Residential Property Appraisers I/II #2019-279
The Position
Job #2019-279
WHERE: Washington County Department of Assessment and Taxation, 155 N First Ave., 1st Floor - Auditorium, Hillsboro 97124.
Are you looking to pursue a career in residential property appraisal? Do you have a background in home appraisal, loan assistance, financial and/or similar analysis? Do you enjoy working with statistics AND people? Then Come Lead with Us in a culture that fosters growth and continuous training in the field of Property Appraisal!
Annual Appraisal Cycle
A Washington County Appraiser is a specialist in a property type or geographic region. The annual appraisal cycle consists of three functions, each requiring unique skill sets.
- New Construction: Beginning in the spring and running through summer, Appraisers perform field inspections, evaluating quality and condition, and collecting data pertinent in deriving an opinion of value for new construction, additions, remodels and other property changes.
- Market Analysis: In the Fall, Appraisers conduct a detailed review for accuracy, then perform sophisticated analysis to calibrate the mass appraisal system to 100% of market values.
- Expert Witness: The final Appraisal function is to represent Washington County for valuation appeals. The Appraiser researches, analyzes, prepares court exhibits and presents findings in various levels of court proceedings.
Through the dedicated work of the county, the local jurisdictions have experienced continued increases in the local assessment base over the past few years. This is due in part to strong growth in the real estate market, additional construction across Washington County, and our office's efforts in increasing efficiency. In recent years, we have taken significant steps toward modernizing our operations, including the unveiling of a new property tax system to create a better, more convenient way of managing the county's property files and documents and to safeguard our information.
In this position, you will have the unique opportunity to interact daily with our vibrant and dynamic community by providing a variety of appraisal services through partnerships and outreach utilizing the highest professional standards to gain the public's confidence and trust. Many appraisers spend well over 50% of their time out in the field conducting inspections and meeting with a variety of professionals and the public.
This recruitment will be used to hire multiple appraisers at the Appraiser I and/or II level depending on qualifications. This recruitment allows for these positions to be flexibly staffed, ie: once qualifications are met an employee can move from an Appraiser I to an Appraiser II without reapplying. Salary and minimum qualifications based on the level for which you are hired.
- Property Appraiser I: $25.53 - $31.03 Hourly
- Property Appraiser II: $29.62 - $36.00 Hourly
Essential Job Duties
Duties may include:
- Provides public service through extensive public interaction and customer service in both formal environments and field locations.
- Provides information for public inquiries, education, confidence, and trust.
- Performs extensive fieldwork, with or without an appointment, related to on-site property inspections (interior and exterior). Inspections are conducted to observe, measure, and account for all elements contributing to or detracting from value for diverse property types, interim construction levels, local and remote locations, and varying terrains.
- Develops contacts and conducts interviews with property owners, representatives, tenants, realtors, and contractors to obtain market data relating to sales, listings, or other factors affecting valuation.
- Researches computer data sources including residential and business multiple listing services, subscription databases, publications, GIS/satellite/aerial imagery, professional memberships, and regulatory agencies/jurisdictions/municipalities.
- Derives property values for residential, rural, commercial, industrial, business personal property, or machinery and equipment.
- Prepares valuations in compliance with Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules.
- Ascertains values for "General On-Going Maintenance" and "Exception" for statutory compliant allocation for tax purposes.
- Maintains complete and accurate inventory database of land/structures and notates influences on value from zoning, land use restrictions, ordinances, availability of utilities, busy roads, view, topography, shape, wetlands, and any other factors. Notates building materials, quality, classifications, attributes, features, measurements, scale diagrams, descriptions, and notes.
- Collects, verifies, and analyzes sales, rents, and other market information as a basis for valuation.
- Performs comprehensive market analysis and recalibrates tables, depreciation, and adjustment factors to comply with statutory ratio quality standards and statistical tolerances.
- Maintains data integrity with consistent data collection and verification techniques.
- Performs as an expert witness for contested appeals at the Board of Property Tax Appeals, Department of Revenue, and Tax Court (Magistrate and Regular Division).
