Project Employee - Building Inspector - Housing and Homeless Services

City of Spokane•City of Spokane, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Spokane’s Housing and Homeless Services Department is hiring a temporary Project Employee - Building Inspector to perform skilled technical inspections of residential properties. The position ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local assisted-housing requirements, including requirements established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The work involves analyzing facts and selecting appropriate actions within established laws, procedures, and federal regulations. It helps safeguard residents’ health and safety, protect public investments, and support property owners in maintaining compliance. The position has regular outside contacts of a regulatory nature and requires discretion and technical competence. Work is light in nature, takes place under varying weather conditions, and requires above-normal attention to prevent errors. The inspector works under general supervision, plans and arranges their own work using established procedures, and refers unusual cases to a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Meet one of the following experience or education pathways: two years of experience as a building quality standards inspector with a housing provider or government agency; four years of experience as a building construction foreperson; or four years of college or university education with major coursework in architecture, engineering, building theory and practice, construction management, or a related field.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Demonstrate strong attention to detail and the ability to identify obvious and subtle deficiencies.
Be proficient with computers, mobile devices, and digital reporting tools.
Have excellent communication skills and be able to explain technical findings in plain language.
Be able to travel to multiple property sites.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships; interact tactfully with the public; and communicate and apply program requirements and compliance standards with good judgment, firmness, and impartiality.
Meet the physical requirements of the position, including sufficient vision, hearing, speech, dexterity, and mobility to carry out inspections and use tools and computer equipment.
Be able to walk stairs, climb a ladder up to 8 feet, and bend and kneel while inspecting spaces.
Tolerate dust and adverse conditions, including outdoor work under a dripping eave.
Have the stamina to drive up to four hours per day, five days per week, and travel between property sites.
Successfully complete the selection process, which may include interviews, a criminal background check, pre-employment drug screening, reference checks, aptitude tests for some positions, and a physical and lift test for some positions.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting inspections using HQS, NSPIRE, or UPCS standards.
Appropriate building-trades experience at the foreperson level or higher may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis for up to two years.

Responsibilities

Inspect assisted-housing properties using applicable HUD standards, including Housing Quality Standards (HQS), National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), or Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS), as required by the program.
Conduct onsite progress inspections and review Davis-Bacon labor standards compliance documentation for applicable HOME/CDBG projects, as assigned.
Perform initial housing quality standards inspections of completed new construction and rehabilitation projects to document compliance before final project draws.
Use HUD-approved inspection tools to record findings, capture photographic evidence, and generate detailed reports.
Work with property owners, managers, and contractors to explain deficiencies, prioritize remediation, and support timely compliance.
Stay current on HUD housing quality standards and approved inspection protocols, HOME and CDBG program regulations, and local housing codes.
Communicate inspection results and next steps clearly and professionally to stakeholders.
Maintain detailed records for audit and compliance purposes.
Maintain inspection schedules and complete assigned inspections in a timely manner.
Follow City safety procedures during field inspections.
Perform other inspection-related duties and related work as required.