Chief Housing Inspector at City of Cleveland Heights, OH

About the Department

The City of Cleveland Heights is an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with a population of just under 45,000 people and a combined 2022 budget of over $129M. Much of the City’s budget has been allocated towards housing and inspectional services. The City is currently seeking a Chief Housing Inspector to join its growing housing & inspectional services team.

SUMMARY:   Working under the general direction of the Assistant Director of Housing & Inspectional Services, the Chief Housing Inspector is responsible for providing oversight and direction for internal code enforcement & inspectional services operations and staff.  Incumbents are heavily involved in the coordination of code enforcement & inspectional activities. The position involves supervising professional level personnel, including inspectors and office assistants. In addition to these responsibilities, the incumbent performs assistance in reviewing operations, policies, and procedures.

Position Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive listing of all the duties and responsibilities performed.

• Supervise and train staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations
• Assist in directing the housing & inspectional services activities to include overseeing the development and administration of policies, procedures, programs, goals and objectives
• Review operations to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of services and/or programs
• Assist with administering and monitoring budget, including allocating resources and approving expenditures
• Serve as liaison with employees and outside entities
• Coordinate activities with other agencies, internal departments, and/or other applicable parties
• Develop and maintain short- and long-term strategic planning processes and coordinate efforts related to assigned areas of responsibility
• Act in the absence of the Director of Housing & Inspectional Services
• Direct, review, interpret, and analyze a variety of information, data, and reports, work papers, communications, schedules, and/or statements to and from internal departments, external agencies, and/or other applicable organizations and make recommendations and presentations based on findings
• Provide guidance and assistance in the resolution of difficult inspection issues; interpret and resolve problems identified by staff, auditors or other departments; and research and analyze information and reports, summaries, statistical data, findings, and recommendations
• Oversee and participate in the analysis of information; identify issues and discrepancies; conduct need analysis; project consequences of proposed actions; formulate recommendations based on findings; implement priorities, work processes, and procedures; and/or, train individuals on established or modified organizational practices and/or procedures
• Perform various types of inspections to include, but not limited to, court inspections, residential housing, and commercial buildings
• Perform review and entry of court summons for non-compliant violations.  Set court dates and follow-up inspections on violations
• Uphold the City’s mission to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive as part of all housing and inspectional activities
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITES:
Exercises supervision of personnel in related area of responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:

• Management and leadership principles
• Applicable zoning, property maintenance, legal, building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes and ordinances
• Building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical materials and methods of construction
• Construction terminology, court terminology
• Techniques used to inspect residential and commercial construction to ensure compliance with adopted codes and ordinances

 Skill in:

• Communicate and use interpersonal skills to interact with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc., to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
• Using a computer and related software applications
• Accurately and efficiently completing work

 Ability to:

• Monitor and evaluate employees 
• Prioritize and assign work 
• Provide leadership 
• Analyze and develop policies and procedures 
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, rules, codes, and regulations 
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules and regulations 
• Analyze problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and implementing recommendations in support of goals 
• Speak in public 
• Resolve conflict 
• Manage change and sensitive topics 
• Communicate and use interpersonal skills to interact with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
• Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment; and the ability to create products and meet deadlines with minimal supervision required
• Manage public programs, research, planning, communication, marketing and evaluation

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's Degree in a related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible management experience directly related to the area assigned; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above

CERTIFICATION/ LICENSURE:
Must have at the time of hire and be able to maintain a valid Ohio driver’s license.

Other Qualifications

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

HOURS OF WORK

The normal work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (40 hours per week). The position requires reporting to City Hall most of the time, with frequent time spent in the field. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. May require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. 

 WORK ENVIRONMENT

Incumbents may be exposed to hazardous conditions, vacant dwellings, open trenches and heights while performing inspections. Exposure to risks can be substantially controlled by safety precautions. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, fumes, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, electricity, chemicals, varying weather conditions, and intense noises.   

The City of Cleveland Heights is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status.