Hybrid Rental Registration Clerk na City of Bellingham, WA

About the Department

Are you detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about providing excellent customer service? Join our team as a Rental Registration Clerk in the Planning and Community Development department.

This position performs a variety of complex, specialized administrative and technical clerical duties in support of the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program (RR&SIP); includes providing detailed program information to the public, processing rental registration applications, scheduling safety inspections and database management and tracking. Invoices, collects and records fees, penalties and late payments as assigned by the Rental Protection Program Specialist and in accordance with the adopted Fee Schedule under the direction of the Development Services Manager. Work requires broad knowledge of City and departmental functions, policies, procedures and regulations with close attention to detail and deadlines. Acts as backup Permit Clerk in the permit center.

Salary Information and Benefits:

This position will start at Step 1 ($25.75/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $25.75 - $31.47. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

 Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Fri. 8/22/25 4:30 PM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. Performs complex, specialized administrative and technical clerical duties in support of the City’s Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program (RR&SIP) and other rental protection objectives.    
2. Provides detailed assistance to the public and City staff and refers escalated interactions to the Rental Protection Program Specialist. Communicates program information, division policies and procedures and applicable municipal code. Responds to technical inquiries within scope of responsibility or refers to appropriate staff.  
3. Processes rental registrations and changes; reviews for accuracy and applicable designated exemptions or waivers, verifies owner information and enters information into tracking software.  
4. Schedules safety inspections in compliance with established inspection zones and quarterly schedule. Produces inspection notices including specialized multi-property notices. Reviews and responds to requests for extensions, rescheduling and exemptions, and refers to the Rental Protection Program Specialist for evaluation and recommendation to the department manager/director. Notifies inspectors of specialized inspection circumstances or requests. Issues invoices and processes fees, late payments and penalties according to the Adopted Fee Schedule, policies or procedures, and under the direction of the Rental Protection Program Specialist and Development Services Manager. Verifies payments and processes waivers, adjustments and refunds as directed. Processes inspection results and notifies owner or landlord of any corrections needed. Issues first and second notices of non-compliance; refers cases to Planning and Community Development Department or Bellingham Police Department code compliance officers as required. May act as a city witness in enforcement cases before Hearing Examiner or judicial cases. 
5. Assists in database development and maintains an accurate database, along with other tracking and records systems for the RR&SIP and other rental protection measures or projects. Enters data, verifies information and updates or corrects data to ensure accuracy utilizing multiple specialized systems and databases. Collects, selects, catalogs and compiles data from several sources and creates summary reports. Creates statistical calculations and tabulations in accordance with established formulas and equations and assists with departmental public disclosure requests as needed.  
6. Prepares, types and proofs forms, letters, brochures, statistical reports and other documentation.  Composes correspondence in accordance with established procedures or instructions. 
7. Provides input and implements administrative processes and procedures to improve program workflow, organization and efficiency within scope of responsibility. 
8. Acts as backup Permit Clerk for the Permit Center. Greets the public at the permit counter and on the telephone, answers questions regarding the permit process and fees. Reviews and accepts permit applications, initiates permit cases in the permit tracking system and processes over the counter permits.  
9. Assists senior staff and outside agencies in educating and training the rental population and landlords on City policies, programs and other related resources. Assists with the preparation and organization of handbooks, How To Guides and presentation and training materials.  

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:                    

1. Performs other related duties and responsibilities within scope of classification as assigned.
2. Performs as a Permit Clerk in the Permit Center when coverage is needed.  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a busy office environment on a computer workstation with long periods of remaining stationary and includes a normal range of noise. Work involves direct and continuous interaction with the public and other City employees on the telephone and in person. Work is performed in a highly demanding atmosphere where interactions with irate/forceful customers may be routine and in an environment of frequent and numerous interruptions.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job including:

• Frequently operate a computer and detect and discern information and data on a computer screen or typewritten page;
• Frequently communicate verbally;
• Move between work sites;
• Occasionally transport objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Position Duties

• Three years of progressively responsible clerical experience in a computerized, highly detailed business office including extensive public contact, or any combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability to perform the job.
• Post-secondary vocational training or college education in a related field preferred.
• Proficient in the use of computer software including word processing, spreadsheets, databases computerized record keeping systems and file management applications required.
• MS Office experience preferred.
• One year of experience in computerized data entry requiring high degree of accuracy and speed required.
• Ability to type at 45 wpm net required.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Employment is contingent upon passing criminal convictions and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Other Qualifications

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
 
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process:
 

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 26, 2025. 
2. Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Relevancy of your experience and training, together with composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation will be considered when evaluating responses. Applicant status will be updated on or around September 5, 2025. 
3. The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 15, 2025. 
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: Supplemental Question Review (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%). Applicants must achieve a minimum passing score of 60% on the Oral Board Interview to continue in the process.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.
 
This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Planning and Community Development. This position is represented by a union.  
 
If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.
 
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:
Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
 
Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment. 
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. 
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied. 
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

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