HQS Inspections Supervisor

Spokane Housing; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer paid medical

Employer paid dental

Employer paid vision

Long Term Disability and Life Ins

Flexible scheduling

13 Paid Holidays

PERS – Pension-style retirement

Job summary

Spokane Housing Authority is seeking a dedicated HQS Inspections Supervisor to oversee inspection activities, ensure timely HQS/NSPIRE inspections, and coordinate with owners, tenants, and inspectors. The role focuses on regulatory compliance and staff training to maintain program integrity.

The successful candidate will supervise workloads, manage schedules, and mentor team members while ensuring accurate reporting and adherence to HUD requirements across SHA housing programs.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of HUD HQS and NSPIRE standards, Section 8, and other rental assistance program regulations.
• Knowledge of Fair Housing Laws and Washington State Landlord-Tenant Act as they relate to housing inspections and tenant rights.
• Familiarity with safe housing inspection techniques, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, agency-related software, data entry, and database management.
• Ability to diagnose, analyze, interpret, and apply housing regulations to determine unit compliance.
• Proficiency in identifying housing maintenance issues and clearly communicating corrective actions to property owners and tenants.
• Competence in conducting rent reasonableness determinations and accurately applying rent calculation formulas.
• Strong attention to detail for data collection, analysis, and reporting to support compliance monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate the housing inspection team workloads.
• Provide ongoing training for inspection staff.
• Ensure HQS/NSPIRE inspections and QA inspections are completed on time.
• Maintain leasing and annual recertification schedules.
• Coordinate with third-party inspectors and owners/tenants on deficiencies.
• Prepare rent reasonableness reviews and utility allowance calculations.
• Attend training and stay informed on changing HUD regulations.

Skills

HQs standards

NSPIRE standards

HUD regulations

Data entry

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Starting Hourly Rate: $32.12 – $33.75
Position Range: $32.12 – $46.53
Full-Time, Non-Exempt (Hourly)

Looking for a great benefits package? We have you covered with:

• Employer paid medical for base employee plans.
• Employer paid dental for employee plan.
• Employer paid vision for employee plan.
• Employer paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Flexible scheduling
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) – Pension-style retirement program.

0-2 years 15 days a year

3-4 years 27 days a year

5-9 years 30 days a year

10-14 years 33 days a year

15-19 years 37.5 days a year

20+ years 40.5 days a year

Days based off 8 hours

Purpose of HQS Inspections Supervisor

Under the supervision of the Housing Programs Manager, the HQS Inspections Supervisor is responsible for monitoring and coordinating a variety of housing inspection activities for SHA programs, ensuring inspections are timely and aligned to applicable regulations and agency policies. The position will supervise and coordinate the inspection team’s workloads, facilitate initial and ongoing training for inspection team staff, perform regular or quality assurance inspections, maintain positive working relationships with property owners/managers, tenants and community partners, and provide general administrative support for SHA’s inspection systems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Inspection Program Administration and Reporting

• Contribute to achieving the SHA mission and the effective and efficient administration of housing assistance programs, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and agency regulations, rules, laws, and procedures.
• Actively supervise the agency inspections team, providing guidance and support as necessary for efficient and effective program operation.
• Manage, coordinate, and assign the inspection team’s workload.
• Coordinate and communicate with third party inspectors.
• Ensure inspections and associated reporting are completed timely and in accordance with agency policies.
• Perform HQS/NSPIRE inspections, and quality assurance inspections.
• Coordinate with other department staff in maintaining leasing and annual recertification schedules.
• Issue administrative notices including warnings, terminations, and abatements.
• Prepare rent reasonableness reviews, rental market information summaries, and utility allowance calculations.
• Advise owners, managers, and tenants on inspection deficiencies and corrections.
• Ensure proper maintenance and tracking of files and long-term processes, such as paperwork submission deadlines and voucher expirations.
• Assist in researching, developing, maintaining, and revising department forms, procedures, and control systems as needed.
• Attend training, read relevant publications, and collaborate with professionals in the field to stay informed about changing federal regulations and policies.

Inspection Coordination and Compliance

• Coordinate the scheduling of unit inspections for housing assistance programs per HUD regulations and agency Administration Plan.
• Coordinate and communicate with third-party inspectors.
• Conduct HQS inspections and determine compliance of rental assistance units with HUD minimum property standards for program participants and per contract provisions as scheduled.
• Advise owners, managers, and tenant/program participants on ways to correct deficiencies in meeting inspection standards and confirm compliance dates.
• Evaluate corrections of any inspection deficiencies and certify that units meet habitability standards.
• Perform rent reasonableness certifications.

