Code Enforcement Officer

City of Kent, Washington

About The Position

Come work at a place where you have a direct impact on the quality of life for Kent residents, business owners and visitors alike! The Kent Police Department is in search of a resourceful problem solver that remains cool under pressure, even when dealing with people who may sometimes be irate, for their Code Enforcement Officer position. The ideal candidate is friendly and diplomatic, but firm when necessary. This role requires an independent worker with strong organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to see projects through to completion and write detailed reports. If you have these qualifications, along with the requisite education/experience, then the Code Enforcement Officer position may be just for you! This is a full-time, benefited position represented by the AFSCME bargaining unit that is also covered by Civil Service. The City will establish a ranked eligibility list for this classification that would be in effect for up to six months. A cover letter and resume are required with your online application for your application to be considered complete. Please note that you cannot attach documents after you have submitted your online application. If you experience problems attaching documents, please contact Human Resources at (253) 856-5270 and we will do our best to assist you. This recruitment will utilize multiple steps to narrow down the applicant pool. Dates for these processes have not yet been set, but the passing requirements are as follows: - Written exam (final weight of 30%, 70% passing score required). Up to the top 20 will be invited to the oral board interview step. - Oral board interview (final weight of 70%, 70% passing score required) - Background check and Polygraph (Pass/Fail) SALARY: $7,431.00 - $9,033.00 per month (2025 rates), depending on experience For a listing of benefits, please use the following link: Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov) Additional information may also be found in the AFSCME contract, which you can access at Human Resources | City of Kent (kentwa.gov) GENERAL PURPOSE: Under direction of the Assistant Chief of Support Services and supervised by the Community Services Unit (CSU) Commander and Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) Sergeant, perform a variety of technical tasks related to the interpretation and enforcement of designated City codes. Work is characterized by responding to and investigating complaints alleging violations of City codes; taking appropriate actions in accordance with established procedures to achieve compliance. Work is also characterized by providing assistance and coordinating actions with other City departments as well as appropriate county and State agencies to obtain code compliance. Duties also include maintenance of related records and communicating information to complainants, citizens, City officials, staff and general public. Work is performed under general supervision. Supervisor defines objectives, priorities, and deadlines; and assists incumbent with unusual situations, which do not have clear objectives or precedents. Incumbent plans and carries out assignments and handles problems and deviations in accordance with instructions, policies, procedures and/or accepted practices. Work is evaluated for technical soundness and conformity to practice and policy.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE OF: City ordinances and codes as well as other applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
City organization, operations, policies and objectives.
Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.
SKILLED IN: Record keeping techniques and in using related automated equipment.
Oral and written communication including correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
Interpersonal communication using tact, patience and courtesy.
Preparing clear and concise correspondence and written materials.
Working with computerized information processing systems.
Analyzing situations accurately and adopting an effective course of action.
Positively and effectively interacting with diverse individuals to accomplish a common goal.
ABILITY TO: Perform field inspections of structures and/or premises in poor and/or potentially dangerous condition.
Obtain compliance with designated codes and City ordinances.
Work with the NRT Officers on overlapping investigations
Work and communicate effectively with the public, co-workers, elected officials and a diverse range of people.
Resolve conflicts in a positive manner.
Read and interpret codes.
Work independently with little direction.
Organize and maintain accurate records.
Walk and climb for extended periods.
Handle emergent and conflict situations in a calm and effective manner with minimal supervision
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive materials and information
SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:
Education: Three years of college level course work in Pre-law, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Public Administration or a related field; and
Experience: One year progressively responsible work as a Code Enforcement Officer or the equivalent experience;
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Valid Washington State Driver's License.
Must meet minimum medical and health standards adopted by the Civil Service Commission
Positions in this class must meet Civil Service Rules and Regulations and are subject to a background investigation

Responsibilities

Receive reports and/or complaints from a variety of sources communicating conditions which may constitute code violations.
Create and maintain original reports, citations, and/or complaints and related records of subsequent actions.
Analyze complaints to verify code violations including conferring with other City staff with relevant expertise.
Coordinate analysis and actions with other departments to achieve consistency and predictability in code interpretations and compliance actions.
Conduct investigations/inspections to determine actual conditions.
When appropriate, refer information to other City departments and/or to responsible county or State agencies for enforcement.
Coordinate inter-departmental referrals of code violations and their subsequent enforcement actions.
Create and maintain records and reports of code enforcement activities and their results.
Communicate code requirements, prohibitions and enforcement processes to complainants, violators, property owners, City staff and others as necessary.
Prepare and serve citation notices of violation and related code enforcement documents.
Provide assistance to other City staff members responsible for code enforcement actions.
Act as expert witness providing code enforcement documentation for hearings and other legal proceedings.
Meet with individuals and various groups such as; property owners, business owners, tenants, and employees; to discuss code violations, explain intent of codes and work to gain compliance.
Coordinate abatement actions as needed.
Participate in and assist with evaluation of code enforcement processes, regulations and codes.
Propose changes and/or amendments as appropriate in an effort to enhance the City's enforcement capabilities and to assist the public in understanding and complying with codes and regulations.
Attend department training as required.
Provide training for staff and security personnel when needed.
Actively support the vision, mission, values and goals of the department and the City.
Perform other duties as assigned.