildings and protect our quality of life.
• Keep careful records so that your coworkers and the public have accurate and through information about your cases and so that your casework can effectively support legal action.
• Keep track of a large caseload of more than 100 cases and will respond to over 300 complaints a year.
• Develop relationships within coworkers and with people in other agencies who will help you do your job and accomplish the City’s goals.

Job Responsibilities

You will be successful in this position if you feel passionate about:

• Protecting quality of life and improving safety and living conditions for the people of the City.
• Being an active, positive, and contributing member on a team.
• Taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of your work.
• Learning, discussing, and interpreting code provisions and applying a code framework to a wide variety of factual situations.
• Working in the public sector with a community focus.

Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your ability to:

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Work independently and exercise good judgment with minimal supervision.
• Understand code language and apply it to complex situations.
• Work successfully with building professionals, attorneys, architects, contractors, citizen groups and interested parties.
• Work successfully with customers who may be upset, hostile, or difficult.
• Learn and use new technology to help manage your work and communications.
• Organize and manage a large caseload.
• Work respectfully and effectively with diverse populations.
• Use critical thinking to analyze problems and issues as they arise and offer solutions.

You will feel prepared to take on this role if you have experience in:

• The building trades or in the repair, construction, or inspection of residential or commercial properties.
• Reading and interpreting code provisions.
• Multi-tasking and prioritizing work in order to meet deadlines.
• Written and oral communication at a high level.
• Working collaboratively with a variety of staff and community members.
• Working in with data management and communication systems such as Hansen and Outlook.
• Working in the public sector.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Two years of experience in the repair construction, appraisal, inspection or sale of residential or commercial buildings and properties or a closely related field (or a combination of education, training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
• A valid Washington State Driver’s License

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Required to stand, walk or bend for extended periods.
• Required to work outdoors in all type of weather.
• Required to inspect dilapidated and sometimes unsafe buildings.
• Exposed to insects, rodents, unfriendly pets and poisonous vegetation.
• May require working around toxic/hazardous substances.
• May frequently be in contact with abusive or hostile citizens.