Senior Community Outreach Officer

University Place, City of•University Place, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Public Safety Director, this position coordinates, promotes, and implements a variety of outreach activities and communications for the Department utilizing innovative tools and in-person community engagement strategies and activities. Incumbent will work with businesses and residents, developing community relationships and advising on crime prevention strategies to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life within the community. The position requires a considerable amount of contact with community leaders and citizens, in person, in writing and over the phone, to coordinate programs, maintain, and expand community support. The Community Outreach Officer will have a limited commission from the city to enforce the municipal code related to land use actions, building code nuisances, environmental, fire, sign, development, address violations primarily around parking, abandoned vehicles, noise, and park rules. This position is responsible for addressing homeless encampment/enforcement issues and coordinating human services and law enforcement support. Requires a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, and discretion, as well as a collaborative work ethic. As such, the City is looking for an individual with exceptional customer services skills with the ability to work with a diverse community. This position will also be a member of the City’s emergency management team. This will require an understanding of emergency management practices, terms, and systems. Because of the nature of the essential tasks of this position which involve regular contact with the public, this position requires the incumbent to be physically in the office and not eligible for remote work.

Requirements

A high school degree or GED, supplemented by two (2) years of post-secondary college or technical school instruction, and two (2) years of increasingly responsible duties related to code enforcement, crime prevention, and/or emergency management or any combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job.
Ability to successfully complete all required background investigations to include fingerprint, and an in-depth criminal history check.
Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Washington State Driver's license.
Knowledge of nuisance, zoning, and/or environmental code enforcement techniques and process.
Knowledge of due process.
Knowledge of governmental organization and operations.
Knowledge of applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures for code enforcement, and other public safety issues.
Knowledge of crime prevention tactics such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and personal safety practices.
Knowledge of proper usage of English, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Knowledge of research techniques and procedures.
Knowledge of public speaking skills and techniques.
Knowledge of record keeping techniques.
Knowledge of modern office methods, procedures and practices, equipment, and business letter writing.
Knowledge of standard office equipment and machinery such as computers, cell phones, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.
Ability to interact with the public in an effective, customer friendly manner and establish and maintain effective working relationships with residents, contractors, developers, City staff, the general public, and liaisons from outside organizations.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to foster collaborative group process and efficiently use resources.
Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions regarding work methods and priorities, while demonstrating a strong sense of personal ethics and professional judgment and discretion.
Ability to research and analyze complex problems and develop, recommend, and implement sound solutions.
Ability to quickly adjust priorities as new issues and/or assignments arise.
Ability to meet schedule and legal timelines.
Ability to show initiative in performing job functions.
Ability to maintain records and prepare and analyze comprehensive documents.
Ability to be able to cope with emotionally tense situations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Prior emergency management training is preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate City human services support for community members when appropriate and develop a network of local and regional human service providers.
Provide community outreach and education regarding City animal licensing/control codes.
Provide brochures, materials, and handouts to the community.
Provide crime prevention services to residents and businesses that include site surveys and community presentations and regular meetings.
Respond to complaints associated with homelessness and/or panhandling by providing resource information and address related code violations.
Assists citizens and others through the complaint and code enforcement process. Works with private property owners regarding illegal dumpers who are committing misdemeanor crimes.
Work closely with UP Police Department to understand chronic issues and find ways to solve the problems.
Proactively document violations around the City to include graffiti, littering, and other similar violations and submit these into See/Click/Fix to be assigned to appropriate department.
Issues parking infractions including parking meter infractions and provide follow-up to departments and the court.
May serve as a back-up for the UP Police Department front desk coverage; assists residents with low level routine police reports.
Maintains regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
Responds to complaints, investigates, and reports building, zoning, nuisance, temporary signage and/or other development or environmental code violations.
Performs site inspections of properties and facilities to ensure compliance with municipal code. Performs follow-up inspections to ensure violations are corrected.
Responds to and investigates nuisance and/or other City code violations, including abandoned vehicles, park rules and city parking codes; compares facts and research to City code; makes findings; issues warnings, correction notices, writes citations for code violations, and memoranda relating to code compliance issues.
Conduct field investigations, interview witnesses, research property information, review applicable codes, photograph sites, and gather evidence on purported violations.
Processes code cases as necessary, including maintaining appropriate records, writing letters, citations, and reports, scheduling hearings, providing professional testimony, etc.
Assists the City prosecuting attorney to gather evidence and prepare cases for trial. Appears as a witness in court in code compliance actions.
Issue infractions and provide follow up to department and the court.
Carry a commission from the City which allows the officer to issue citations and view information from the Criminal Justice Information System.
Works closely with UPPD to understand chronic issues and find ways to solve problems.
Gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports, and recommendations.
Support emergency management planning, training, and preparedness efforts in the City.
Attends meetings of the Council or administration as directed.
Responds with little or no notice to City emergencies and disasters and will likely work long and/or irregular hours during emergencies and disasters.
Performs other duties as assigned.