- Prepares and submits written reports, evidence, discovery, and oral testimony compliant to statutes and court procedures.
- Manages, organizes, and plans an appeals caseload.
- Administers specially assessed, deferral, or exempt programs as assigned.
- Maintains official records and documents in accordance to Oregon Administrative Rules for retention, discovery, and destruction.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Education and Experience:
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Property Appraiser I
- Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, finance, statistics, or a related field that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; OR
- Possession of an Associate's Degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, finance, statistics, or a related field that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; AND two (2) years of professional work experience in property appraisal, administrative, financial, or similar analysis.
Property Appraiser II
- Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, finance, statistics, or a related field that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; AND one (1) year of professional work experience in property appraisal, administrative, financial, or similar analysis; OR
- Possession of an Associate's Degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, finance, statistics, or a related field that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; AND three (3) years of professional work experience in property appraisal, administrative, financial, or similar analysis.
If you have completed education in a college or university outside the United States and are using this education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must provide documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received within the United States' accredited college or university system or your application will not be accepted.
Additional licenses, certificates, physical abilities and specialty requirements (applies to Appraiser I and Appraiser II level):
- An active Appraiser Registration under ORS 308.010. at time of appointment.
- A valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record per Washington County policy.
Washington County organizes its positions into classifications. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly. To review the required knowledge, skills and abilities for these classifications (positions), please use these links: Property Appraiser I and Property Appraiser II.
Candidates applying for this position may be referred out for other positions in the same job family. Since this position allows for flexible staffing, this position may be under-filled at the Property Appraiser I level.
Note: County property appraiser registration is different than the certification for fee appraisers.
The appraisal certification does not substitute for Washington County property appraiser registration. You must apply to the State to take the County property appraiser test and receive notification of registration. For additional information regarding the test, which is required to obtain the Registered Appraiser certificate, refer to the Department of Revenue website by clicking here: Appraiser Registration or for questions, contact (503) 945-8272.
Please be clear and specific in the applicable sections of the employment application about how your background is relevant. This information must also be consistent with your supplemental question responses if applicable.
Please note: Answers to the supplemental questions are typically evaluated separately from your application.
Background Investigation (post-offer):
This position requires that candidates successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation.
Department of Motor Vehicle Records (DMV) Requirement:
Driving a motorized vehicle is an essential function of this position. Successful applicants must possess a valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record. To review the Driver's License and Record Policy for Washington County and instructions for submitting appropriate DMV documentation, please use this link: Driver's License & Records Policy.
Supplemental Information
Washington County is committed to using a Merit-Based System in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Selection Process:
1. A minimum qualification (MQ) screening of submitted applications will be performed by Human Resources after October 6, 2019.
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an in-depth evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials to include responses to supplemental questionnaire. This process will begin after October 14, 2019.
3. A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records check will be performed on the applicants meeting minimum qualifications. Applicants that do not possess an acceptable driving record or have not submitted their records or Oregon Driver's License number may not pass this step and may be disqualified from this particular recruitment.
4. Applicants that pass the DMV records check will be placed on a list of candidates eligible to be scheduled for interview(s) by the department.
Please note: Candidates that are successful in the evaluation process may have their applications referred for additional vacancies in the same classification, or job family.
Veterans' Preference:
If you are a Veteran and would like to be considered for a Veteran's preference for this recruitment, please review instructions by Veterans Preference Points (Download PDF reader).
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act:
Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-846-8606, or e-mail at: hr@co.washington.or.us at least 48 hours before any step in the recruitment and selection process for which you feel you need accommodation.
Status of Your Application:
You will be advised by e-mail of your status at each step in the application process, from initial application to final employment disposition. Please note that Washington County communicates with all candidates via email. If you "opt-out" or "unsubscribe" from email notifications from NEOGOV it will impact our ability to communicate with you about job postings.
Questions (?) Regarding This Recruitment
Camille Hughes, Talent Acquisition Business Partner
camille_hughes@co.washington.or.us