Hybrid Appraiser II or Appraiser III (DOQ/DOE) at City of Charlottesville, VA

About the Department

This position may be filled as a Appraiser II or III, depending on qualifications:

• The preferred hiring amount for an Appraiser II is between $64,468.43 - $77,630.30 Annually (Non-exempt).
• The preferred hiring amount for an Appraiser III is between $73,809.90 - $92,457.74 Annually (Exempt).

Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system which offers both a defined benefit and a defined contribution option.  While the City does not participate in VRS, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

The Appraiser II performs responsible professional and technical work in the appraisal of more difficult and complex residential properties for tax assessment purposes. Performs work under the general supervision of the Appraisal Supervisor.

The Appraiser III performs senior level professional and highly complex/advanced technical work to assess commercial, industrial, and/or residential property for tax assessment purposes. May be assigned as Commercial or Residential Appraiser. The Commercial Appraiser reports to the City Assessor.

Position Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description.  The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

Appraiser II responsibilities and duties:

• Appraisal of more difficult and complex residential properties for tax assessment purposes.
• Inspects properties to evaluate quality of construction, dimensions, improvements, site characteristics, condition, and other factors considered in the appraisal process.
• Collects data contained in plans, specifications, building permits, public records, deeds and property record cards, etc.
• Maintains current files and records of tax appraisal activities and associated documentation; responsible for updating photos of real property.
• Responds to inquiries from property owners on all aspects of valuing property, including sales, current market trends, neighborhood characteristics, and pertinent laws and codes.
• Evaluates information collected during fieldwork and utilizes a computer-aided, mass-appraisal model to derive individual property values. Calculates statistical data such as COD's, PRD's, and median sales ratios to evaluate the accuracy of the model. 
• Reviews building permits to determine code mandated value as of January 1st of every year and whether totally or partially complete. 
• Visits and inspects permitted properties to determine the value added when completed.
• Makes partial year assessments of new construction required for the valuation and billing of properties by Treasurer's Office.
• Investigates complaints and/or appeals of property assessments. Explains the appraisal process, State and local codes and laws to complainants. Reviews disputed assessments; conducts reassessments; and prepares recommendations for disposition to the Board of Equalization as appropriate.
• Answers a broad range of questions from the public pertaining to real estate matters, including market trends, construction costs and values, development trends, market sales, plats, deeds, and real estate laws and codes
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time. 
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Appraiser III responsibilities and duties when assigned as Commercial Appraiser:

• Plans and organizes commercial property assessments to include, but not limited to, evaluating the development of the sales, cost, and income approaches to value.
• Manages commercial, industrial, leasehold and special use property assessments to meet State and City codes and ordinances through several appraisals methods, such as valuating the income, market and cost of commercial properties and structures.
• Tracks overall work status of commercial reassessment and new construction throughout the year. Collects and organizes commercial property value data for presentation and analytical purposes.
• Makes periodic review and inspection of commercial appraisal records and assures effective follow-up practices regarding the more difficult properties which require the use of advanced appraisal methods and assure consistent application of standards.
• Oversees development and maintenance of records and documentation on properties, benchmarked sales data, construction cost, income and expense reports and analysis, sale assessment ratio studies and other statistical reports. Maintains computer database of all commercial building data to ensure accurate valuations of commercial properties and structures throughout the City.
• Takes measurements of buildings, collects data relative to amenities, and other conditions affecting values; makes calculations and applies such data for the purpose of appraising commercial buildings valued as high specific buildings. 
• Represents the City in litigation and legal matters in relation to the questioning of determinations made in regard to commercial valuations. 
• Maintains active and thorough knowledge of local property trends and of modern appraisal methods and techniques.
• Maintains consistent communication with property owners and/or their designees amidst inquiries regarding commercial assessments, managing complaints/appeals, and communicating appraisal methods and aspects of valuing property, including sales, current market trends, neighborhood characteristics, and pertinent laws and codes.

Other Duties

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience cited below reflect the minimum qualifications for an Appraiser II. To view the full job description and Minimum Qualifications for the Appraiser III assigned to Commercial Appraisals, please click: HERE. Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education such as college.

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in real estate, business, finance, economics or related field AND at least 3 years of experience in mass appraisal work.

• Associate’s degree with course work in real estate, business, finance, economics or related field AND at least 5 years of experience in mass appraisal work.

• High School diploma or GED AND at least 7 years of experience in mass appraisal work.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements

• Within 1 year of start date, Successful completion of the following real estate courses required for State certification and professional designation through IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers):
  • Course 101: Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal
  • Course 102: Income Approach to Valuation
  • Course 300: Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal
  • 151 Workshop: Standards of Practice and Professional Ethics
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to City criteria.
• Must meet qualifications prescribed by the Department of Taxation.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of mass appraising for assessment purposes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of building construction practices and for building and land values.
• Working knowledge of the state laws, charter provision and municipal ordinances relating to real property assessing.
• Knowledge of Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system or similar appraisal software.

Reading

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents. Ability to read and understand building construction plans and specifications, cadastral mapping, and GIS systems.

Writing

• Intermediate: ability to write reports, prepare business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.

Math

• Intermediate: ability to deal with a system of real numbers, and practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

Communication Skills

• Intermediate: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, city officials, other employees, the general public, and others. Decisions regarding interpretation of existing policies may be made.  Contacts may involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.

Technical Skills

• Skilled: work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities.  Ability to operate standard office equipment, computers, calculators.  Proficient in more advanced software applications, as well as Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and in special financial reporting and tracking systems used within functional area.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• No budgetary/fiscal responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No responsibility for direction or supervision of others.

Other Characteristics

• Effective time management and organizational skills; sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Frequent change of tasks.
• Tedious or exacting work.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Works closely with others as part of a team.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.

Other Qualifications

Physical Demands

• Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). 
• Often requires walking over rough or uneven surfaces, bending, stooping, and standing.  
• Must frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned, including using and reading a tape measure.  

Work Environment

• Primarily works in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust; however, in the course of field visits, may be exposed to extreme temperatures, outdoor weather conditions, and allergens. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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