Housing Rehabilitation Specialist I

About the Department

This is entrance level technical work in the rehabilitation of properties for renewal and code enforcement projects.

An employee in this class trains in assisting owners of residential and commercial properties in achieving property improvements necessary for compliance with renewal and code enforcement standards.

Works under the direction of a Housing Rehabilitation Supervisor and within the legal and procedural requirements established for project execution.

Position Duties

Reviews residential and commercial properties to identify violations of the housing code which may be corrected through the rehabilitation program.  Assesses property, mainly residential, to determine health and safety hazards, including lead base paint hazards.  Makes site inspections of project structure and prepares drawings and work specifications which define the extent of improvement required.  Schedules property improvements in order to rehabilitate the structure.  Reviews work specifications and estimates costs of improvement items.  Uses personal computers and other standard office equipment to prepare rehabilitation notices, letters of agreement, and other correspondence and reports.  Assists in the preparation of contract documents and bid packages.  Assists property owner in the selection of contractor, plans and attends homeowner/contractor pre-award conferences, and works closely with owner and contractor to ensure acceptable quality of workmanship in meeting property rehabilitation standards.  Maintains work progress reports through periodic inspection of contractor performances and authorizes partial payment to contractor.  Prepares certificate of completion.  Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited high school or GED.  A minimum of three years paid experience as a general contractor or journeyman in residential building construction, or an equivalent combination of related training and related paid experience.  THE EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT MEANS THAT YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE UP TO 50% OF PAID EXPERIENCE WITH RELATED EDUCATION OR TRAINING.  Possession of state issued lead risk assessor license, lead abatement contractor license, and renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) certification or must obtain licenses/certifications within one year of employment.  Possession of a valid State of Ohio driver’s license.

Knowledge of residential and commercial building construction and remodeling materials, practices, and methods.  Knowledge of remodeling specifications and plans.  Knowledge of state and local building codes.  Knowledge of lead risk assessment and other related housing rehabilitation programs.

Ability to detect structural and other violations of housing program and code enforcement standards and to appraise for quality of construction and physical deterioration.  Ability to read, interpret, and prepare plans, specifications and blueprints of ordinary complexity quickly and accurately and to compare them with construction in progress.  Ability to write construction specifications.  Ability to operate personal computers and standard office equipment.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other persons.  Ability to obtain and maintain training and certifications as required.  List of essential job functions available upon request. 

Other Qualifications

This is a classified position.  

The selection process will consist of a competitive examination with credit for education and experience.  A passing score must be obtained on the competitive examination in order to receive credit for education and experience.  TEST WEIGHTS:  Competitive Examination 70%, Education 20%, Experience 10%.  

NOTE: The competitive examination may be suspended if shown to be impractical because of an insufficient number of qualified candidates.  The candidates will then be ranked in a standard manner based on 70% for qualifying, 20% for education, and 10% for experience.

Since this examination is posted on a combined basis, two separate eligibility lists will be generated with promotional candidates considered before open candidates.

Candidates must meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the announcement at the time of examination and at the time of appointment.

RESIDENCY:  Candidates who have been resident citizens within the corporate limits of the City of Akron for at least one year immediately prior to the examination and who continue to reside within the corporate limits of the City of Akron throughout the remainder of the selection process will have 5 points added to their passing grades. 

VETERANS: A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, honorably discharged from active duty, desiring a bonus of 5 points added to their passing grade, must submit proof of discharge in the form of a DD-214 with application.


DRIVER S LICENSE:  An applicant having a valid driver's license from another state will be accepted conditionally provided that, if selected, an Ohio Driver's License must be obtained prior to appointment.  Candidates having six or more points on their driving record at the time of appointment will be disqualified from further consideration.  

NOTE: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING YOUR APPLICATION STATUS THROUGHOUT THE STEPS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS BY VIEWING YOUR GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM ACCOUNT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNABLE TO CHECK YOUR STATUS ON LINE, YOU MAY CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT 330-375-2720.  

Email correspondence generated from our system will be sent from info@governmentjobs.com. To ensure you receive important communication from our office, be sure to make this address a safe sender.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Akron is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, which includes building an environment that respects the individual, promotes innovation and offers opportunities for all employees to develop to their full potential. A diverse workforce helps the City realize its full potential. The City benefits from the creativity and innovation that results when people with different experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds work together. In compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the City is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, language, religion, citizenship status, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, membership in a collective bargaining unit, status with regard to public assistance, or political affiliation. The City adheres to these policies in both our hiring and employment practices.

Applicants are required to meet the minimum qualifications for the position with or without an accommodation.  If you are a qualified applicant with a disability, please notify the Department of Human Resources at least one week prior to testing if requesting a reasonable accommodation for the testing process.  

The City of Akron is committed to protecting the safety, health and well-being of all employees in our workplace and providing the community with the highest quality municipal services possible.  Alcohol, marijuana, and drug abuse in the workplace pose a significant threat to these goals.  In furtherance of its goal to maintain a drug and alcohol-free workplace, the City conducts pre-employment drug screening for illegal drugs, marijuana, and the illegal, unauthorized use, or intentional misuse of prescription drugs.  Any candidate who tests positive for marijuana or the illegal use of drugs will not be hired.