Project Employee - Building Inspector - Housing and Homeless Services

City of Spokane; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Spokane is seeking a Project Employee - Building Inspector for the Housing and Homeless Services Department. You will inspect residential properties for HUD, HQS, NSPIRE, and UPCS compliance, and review Davis‑Bacon documentation for HOME/CDBG projects.

The role involves clear communication with owners, managers, and contractors to ensure timely remediation. As a safety‑sensitive position, you will follow city procedures, maintain meticulous records, and travel to multiple sites as

Qualifications

• Inspect facilities using HQS/NSPIRE/UPCS standards.
• Ability to conduct on-site reviews for compliance.
• Experience logging findings and generating reports.

Responsibilities

• Perform thorough inspections of assisted‑housing properties.
• Explain deficiencies and prioritize remediation with stakeholders.
• Maintain detailed records and inspection schedules.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Tech proficiency

Travel readiness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

HUD inspection tools

Job description

The City of Spokane welcomes applicants for Project Employee - Building Inspector - Housing and Homeless Services

Under the Housing and Homeless Services Department (HHS), this temporary position will perform skilled technical inspection work in inspecting residential properties to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local assisted‑housing requirements, including those established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Duties are varied and require analyzing facts to determine proper course of action within the limits of established laws, procedures, and federal regulations. Performance of normal duties will directly safeguard the health and safety of residents, protect federal, state, and local investments, and help property owners maintain compliance.

This project employee will have regular outside contacts of a regulatory nature requiring discretion and technical competence. Work is light in nature, performed under varying weather conditions and requires above normal attention to prevent errors.

SUPERVISION:

Works under general supervision. Plans and arranges own work following established procedures and refers unusual cases to the supervisor.

The following responsibilities and requirements are functions the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

• Conduct thorough inspections of assisted‑housing properties using the applicable HUD housing inspection standards, including Housing Quality Standards (HQS), National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), or Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS), as required by the applicable program.
• Conduct onsite progress inspections reviews of Davis‑Bacon labor standards compliance documentation, as assigned, for applicable HOME/CDBG projects.
• Perform initial housing quality standards inspections of completed new construction and rehabilitation projects to document compliance with applicable program requirements before final project draws.
• Use HUD approved inspection tools to record findings, capture photographic evidence, and generate detailed reports.
• Collaborate with property owners, managers, and contractors to explain deficiencies, prioritize remediation, and ensure timely compliance.
• Stay current on HUD housing quality standards and approved inspection protocols, HOME Program regulations, CDBG Program regulations and local housing codes.
• Provide clear, professional communication to stakeholders regarding inspection results and next steps.
• Maintain meticulous records for audit and compliance purposes.
• Maintain inspection schedules and complete assigned inspections in a timely manner.
• Follow established City safety procedures while conducting field inspections.
• Performs other inspection‑related duties and related work as required.

REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify both obvious and subtle deficiencies.
• Proficiency with computers, mobile devices, and digital reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical findings in plain language.
• Ability to travel to multiple property sites.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations, meet the public tactfully, and communicate and apply applicable program requirements and compliance standards good judgment, firmness and impartiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to see, with or without corrective lenses, well enough to read specifications and small labels.
• Ability to hear, with or without a hearing aid, and to speak well enough to converse on the telephone.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs, climb a ladder up to 8 feet high, and remain in positions necessary to conduct inspections.
• Enough manual dexterity to handle small hand tools.
• Enough manual dexterity to write clearly and to use key‑entry devices and computer terminals.
• Enough mobility to bend and kneel while inspecting spaces.
• Tolerance to dust and working under adverse conditions such as outdoors under a dripping eave.
• Stamina to drive for up to 4 hours/day, 5 days/week, and ability to travel to multiple property sites.

• High school diploma or equivalent; AND
  • Two years of experience as a building quality standards inspector with a housing provider or government agency; OR
  • Four years of experience as a building construction foreperson; OR
  • Four years of education at a college or university of recognized standing, with major coursework in architecture, engineering, building theory and practice, construction management, or a related field.
• Experience conducting inspections using HQS, NSPIRE, or UPCS standards is preferred.
• Appropriate experience in the field of building trades as a foreperson or higher level may substitute for education on a year‑for‑year basis for up to two years.
• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.

This role is considered a safety‑sensitive position for which impairment while working presents a substantial risk of death. You must successfully complete a selection process that includes interviews, a criminal background check, a pre‑employment drug screen, reference verifications, aptitude tests (for some positions) and a physical and lift test (for some positions).

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status or disability status.