Pay Range: $8,550 – $10,844 per month (D64/D71 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $8,550 – $9,074 per month (D64/D71 Step 1-4 DOQ
Job ID: IV-J23-U00-S
Job Type: Regular – Exempt (ineligible for overtime)
Closing Date: March 10, 2023

Learn more about this position and apply today at Yakima County’s website.

Our Mission:

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

  • Integrity
  • Common Sense
  • Innovation
  • Accountability

There is one Senior Manager IV opening with the Yakima County Public Services Code Enforcement Division. This position is responsible for overseeing and managing Yakima County’s Code Enforcement Program including planning, developing, assigning and coordinating resources, staff and services.

There will be a written exercise as part of the interview.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

  • Plans, develops and implements strategies and programs to accomplish County code enforcement goals, priorities and objectives including: Managing and coordinating resources; developing, interpreting, monitoring, adjusting and implementing policies and procedures; manages daily operations; and serves as a technical and administrative advisor for Public Services and Yakima County. Establishes precedent for the work of the program.
  • Supervises staff; prioritizes, assigns and monitors work; evaluates performance; initiates and implements decisions regarding employee selection, discipline and termination.
  • Evaluates the code enforcement program; analyzes workload; ensures that activities are goal directed by prioritizing work assignments and adjusting resource allocations; determines the need for additional resources or contract services.
  • Represents the department at various events such as meetings, hearings, trainings, solid waste cleanups and in court proceedings; Gathers, compiles and analyzes enforcement data to address community concerns; Communicates with County departments, state and federal regulatory agencies with attorneys, law enforcement, customers, contractors, property owners and the public regarding building, land use, and environmental codes, regulations and enforcement issues.
  • Prepares, reviews and/or conducts quality assurance/quality control of assigned staffs’ technical and investigative reports and documents (e.g., notice of code violations and stop work orders, abatement incidents, citations and warrants). Develops case information for use by the department, the Sheriff’s office and the Prosecutor’s office. Studies and research building and abatement codes and writes interpretations and recommendations. Evaluates laws and regulations for applicable safety standards.
  • Investigates and responds to the most complex concerns and complaints of property owners and the public regarding building, land use, environmental and abatement hazards. Explains code applicability to the public. Negotiates with property owners to abate hazards to meet the intent of the code. Interviews suspects, witnesses and victims regarding abatement actions. Provides testimony at hearings of nuisance decisions that are appealed.
  • Researches technical engineering data and construction plans to evaluate acceptability of products, equipment and installation. Confirms accuracy of compliance and completeness of adopted codes and standards; appraises conformance with performance-based codes.
  • Other duties required.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Command and Administration, Construction Management, Law and Justice, Planning, or similar discipline AND eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience related to planning, land use, environmental review and/or permitting, or building inspection, construction management and techniques, or safety and health management or similar field, including three years in a supervisory and managerial capacity; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the advanced level of expert knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

Required:

  • Valid Washington State Driver’s license at the time of appointment and proof of insurance, if requested;
  • ICC Certified Residential Building Inspector or ICC Building Plans Examiner within six months of appointment.
  • Successful completion of a criminal history background check to obtain a limited Commission from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and general employment verification.
  • Requires use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and to work in potentially hazardous conditions and inclement weather, potentially at all times of day or night.

Preferred:  

  • Ability to speak and understand Spanish;
  • Familiarity or work experience with WA State codes and standards;
  • Familiarity with governmental databases such as Accela and/or Spillman
  • Additional degrees, professional certifications, recognition, awards and licenses that demonstrate acquisition and application of the required knowledge and abilities to be successful in this position.

Benefits included in position:

  • Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave

Eligibility for benefits are dependent upon Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and if your position type is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

  • Medical, Dental, Prescription and Vision Coverage
  • Basic Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA- VEBA)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Voluntary Benefits – vision, term life, critical illness, disability and other insurance plans
  • Washington State Retirement Plan (DRS)
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Program (DCP)
  • Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays and Sick Leave

Contact Yakima County Human Resources for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Equipment Used:

Telephone, computer, printer, copy machine, fax machine, calculator, shredder and other standard office equipment; GPS unit, audiovisual equipment, digital camera, operating a motor vehicle; personal protective equipment including: coveralls, gloves, eye and face protection.

