Assistant to the Assessor

City of Ames, Iowa; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Ames is seeking an Assistant to the Assessor to support assessment processes, property records, tax credit administration, and related office functions in our municipal government. The role offers a merit-based pay framework with a strong emphasis on accuracy, legal compliance, and customer service.

The position carries a full-time schedule in Ames, IA, with a 2026 opening and closing window and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Read, analyze and interpret legal documents, legal descriptions and Iowa Statute.
• Review tax credit applications and maintain records related to exemption valuation and assessment.
• Maintain sales information for reporting and survey purposes.

Responsibilities

• Review records for completeness and accuracy for property transfer including deeds and surveys.
• Provide backup support for office staff and appraisers as needed.
• Complete required assessment and appraisal courses.

Job description

SALARY

$37.07 - $54.20 Hourly

$77,114.13 - $112,738.91 Annually

LOCATION

515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, IA

JOB TYPE

Full-Time

JOB NUMBER

26-0904-01

DEPARTMENT

City Assessor

OPENING DATE

09/21/2026

CLOSING DATE

10/12/2026 12:00 PM Central

FLSA

Exempt

BARGAINING UNIT

MERIT

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT?

No

Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.

General Information

Under the general direction of the Ames City Assessor, the Assistant to the Assessor supports assessment processes, property records, tax credit administration, and related office functions.

The City of Ames has a compensation philosophy for our merit salary ranges that provides growth for employees as they gain experience and expertise in their roles. The minimum pay of each range is intended to reflect an employee's qualifications that meet the position's minimum requirements. The median of any range is for an employee who can reasonably meet all expectations of the position responsibilities without initial or extensive training. The City may consider a candidate's education, experience, and skills that are above the minimum requirements when considering a salary closer to the median. The median salary for this position is $94,926.

Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at: City of Ames Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please visit: PSLF Program

Examples of Essential Job Functions

• Read, analyze and interpret legal documents, legal descriptions and Iowa Statute.


• Review tax credit applications and maintain records related to exemption valuation, urban revitalization, assessment, and schedule records.


• Review records and documents for completeness and accuracy for property transfer including deeds, contracts, sales data, plats and surveys in all software systems.


• Maintain sales information for reporting and survey purposes.


• Assist and prepare assessment appeal materials, including initial review of comparable sales, assessment equity information and scheduling appraisals.


• Update the City Assessor website page as needed.


• Provide backup support for office staff and appraisers as needed.


• Completion of required assessment and appraisal courses.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Each employee is expected to continually strive to bring shared values to life through our Excellence Through People organizational culture. ETP values include: committing to continuous improvement; in piring creativity and innovation; being customer driven; making data-driven decisions; championing employee involvement; striving for excellence; having fiscal stewardship; acting with honesty and integrity; exhibiting leadership; choosing a positive attitude; respect and dignity for one another; promoting safety and wellness; and cultivating teamwork. For leaders, this includes creating a work culture that brings these values to life. For all employees, this includes maintaining a Total City Perspective. The purpose of ETP is to deliver exceptional services to the public at the best price, and for employees to experience