Program Administration and Reporting

• Enter inspection and necessary data into the computer.
• Coordinate with other department staff in maintaining the leasing schedule to keep the annual reviews current and coordinate in issuing warning, termination, and abatement notices.
• Prepare rent comparability, market information, rent reasonableness, and utility allowance calculations.

Tenant and Landlord Engagement

• Provide general education on HQS/NSPIRE standards and on SHA inspection processes.
• Coordinate with participants, community partners, and coworkers to provide information on the Reasonable Accommodation process, including gathering necessary information to present to the 504 Coordinator for accommodation requests.
• Reschedule inspection appointments as needed based on the urgency of deficiencies.
• Conduct virtual inspections as needed.

Mentorship

• Develop and implement team training programs that foster professional growth and align with SHA’s objectives.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning by encouraging staff participation in professional development opportunities.
• Identify and mentor emerging leaders within the organization, building a robust succession pipeline.
• If applicable, conduct performance evaluations, ensuring transparency and alignment with organizational policies.
• If applicable, collaborate with Human Resources on complex personnel matters, including disciplinary actions, improvement plans, and conflict resolution.

Leadership

• Direct and review departmental work plans to ensure alignment with SHA’s mission, vision, and values.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to support consistency in practices and achievement of agency goals.
• Represent SHA in external meetings, advocating for initiatives that align with SHA’s strategic objectives.
• Coordinate and oversee high-level projects, ensuring successful outcomes that support SHA’s long‑term goals.

Requirements

Regulatory and Program Compliance

Strong understanding of HUD HQS and NSPIRE standards, Section 8, and other rental assistance program regulations.

Knowledge of Fair Housing Laws and Washington State Landlord-Tenant Act as they relate to housing inspections and tenant rights.

Familiarity with safe housing inspection techniques, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Technical and Analytical Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, agency-related software, data entry, and database management.

Ability to diagnose, analyze, interpret, and apply housing regulations to determine unit compliance.

Proficiency in identifying housing maintenance issues and clearly communicating corrective actions to property owners and tenants.

Competence in conducting rent reasonableness determinations and accurately applying rent calculation formulas.

Strong attention to detail for data collection, analysis, and reporting to support compliance monitoring.

Communication and Customer Service

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with tenants, landlords, property owners, partner agencies, and fellow employees while maintaining professionalism under pressure.

Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey inspection results, corrective measures, and program requirements to impacted parties.

Ability to maintain privacy and confidentiality of client records, tenant information, and sensitive inspection findings.

Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills to mediate disputes and manage difficult conversations.

Organizational and Operational Skills

Capacity to organize, prioritize, and expedite multiple inspection workloads, initiate independent work projects, and manage deadlines efficiently.

Strong time management skills to coordinate and schedule inspections in an efficient travel pattern.

Ability to navigate geographic areas effectively to optimize inspection routes and ensure timely completion of assignments.

Technology and Safety

Proficiency in basic computer literacy, including email, calendar scheduling, and data entry for inspection documentation.

Ability to operate mobile devices and software for remote inspection entry and reporting.

Strong safe driving skills in all weather conditions while conducting field inspections.

Education and Professional Qualifications

Educational Requirements:

High school diploma or GED equivalency is required.

Preference is given to candidates with an associate degree in a relevant field

Professional Experience:

A minimum of three years of experience and/or education in construction trades, industrial arts, housing inspection, or other housing-related activities is required.

Preference is given to candidates with at least two years of experience in Section 8 activities, housing inspection, or work with a private nonprofit or government agency.

Certifications and Licenses:

Must obtain and maintain required housing inspection certification(s) per SHA and HUD regulations.

Must maintain an acceptable credit history.

Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, satisfactory driving record, and adequate insurance coverage per SHA policy.

Required Workplace Standards

Works regular and reliable hours on-site as required.

Attendance must be punctual and consistent.

Works an agreed-upon schedule and works additional hours as necessary to complete work.

Works effectively, cooperatively, and respectfully with co-workers, clients, and other contacts.

Follows all SHA Safety Policies and Procedures.

Follows all SHA Personnel Policies and Procedures.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Physical Abilities

This position requires the ability to:

Move/traverse multiple locations, including private residences and multi-unit properties, to conduct inspections.

Lift, carry, and transport equipment and supplies exceeding 30 pounds as needed for inspections.

Bend, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs repeatedly to conduct thorough inspections.

Work in various environmental conditions, including exposure to outdoor weather, dust, mold, and potential allergens.

Communicate frequently, effectively, and accurately with internal and external partners, tenants, and property owners.

Work is both office and field-based and requires travel between locations and properties. The work environment noise level may vary depending on the inspection site.

Must be able to fully function in a drug‑free environment.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statements contained herein reflect general details necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibilities. They should not be considered an all‑inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the workload for the good of the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Spokane Housing Authority provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. This applies to all employment terms, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, and training. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to individuals with disabilities.