Working Conditions:

This position is rates as: Heavy Work:  Exerting up to or in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work is performed out in the field.

Environment: excessive noise, exposure to weather, pathogen exposure, travel, field work, and may be exposed to angry/hostile people; may be asked to work outside of standard business hours and at various locations.

Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, balancing, climbing, crouching, hearing, smelling, talking, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Note: Property violators may also be involved in criminal activities and constitute an element of danger that isn’t present with typical building inspection work. The Code Enforcement Division works closely with law enforcement agencies (YSO, WSP, ATF, DEA) and even Secret Service when properties have drug labs or other illegal activities located on them. Some illegal activities, such as methamphetamine labs, are associated with hazardous materials. Staff needs to be aware of the dangers and take the appropriate precautions.

Requires use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and to work in potentially hazardous conditions and inclement weather, potentially at all times of day or night.

Knowledge:

  • Supervisory theories, practices and principles;
  • Thorough understanding of principles, methods and practices in code development, and enforcement;
  • Public sector financial management, accounting and budgeting theories and principles;
  • Terminology, laws, rules, and regulations governing building safety codes and code enforcement practices;
  • Project management, public administration and organizational management theories, practices and principles;
  • Sources and tools for funding and financing public needs, including preparing and monitoring grants;
  • Customer service techniques and team building concepts;
  • Rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation used in professional report writing and editing; Presentation methods including use of technology for displaying, analyzing and evaluating research data;
  • Public participation and meeting facilitation methodology;
  • Federal, state and local terminology, laws, ordinance, rules, regulations, and development standards related to areas of assignment;
  • Roles and responsibilities of federal, state and other local public and private organizations;
  • Scientific method of field practices for gathering, interpreting and presenting data; and
  • Principles of site assessment and impact analysis for development projects.

Skills (and abilities):

  • Using a personal computer and related software;
  • Planning, scheduling, assigning, delegating, prioritizing, coordinating, implementing and monitoring a range of programs, initiatives and projects, including the work of professional, technical and administrative staff;
  • Determining priorities and appropriate allocation of staff time and resources; making critical decisions; developing initiatives and projects;
  • Supervising, teaching, coaching, monitoring and evaluating the work of staff;
  • Developing, writing, applying, implementing, and enforcing Division, Departmental, and County policies and procedures;
  • Critically analyzing and resolving customer and internal issues and conflict; building teams and applying customer service techniques;
  • Applying principles of financial and resource management in budgeting and grant management;
  • Giving presentations, public speaking, and facilitating meetings;
  • Researching, enforcing, and mediating laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; writing reports, ordinances, and code proposals;
  • Providing technical expertise in codes, investigations and public safety education;
  • Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with Federal, State, County, and Local officials, citizen groups and the public;
  • Command of, and consistent application of, proper grammar, spelling and punctuation; and
  • Effective oral and written communications including writing, editing, and proofreading complex technical reports.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”

Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.

About Us:

Yakima County is one of the largest employers with over 1,000 employees providing services in all areas of law and justice, corrections, administration, public services and social services.  Work locations are throughout the Valley and vary based on department.  Check out the County’s website at www.yakimacounty.us for more information.

About the Area:

Located in Central Washington, Yakima County is large (4,200 square miles) and diverse.  Residents enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year and four distinct seasons. Yakima County is ranked first in the state in agricultural production, and is one of the top five areas in the nation in production of specialty crops.  Irrigated farmlands and rolling foothills provide a backdrop to the nearby Cascade Mountains. Around 70 percent of the County’s 226,000 residents live in its 14 cities, towns and urban growth areas.  The unique blend of rural and urban lifestyle choices offers a quality of living unsurpassed in the Northwest. Learn more at www.visityakima.com.