HOUSING INVESTIGATOR 8516

City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Los Angeles seeks a Housing Investigator to conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations of alleged RSO and Housing Code violations. You will gather evidence, interview tenants and landlords, prepare comprehensive reports, and compile legal documents for potential referrals to the City Attorney.

Qualifications include a four-year degree or paralegal certificate with related enforcement experience. DMV driving record and education verification are part of the process.

Qualifications

• Requires a four-year degree or paralegal cert with related civil/criminal enforcement experience.
• Experience investigating complaints, inspecting, interviewing, researching laws, and preparing written reports is required.
• Education must be from an accredited institution per City of LA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged violations of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Housing Code.
• Gather evidence through inspections, interviews, and document review.
• Prepare oral and written reports for investigative findings and legal referrals.
• May supervise staff and represent the City at public events.

Skills

Analytical Ability

Interviewing Techniques

Evidence Evaluation

Report Writing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Paralegal certificate

Four years related experience

Job description

ANNUAL SALARY

$75,627 to $110,580 and $89,115 to $130,332

DUTIES

$75,627 to $110,580 and $89,115 to $130,332

A Housing Investigator conducts preliminary and follow-up investigations of alleged violations of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and/or Housing Code (Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapters XV and XVI); gathers and evaluates evidence through investigative research, which may include inspecting properties, interviewing tenants, complainants, landlords, and other witnesses; obtains physical and documentary evidence; compiles, evaluates and organizes legal documents; undertakes legal research; prepares oral and written reports on investigative findings; prepares legal cases for referrals to the City Attorney’s Office Criminal Division; negotiates complaint settlements and case closures with landlords and tenants; represents the City at public events to provide information about the RSO; may act as a head investigator reviewing the work of a team of housing investigators; may supervise investigative support and public counter staff; and performs related work.

NOTES

• Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
• Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and one year of full-time, paid professional experience investigating complaints, conducting inspections, conducting interviews, researching and referencing laws/ordinances, evaluating evidence, preparing narrative written reports on investigative findings, and compiling, evaluating, and organizing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions; or
• A paralegal certificate from a paralegal training program within the United States and one year of full-time, paid paralegal experience investigating complaints, evaluating evidence and preparing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions; or
• Four years of full-time paid experience investigating complaints, conducting inspections, conducting interviews, researching and referencing laws/ordinances, evaluating evidence, preparing narrative written reports on investigative findings, and compiling, evaluating, and organizing legal documents, one year of which must be related to civil or criminal enforcement actions.

PROCESS NOTES

• As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state or jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended.
• For Internal Use Only: Licensing verification will occur at the time of filing.
• For qualifying work experience in Requirement #1, the term “professional experience” applies to positions that require possession of a degree from an accredited four-year college or university in order to obtain that position. Therefore, to be considered “professional,” qualifying experience must be gained in positions requiring a four-year degree.
• Applicants filing under Requirement #1 must list their school name, location, type of degree earned and major in the Education Section of the application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.
• Applicants filing under Requirement #2 must submit a paralegal certificate at the time of filing. The copy of the certificate must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted it. Applicants who fail to submit the certificate at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application WILL NOT be considered further in this examination.
• Experience in Housing Law is highly desired.
• Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at https://personnel.lacity.gov/Accredited%20Institutions%2008-21-08.pdf.
• Candidates completing the examination process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying degree and coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying degree and transcripts to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.

SELECTION PROCESS

Examination Weights: Essay: Advisory Interview: 100%

The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Analytical Ability; Self-Management; Objectivity; Responsiveness and Follow-Up; Interpersonal Skills; Written Communication; Fact Finding, including knowledge of: proper investigative techniques and procedures for identifying and obtaining evidence; interviewing techniques and strategies; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: mediation techniques; principles and practices of confidentiality; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Housing Investigator.

Prior to the interview, candidates will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Housing Investigator. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which a candidate is required to provide an answer. Please note that candidates must complete the advisory essay and meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.

The advisory essay will be administered on-line. Candidates invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Candidates who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.

NOTICE

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position.

All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN ONLY

ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html

There Are Many Things To Consider In a New Employer. Visit The Following Webpage To View Benefits The City Of Los Angeles Offers Its Employees: http://per.lacity.org/bens/index.html