Chief Appraiser
- Summary
The King County Department of Assessments Office is looking for a seasoned, dynamic and visionary leader to fill the Chief Appraiser role. Come join our award winning team!
The King County Department of Assessments Office is a leader in the industry with our assessment and administrative practices, and our technology. King County Assessments was just the fourth jurisdiction to earn the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration (CEAA) from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) in 2008. Nearly 12 years later, King County is still one of only 48 counties and Jurisdictions in the United States and Canada to earn the CEAA. This coveted award recognizes jurisdictions that utilize best appraisal, assessment, and administrative practices in their offices.
With our on-line taxpayer technology tools such as LocalScape, Electronic Valuation Notices, and eAppeals our agency takes pride in providing taxpayers with the tools they need to review and take actions on their property assessments. We are transparent and accountable and we are looking for assessment professionals who embody these same qualities.
Just like the industry leaders in our region (Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks), we are looking for an out-of-the-box thinker, who will break down barriers and challenge us to continuously improve. The ideal candidate is a confident leader with the experience and knowledge to approach the complex landscape that makes up King County. This person will understand the urban market with both commercial and residential properties that line the shores of the Puget Sound or Lake Washington, as well as those that can be found on creeks and pasture lands in rural King County communities.
The Chief Appraiser serves as a member of the Assessor's Executive Leadership Team and will play a key role in the development of goals, strategies, and initiatives. This person will be relied on to ensure that we are on track with our commitment to be one of "Best Assessment Departments in North America". The successful candidate will:- Interact effectively with staff from all levels of the organization
- Utilize a keen understanding of assessment-industry standards, strategies, and trends necessary to lead the division in the 21st Century
- Come with proven success designing and executing strategies
- Have the ability to drive quality appraisal processes that ensure fair and equitable service for our community.
- Demonstrate strong business acumen, and an ability to work in a culturally and generationally diverse environment.
- Show a desire to represent the Office of the Assessor in a national leadership role in the appraisal profession and possess a background of making presentations to appraisal professionals at conferences, seminars, and trainings.
- Job Duties
The individual selected for this role will at a minimum demonstrate skill and ability to:
- Manage and lead the day-to-day operations of the department's technical appraisal quality control with special emphasis in property valuation appeals, appraisal models and analysis, and assessment litigation;
- Provide appraisal technical oversight for Mass Appraisal Model review and analysis, as well as technical appraisal assistance with valuation models and RCW/WAC interpretation;
- Lead the department's ongoing appraisal standardization and uniformity efforts;
- Plan, direct, and coordinate a comprehensive and defensible appraisal program of all real property located in the County;
- Advise, lead and assist the Assessor and Deputy Assessor in the formulation, development, interpretation and implementation and training of real property policies and practices;
- Lead the department's appeal defense team, and be the principal collaborator with the Prosecuting Attorney for litigation preparations;
- Promote an organizational culture that is focused on a shared mission, fosters continuous improvement (Lean), and embraces equity and social justice for employees and the community;
- Demonstrate strong technical appraisal competence and an ability to collaborate with local, state and federal jurisdictions.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are seeking a candidate who will:
- Possess a strong grounding in Commercial/Residential/Business appraisal principles, techniques, litigation strategies, best practices, and trends;
- Be knowledgeable about how large organizations work, including how to get things done through formal and informal channels and collaboration with key stakeholders;
- Have a track record with developing and implementing detailed and appraisal-specific technical analytical strategies, best practices, and goals;
- Develop metrics and benchmarks to be able to project how results can be used in future initiatives to improve appraisal processes;
- Be customer-focused with a dedication to providing efficient and value-added services to our taxpayers;
- Be able to manage, develop, coach and mentor a culturally and generationally diverse staff in a collaborative manner that focuses on engagement, good communication, and team building that is essential for the evolving business needs of the future; and,
- Be able to persevere and adapt as required, while working in a multi-faceted and sometimes ambiguous environment.
Competitive candidates will submit materials demonstrating that they possess, at a minimum:- A Bachelor's degree in Public or Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Real Estate or a related field with major coursework related to the field of real property appraisal (and)
- Demonstrated success in the industry with a career path demonstrating increased responsibility
(or)- Any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying such as a professional appraisal designation from the IAAO, or Appraisal Institute (AI).
To Apply:
Please submit a brief online employment application*, at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs, to include:
- A resume going back at least ten years if possible (or more to include relevant experience).
- A cover letter that is clear and specific in conveying the relevancy of experience and education. The content must describe demonstrated success in the functions specifically addressed in this job description, and as performed as a primary function in a professional capacity.
- Supplemental Information
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS:
A leader and innovator in government assessments, the department is charged with administering King County's property valuation and assessment process. This process forms the basis for funding a wide range of important public services from education, to transportation, to hospitals; what's more, it requires effective partnerships with 163 separate taxing districts.
At 2,134 square miles -- about the same size as the State of Delaware, King County is one of the largest geographic areas to assess in the entire nation. In 2018, King County assessed approximately 713,000 parcels in worth $534 billion. This generated $5.6 billion in property tax revenue to support vital public programs and services for our residences. To learn more about us, check out our website: www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with Leadership and our Employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
About King County
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.
As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.
King County's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
Our offices in the King County Administration Building operate under a fragrance and scent free policy. This policy is intended to promote a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01We appreciate your interest in this very important role. Please confirm that you are aware of the requirement to attach a resume and cover letter with details that explain your qualifications as related to this position.
- Yes, I understand the requirement and have attached a resume and cover letter.
- Not Applicable
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