Definition

The City of Poway is seeking a knowledgeable and community-oriented Code Compliance Officer to help protect public health, safety, and neighborhood quality through the fair enforcement of municipal codes and standards. This position conducts inspections, investigates complaints, and works directly with residents, businesses, and property owners to resolve violations and support voluntary compliance. The role involves a balance of fieldwork and office responsibilities, collaboration with multiple City departments and external agencies, and participation in programs such as vegetation management, wildfire defensible space, responsible beverage service, and nuisance abatement. The ideal candidate is organized, professional, and customer-focused, with strong communication skills and a commitment to maintaining a safe, well-kept community. If you're interested in joining a dedicated team of professionals who work collaboratively to serve the community and uphold high standards of public service, we encourage you to apply today!

Under general supervision, performs a variety of routine to complex duties related to the City's code compliance program, including the identification, investigation, and correction of violations of the City's municipal, building, and zoning codes, and of State and City Health and Safety Codes and Ordinances; investigates citizen complaints of public nuisances and quality of life issues and seeks voluntary compliance or issues citations and initiates abatement procedures; and performs related work as required.

Receives general supervision from the City Planner or Senior Code Compliance Officer. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Key Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Receives, records, and investigates complaints from the public and staff regarding violations of municipal codes, ordinances, standards, and health and safety regulations; documents violations by securing photographs and other pertinent data; researches ownership records, development plans, prior complaints, municipal codes and ordinances, and state regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
Collaborates and initiates contact with residents, business representatives, and other parties to explain the nature of incurred violations and to encourage compliance with municipal codes, ordinances, and community standards; initiates abatement of dangerous properties and vector control issues of vacant properties; provides confirmation to public by telephone and in person regarding code regulations.
Prepares courtesy notices, notices of violation or noncompliance and citations according to applicable codes and regulations; issues letters to property owners notifying them of violation; as appropriate, affixes a notice of violation on property to abate fire and public safety hazards and public nuisances.
Meets with City planning, building, engineering, fire, sheriff, public works staff and legal counsel regarding complaints; coordinates activities with other staff and code compliance personnel.
Coordinates and conducts follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners and attorneys; conducts follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; prepares non-compliance cases for legal action; presents testimony at nuisance abatement hearings.
Coordinates and enforces the City's vegetation management program and Wildfire Defensible Space Program, including identification of properties in violation, notification to property owners, and follow-up inspections and recordkeeping.
Makes drive-by or on-site inspections of residential, industrial, and/or commercial areas; notes possible violations at other property sites during the course of field investigations.
Provides information to violators, the general public, business community, and other government agencies regarding codes, laws, and ordinances; respond to questions, complaints, and inquiries.
Coordinates and enforces the City's Responsible Beverage Service Program, including reviewing application for Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licenses, and maintaining records of all licenses issued in the City, inspecting businesses for the posting of required signage, and certification records of employees; explain ABC regulations and answer questions regarding the program requirements.
Prepares staff reports related to code compliance activities and services; may present information to the City Council and various commissions, committees, and boards; performs a variety of public relations and outreach work related to assigned activities.
Coordinates the removal of encampments and abandoned vehicles, as needed.
Maintains files and records related to citations and violations; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
Inputs and retrieves a variety of information using a computer.
Maintains attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements/License Or Certificates Required

Any combination of the following education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification.

Experience

Two years of experience interpreting and/or enforcing municipal, zoning, building, or other regulatory codes. Public agency experience is preferred.

Education/Training

Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade. Supplemental specialized training in planning, zoning, inspection, or law enforcement is desirable. A bachelor's degree in criminology, political science, public administration, planning, or a related field is preferred.

License And Certificates

A valid class C driver's license.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California PC 832 certification within six months of appointment.
Certified Code Enforcement Officer (CCEO) desirable.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in the field and in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to operate a motor vehicle, drive on surface streets, and make inspections; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light physical work; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking uneven terrain and landscapes when performing inspections. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Employees partly work in the office and partly in the field and are occasionally exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Examination Process

A FULLY COMPLETED APPLICATION AND ATTACHMENT OF ALL NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS, ARE REQUIRED AND PART OF THE REVIEW AND QUALIFYING PROCESS. QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED COMPLETELY; REFERENCING YOUR RESUME IN LIEU OF ANSWERING A QUESTION WILL BE CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION.

Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of relevant training and experience as presented in the application and supplemental questions. The following criteria will be used in the screening process: Writing Skills (grammar, spelling, punctuation) - suitable and appropriate for position; Work Experience - consistent, compatible and applicable for the position; and Supplemental Questions - content is inclusive and congruent with the position. The process may include interviews and/or performance tests. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligibility list, which will be in effect for a period of six months. A background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting, tuberculosis screening, reference checking, and verification of previous employment and education are required. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. The City of Poway participates in E-Verify. All employees are required by law to sign a loyalty oath to the United States and the State of California Constitution at time of hire.

Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time (2,080 hrs/yr) status. Benefits for positions considered less than full-time are pro-rated based upon hours and may differ from those indicated.

Vacation - Annual paid vacation as follows: 0-4 years service = 120 hrs/yr; 5-9 years service = 144 hrs/yr; 10-14 years service = 180 hrs/yr; and 15+ years service = 199.2 hrs/yr. Employees may elect to convert up to 40 hours of vacation per year to cash on an hour-for-hour basis when they meet certain criteria. Prior Public Service Credit for vacation accruals may be granted for verifiable experience.

Sick Leave - The City provides 96 hours each year of paid sick leave. There are sick leave incentive and conversion programs available to those who qualify.

Holidays - The City observes 10 holidays and two floating holidays each year.

Flexible Saving Account - These are IRS-approved plans, which enables you to have witheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and/or certain eligible medical exspenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits. Employees can opt into either the Dependent care or medical expense accounts.

Life Insurance - The City provides group term life insurance equal to 1 1/2 times annual salary to a maximum of $350,000. Supplemental life insurance for employees and family members is available by payroll deduction at reasonable group rates and is portable.

Short & Long Term Disability -

The City provides short-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $2,516) after a 7-day waiting period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.

The City provides long-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $10,900) after a 90-day elimination period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.

Retirement - Benefits are provided by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Classic CalPERS members - 2% @ 60 formula with employees contributing 8% of regular salary. Beginning the first full pay period in July 2024, employees considered "classic" members will contribute an additional 1%. The total employee contribution will be 9%. New CalPERS members - 2% @ 62 formula with employees contributing 7.75% of salary. Effective July 1, 2013, new members contribute 50% of the total normal cost. Beginning the first full pay period in July 2024, employees considered "classic" members will contribute an additional 1%. The total employee contribution will be 9%. The City participates in Medicare, but does not participate in Social Security.

Health Insurance - Poway provides employer-paid group medical and dental insurance for the employee. For medical plans, the City contributes 100% of the cost for employees enrolled in either the Kaiser or CIGNA HMO plans and 60% of the cost for dependent coverage for both HMO plans. The City also has a CIGNA PPO option, and the City covers the premium costs for employees enrolled in the CIGNA PPO equivalent to what the City covers for employees enrolled in the CIGNA HMO, at every coverage level. For dental plans, employees have a choice between an HMO and PPO plan. Family vision insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. An IRS Section 125 plan (Flexible Spending Account) for reimbursement of medical and dependent care expenses is also available.

Deferred Compensation Plan - Participation in a 457 deferred compensation plan is available to all regular employees and is voluntary with no City matching contribution. The City contributes $73.07 per pay period to a 401(a) deferred compensation plan with vesting on a graduated schedule beginning with 2 years service and becoming 100% vested after 6 years.

Retirement Health Savings Plan - The City contributes $1,040 annually to a Retirement Health Savings Plan. A portion of unused sick leave is converted to a cash contribution to the RHSP annually for those employees who qualify. Retiring employees will have unused sick leave converted to a cash contribution to the RHSP, up the maximum amount established in the Management/Confidential Salary & Benefit Plan.

Tuition Reimbursement - The City may reimburse the actual cost paid for tuition, books and required technical supplies and equipment up to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year for eligible employees receiving a grade of "C" or better in approved courses.

Additional Benefits - The City offers additional benefits such as Pet Insurance discounts, Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 9/80 work schedule dependent on your position upon hire.

City of Poway

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Code Compliance Officer