Housing Negotiator-Inspector

Salary : $83,150.86 - $101,079.22 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 24/03-9113-OCDC
Department: Community Development Commission (CDC)
Opening Date: 03/18/2024
Closing Date: 4/1/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 05
Position Information
Do you want to become a "Housing Hero" and help the community?
Join County of Sonoma's Community Development Commission as a Housing Negotiator-Inspector!
Starting salary up to $48.43/hour ($101,079/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
Please note: Thisposition is time-limited and currently funded through September 30, 2025.
About the Community Development Commission (CDC)
Opening doors to permanent housing and opportunity the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) is dedicated to creating homes for all members of the community in thriving and inclusive neighborhoods. The CDC was established in 1978 as the County's public housing authority and is Sonoma County's lead agency for housing and homeless programs.
About the Position
The Housing Negotiator-Inspector will be part of the Housing Authority Division of the CDC and is responsible for identifying affordable housing for people in the community. This position will work directly with homeless and at risk households receiving rental assistance by providing intensive support and helping individuals conduct housing searches. Housing Negotiator-Inspectors perform habitability inspections, facilitate the lease signing and move-in process, and provide short term stabilization support as households adjust to new homes. Additionally, this position functions to identifies property owners/managers, acts as liaison with these parties, mediates tenancy concerns, and distributes marketing materials to promote rental assistance.
Please note: Possession of a valid class C or higher driver's license is required for this position because the Housing Negotiator/Inspector position conducts a considerable amount of fieldwork which requires driving County vehicles.
As an ideal candidate, you will bring a strong interest and experience in creating affordable housing opportunities, and:

• Knowledge of laws regarding tenant and property owner/manager rights and responsibilities
• Ability to represent the CDC and programs while performing field work
• Prior experience in property management or managing specialty housing programs
• Experience providing supportive services to people experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities
• An ability to learn and work in multiple databases and software systems.
• Strong math skills to make mathematical computations for rent and income calculations
• An ability to work with property owners to negotiate leases and mediate in the event of tenant challenges
• Highly developed interpersonal skills in order to work with home seekers experiencing the crisis of homelessness

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and our
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a full-time Housing Negotiator-Inspector - Time Limited position (until 9/30/2025) in the Community Development Commission. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
This position is in the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, which is a separate entity from the County of Sonoma, and not within the Sonoma County Civil Service System. The formal title of this position is Housing Negotiator/Inspector. This position requires a considerable amount of fieldwork.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience, which provides the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed above. Normally, college course work in public administration, economics, political sciences, mathematics or related field and one year recent experience involving direct leasing and management of properties would provide such an opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Special Requirement: Designated position may require the ability to speak, read and write a language in addition to English.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: the purpose and processing of a diversity of forms and documents related to leasing and inspection of dwelling; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition.
Thorough knowledge of: accepted principles and practices of appraising and negotiating for lease of residential properties; leasing of rental property, real property management and rental values of both homes and apartments; laws, guidelines, policies and procedures affecting the operations of state and federal leased housing programs.
Working knowledge of: state, federal and local laws and regulations with respect to tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities; laws, ordinances and codes pertaining to the rehabilitation and maintenance of real property; the use of computerized equipment and specific systems used within the agency, the principles of supervision and training.
Knowledge of: economic, sociological and geographic factors affecting housing in Sonoma County.
Ability to: deal effectively and tactfully with realtors, property owners and others in connection with the negotiation of leases; makes accurate appraisals and negotiate leases effectively; read, interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that relate to rental assistance programs; review and determine rental values of property; assemble and analyze data, prepare written reports, and maintain records and make mathematical computations; establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with program clients, property managers, property owners, community groups, other employees and supervisors, staff of other agencies, and the general public; ability to use computerized equipment.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DS
HR Technician: KK
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.