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Inspector

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title:                                                   Inspector 

Department:                               Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) & Public Housing (PH)

Reports To:                                   Deputy Executive Director

FLSA Classification:             Non-Exempt - Hourly

Summary

The Inspector is an at will employee of the Housing Authority of the City of Victoria.  The Housing Authority (Authority) operates through laws passed by congress and the state, as well as, under rules and regulations issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  

The Inspector is responsible for conducting all required inspections of housing units in the Authority's HCV Program and PH Program to ensure compliance with HUD's National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Inspections.  This position must perform thorough, effective and accurate inspections to ensure that the residents are provided housing that is decent, safe and sanitary.  The Inspector is expected to plan and coordinate their schedule with the Deputy Executive Director on a weekly basis.

Duties and Responsibilities

Plans and directs work to ensure compliance with applicable HUD guidelines as well as federal, state, and local regulations, laws, ordinances, and the Authority's administration of programs.

Answers inquiries concerning policies and practices associated with the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Programs Inspections in a courteous and professional manner.

Schedules and conducts initial, annual, re-inspections, and special inspections, following proper verification methods/processing in accordance with HUD and Authority policies and procedures.  Recommends abatement, detainment and termination of HAP contracts.

Coordinate with Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing staff, along with the Deputy Executive Director, to ensure timely inspections at admission to program, annual re-certification and condition of unit inspections.

Remain familiar with current HUD's ever changing Federal Regulations as they relate to all Housing Programs

Facilitate and mediate communication with assigned tenants, maintenance, participants and landlords as needed.

Respond to inquiries, phone calls, correspondence, and e-mail in a timely and responsive manner.

May perform or assist in performing program orientations to educate and inform applicants of program requirements and responsibilities.

Prepares and sends written notice of scheduled inspections on a monthly basis to ensure that all inspections occur within the time frame required.  Maintains correspondence associated with the inspection process in an accurate and timely manner.  Accurately updates computerized system with system notes and ensures compliance with program requirements and regulations.  

May assist in investigating complaints of program abuse, fraud, or non-compliance.  Reviews and discusses non-compliant resident issues with Housing Staff to ensure tenants/participants are provided with reasonable opportunity to meet requirements to remain in compliance.

Maintains records, ensures files are kept current and computer systems entries are maintained in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and Authority rules and procedures.

Ensures privacy and maintains security of confidential materials.

Accountable for consistent adherence to strong Authority standards regarding the ethical, responsible, and appropriate use, care, and safeguarding of Authority materials, supplies, resources, and other assets.  

Undertakes and performs other work-related duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or provide relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise balance the workload.

Makes rent reasonableness comparability analysis and recommends amount of initial contract rent and rent adjustments based on comparable unassisted housing.

Reviews and remains current on all relevant rules and regulations concerning appropriate Authority housing programs, as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, codes, and Authority rules, regulations, Administrative Plan and Admission and Continued Occupancy Policies.

Attends relevant Authority meetings to exchange information and further the development and implementation of processes and activities to enhance overall performance, effective operations, and maintenance of optimum lease-up rates.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director and/or Executive Director.

Qualifications and Knowledge

High School diploma or possession of a certificate of equivalence of High School Achievement (GED), and one (1) year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations and Authority policies and procedures pertaining to eligibility requirements and the substance of applicable programs.

Knowledge and completion of HUD approved NSPIRE training and inspection procedures.  

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other employees and meet and deal tactfully with participants and the general public.

Ability to understand and follow moderately complex written and oral instructions, communicate and relate to persons of diverse backgrounds and abilities. 

Ability to make routine decisions in accordance with established administrative rules, regulations and policies, to explain the re-examination process to tenants in an objective and impartial manner.

Ability to flex schedule as needed to accommodate landlords and/or participants.

Must be prompt and dependable.

Ability to prepare clear, concise reports and make appropriate recommendations within scope of responsibility.

Ability to operate appropriate Authority computer equipment and software packages.

Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, verbally and in writing.

Skilled in communicating on the level of the listener, recognizing when information has been misunderstood, and determining how to remedy the misunderstanding as needed to explain policies and procedures and to provide and exchange information to persons with varying levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and ages.

Ability to deal effectively with situations requiring patience, tact, and diplomacy.

Able to work with minimum day to day supervision.

Valid Texas driver's license and good driving record.

Ability to be covered under the Housing Authority's fidelity bond

Supervision Given and Received

The employee receives instructions from the Deputy Executive Director as assigned.  Normally, the employee plans and carries out routine work activities with minimal supervision and independently resolves problems that arise.  The employee receives specific instructions when complaints are brought to the attention of the supervisor, and when the supervisor is contacted by the employee for direction.  The employee's work is reviewed regularly for quality control purposes, compliance with policies and procedures, and attainment of objectives.

The employee has no supervisory responsibilities.

Guidelines

The employee performs routine duties by following established HUD and Authority policies and procedures.  These guidelines cover most job-related situations and the employee may use independent judgment in making decisions within established parameters and area of expertise.  If guidelines do not cover a situation, the employee normally consults the supervisor.  Guidelines are generally specific and clear.

Complexity

The employee performs a variety of related, routine, and generally repetitive tasks, though individual circumstances differ and affect the complexity of the process.  The course of action is determined by the supervisor and by established procedures.  The employee may coordinate, integrate, and/or prioritize tasks.

Difficulty may be experienced in the process of performing housekeeping inspections.

Scope and Effect

The employee's work affects resident families, managers, other agencies, and other Authority personnel.  The employee's efforts can enhance the Authority's continuing efforts to provide adequate leased housing to low-rent public housing families on a timely basis and at reasonable rates.

Personal Contacts

Personal contacts are with all of the above persons and groups.  The purpose of such contacts is to give, obtain, or exchange information, resolve problems, provide services, motivate, make decisions, and verify, document and record information submitted by participants.

Regularly, contact requires negotiation and/or handling of controversial matters, and may include dealing with skeptical, uncooperative, unreceptive, and hostiles individuals, and potentially volatile situations.

Physical Demands

Work is physical and may involve bending, crouching, crawling, kneeling and whatever is needed to complete the inspections.  

While in the office, work is principally sedentary, but may involve some physical exertion, such as kneeling, crouching, or lifting to obtain files, records, and office supplies, and eyestrain from working with computers and other office equipment.

Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.

Must be able to use fingers bilaterally and unilaterally to operate office equipment.

Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and participants.

Must have vision and hearing corrected to be able to operate office equipment and fulfill essential job functions.

Must be able to perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.

Must maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.

Work Environment

Work involves the normal risks or discomfort associated with an office environment and is usually in an area that is adequately cooled, heated, lighted, and ventilated.