The Department:
The Community Development Department is comprised of three divisions: Planning, Building, and Housing and Community Services. In general, the Department guides the ongoing physical development of the community, to ensure that construction conforms to the standards of the City and State, to increase affordable housing and access to community services in the City.
The Housing and Community Services Division has a 2021-22 budget of $7 million and is staffed by nine (9) full-time positions. Activities within the Division include housing production, the long-term compliance of the City’s affordable housing portfolio, and the administration of the City’s federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Act Program (HOME) entitlement grant programs. These grants are used to promote affordable housing, rehabilitate substandard housing, facilitate neighborhood improvements, remove barriers to persons with disabilities, reduce homelessness and its impacts, and to fund public services for low- and moderate-income residents. The Division is also responsible for conducting Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections on affordable housing.
For more information about the Community Development Department, please visit the department website.
The Position:
The Housing Inspector is a journey level technical classification in the classified service assigned to either the Building Inspection Division or the Housing and Community Services Division of the Community Development Department. Incumbents are responsible for performing specialized work in the inspection, investigation, and promotion of environmental sanitation in housing, the enforcement of local and state housing and dangerous building codes, and/or field activities related to the City’s housing rehabilitation and inspection programs.
In the Housing and Community Services Division, the Housing Inspector will report to the Grants Management Analyst. The inspector will be responsible for patiently guiding lower income homeowners through the process of the City’s NCIP home repair program and maintaining files for each client. The inspector will help develop a scope of work, communicate regularly with the homeowner and contractors, and oversee construction quality. In addition, the inspector will systematically conduct and monitor responses to HUD Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections on multifamily residences. The inspector may from time to time be asked to inspect capital improvement projects for public facilities funded by federal CDBG funding. The inspector may perform other similar tasks in support of the overall activity of the Housing and Community Services Division.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.
The annual salary range for this position is $110,131.32 - $140,686.32. This position will be filled at or near the bottom of the salary range.
TYPICAL DUTIES:
Each position in this classification may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.
- Performs inspections of housing facilities to ensure that occupancy, use, maintenance, and/or repairs comply with code requirements including housing and dangerous building codes and related health and safety laws
- Performs inspections of buildings that may be structurally unsafe or a fire hazard
- Develops equitable solutions to difficult problems of rehabilitation and reconstruction
- Advises City residents and property owners on housing requirements and restrictions and provides general information regarding housing maintenance and repair
- Prepares work descriptions for housing repair bids, monitors performance of work by building contractors, issues progress payments, and tracks status of housing rehabilitation projects
- Performs routine inspections in multiple housing units such as motels, apartment buildings, boarding houses, trailer courts, and rest homes
- Coordinates inspection activities with other City departments and other governmental agencies
- Addresses various health and safety complaints pertaining to occupancy and use of property, including nuisances and animal disturbances, and institutes prosecution of violators for noncompliance with relevant ordinances, codes, and laws
- Prepares and maintains forms, records, reports, and correspondence pertaining to inspection activities
- Performs other related duties, as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to:
Minimum Education Requirements:
Completion of sixty (60) semester units of coursework from an accredited college or university
Minimum Experience Requirements:
Three (3) years of experience in housing code enforcement, building construction inspection, public health and sanitation inspection, and/or as a licensed General Contractor in residential construction
Acceptable Substitution:
None
License/Certifications:
Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required
Desirable Qualifications:
Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Sanitarian issued by the California State Department of Public Health, certification by the International Conference of Building Officials as a Building Inspector, and/or a Contractor’s license issued by the California Contractors State License Board
Other Requirements:
Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job assignment
CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.
Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview will be required prior to appointment.
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: This position qualifies for Veteran’s Preference Points. Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
- Principles, techniques and practices applied to inspection and investigation of buildings occupied as living quarters
- Laws, codes, and ordinances pertaining to housing and public health, including the Health and Safety Code, the State Housing Code, uniform building codes, the State historic building code, public health laws, and provisions of the penal code related to public nuisances
- Principles of environmental and sanitary science
Ability to:
- Tactfully gain the cooperation and compliance of individuals and organizations in maintaining standards and legal requirements pertaining to housing
- Read and interpret building plans and specifications and explain them to residents
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including government officials, contractors, and the general public
- Work in a team-based environment and achieve common goals
- Perform arithmetic computations with accuracy
- Prepare and maintain accurate written documents such as reports, records, forms, and correspondence
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
- Evaluate situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines
- Work with limited direction and complete work accurately and efficiently within prescribed time limits
- Walk or stand for extended periods of time and bend, stoop, crawl, climb, and lift as necessary to perform inspections
Additional Information:
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applications must be filled out completely (i.e. do not write “see resume or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a Resume (Cover Letter is optional). Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of April 9, 2024.
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.