Lead Property Standards Officer

The Lead Property Standards Officer (PSO) promotes neighborhood sustainability by ensuring compliance with City ordinances related to private property and rental housing, as outlined in the Westminster Municipal Code. This position serves as a supervisor, enforcer, educator, and liaison, overseeing a team of PSOs and Rental Housing Inspectors (RHIs).

The Lead PSO performs inspections and enforcement duties, prepares written reports detailing violations and required corrective actions, and develops enforcement strategies to bring properties into compliance. Responsibilities include managing daily operations, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, conducting performance evaluations, and administering corrective action when necessary.

This role handles complex land use investigations, makes determinations on potential zoning and property standards violations, and recommends policy or procedural updates. The Lead PSO also inspects rental properties, ensures compliance with the City’s Rental Property Maintenance Code, and supports the Rental Housing Team as a trained Housing Inspector. The position also collaborates closely with internal departments—including Building, Planning, Police, Fire, and the City Clerk’s Office—coordinating efforts on enforcement and regulatory matters.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and builds trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Analyze situations quickly, and make independent decisions based on sound reasoning, good judgment, established procedures and proper interpretation of City ordinances
• Deal tactfully with citizens, businesses, contractors, and homeowners in the resolution of difficult problems
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and a willingness to be pro-active and accept new challenges
• Work with parties responsible for violations through education, cooperation, and reasonable agreement to gain compliance with City code
• Communicate and present ideas effectively orally and in writing
• Establish effective working relationships with peers and supervisors
• Understand and work from City maps, zoning maps, plans, drawings and diagrams
• Maintain a high level of self-motivation while working independently
• Develop and employ effective problem-solving skills
• Successfully complete job-related training assignments

Leadership/Supervisory – Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
• Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
• Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some Leader
• Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees
• Help employees to see the value of developing their skills, and assist them in eliminating barriers to their development; encourage employees to step outside of their comfort zone to develop their skills
• Provide meaningful, timely employee feedback and appraisals, and effectively address employee performance problems
• Effectively supervise, mentor, and motivate in a team environment
  
  

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

1. Effectively apply legal and departmental knowledge to enforce property standards, inspect rental housing, and uphold the Westminster Municipal Code (W.M.C.) while also performing supervisory duties and the regular responsibilities of a Property Standards Officer and Rental Housing Inspector including:
   • Serving as supervisor for the Property Standards and Rental Housing teams, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and supportive team environment
   • Providing clear direction, instruction, and oversight to staff as needed
   • Monitoring employee performance, assisting with problem-solving, and coordinating team activities and schedules
   • Participating in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and training of new officers and inspectors
   • Conducting annual performance evaluations and addressing performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner
   • Reviewing reports submitted by inspectors and investigating citizen complaints to ensure proper follow-up
   • Managing staff scheduling, approving leave requests, and verifying timesheets
   • Demonstrating leadership by making principled decisions aligned with organizational values, even when difficult or unpopular
   • Offering consistent, timely feedback and coaching to support employee development and accountability
2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of laws, codes, and legal procedures in all areas of code enforcement.  Responsibilities include:
   • Serving as the primary decision-maker on complex or ambiguous cases involving zoning and property standards violations, prioritization of cases, and interpretation of the Westminster Municipal Code (W.M.C.)
   • Investigating and enforcing complex land use and zoning violations (W.M.C. Title XI), including issues related to short-term rentals and associated complaints or concerns
   • Leading Neighborhood Assistance initiatives to support property owners in resolving compliance and neighborhood concerns
   • Negotiating good-faith compliance agreements and facilitating resolution on large, high-profile, or particularly challenging cases
   • Leading community outreach, education, and engagement initiatives to promote understanding and voluntary compliance
   • Coordinating responses to emerging issues such as short-term rentals, illegal duplexes, and accessory dwelling units; recommending policy or code amendments
   • Assisting with updates to the W.M.C. to improve clarity, enforceability, and alignment with community needs
   • Collaborating with other departments and divisions to resolve multi-faceted or cross-jurisdictional violations
   • Conducting inspections to verify compliance with permits, licenses, or legal requirements
   • Carrying out enforcement actions, including issuing notices, citations, and summonses; coordinating abatement actions; and testifying in court 
   • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of department policies, legal standards, and relevant case law through ongoing training and development
   • Upholding a high standard of professional conduct and integrity, both on and off duty
3. In coordination with the Rental Housing Inspection team—and as a cross-trained Housing Inspector—the Lead Property Standards Officer enforces the City Rental Property Maintenance Code by performing and supervising the following:
   • Inspecting rental properties for compliance with the Rental Property Maintenance Code
   • Preparing inspection reports to notify property owners/managers of violations and required corrective actions
   • Recommending methods and materials to achieve code compliance.
   • Scheduling inspections and providing written notifications to property owners/managers
   • Documenting inspection results, investigations, complaints, and enforcement actions.
   • Building and maintaining effective relationships with property owners, managers, and tenants
   • Providing information and responding to questions or complaints about the code
   • Preparing case files, reports, and summonses, and testifying in court on code violations
4. Demonstrates knowledge of City ordinances related to development, construction, and rental housing, including methods, materials, and techniques applicable to residential structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems encountered during rental housing inspections
5. Clear and professional communication, both verbal and written, while delivering effective public service, including:
   • Participating in community programs, homeowners’ associations, business groups, and City task forces
   • Communicating code enforcement information with clarity, professionalism, and diplomacy
   • Providing assistance, referrals, and guidance to complainants and violators; mediating disputes as needed
   • Maintaining a professional appearance and demeanor
   • Preparing clear, effective reports, memos, citations, and related documentation
   • Demonstrating strong oral communication skills
6. Enforces City code ordinances and investigates reported violations by:
   • Responding to service calls and initiating field investigations
   • Documenting inspections, investigations, contacts, and actions in detailed reports
   • Issuing verbal/written warnings, citations, and summonses to violators
   • Investigating complaints involving ordinance violations and property neglect
7. Safely and proficiently operates City vehicles and equipment by:
   • Inspecting and maintaining all assigned equipment and vehicles.
   • Ensuring vehicles are in proper working condition and operated safely. 
8. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides information on municipal ordinances, regulations, specifications and official documents
• Assists to develop or update standards and protocols for Property Standards

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

• Graduation from high school or possession of GED
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and safe driving record
• Possess critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate or have experience in conflict resolution and negotiations
• Excellent interpersonal communication abilities
• Strong project management and multi-tasking abilities

Preferred:

• Prior supervisory experience is strongly preferred
• Additional education, degrees, and official professional/career certifications in the field(s) of code enforcement, building codes, or related field are preferred
• Experience in code enforcement, rental housing, customer service, municipal government role, or related work

Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Physical Requirements
Must demonstrate the ability to meet the physical demands of the job to include:

• Frequent pushing/pulling ten (10) pounds to remove signs that have been posted in the ground
• Frequently stands, walks on varied terrain, and works in all weather conditions
• Frequently sits for office tasks and while driving a city vehicle
• Occasionally squats, kneels, and reaches overhead for inspections
• Frequently climbs, bends, twists, and reaches below shoulder level to view obstructed properties
• Frequently uses light grasp, fine motor skills, and handling; occasionally uses firm grasp for tools/equipment
• Frequently steps up/down and operates vehicle mechanisms
• Constantly uses near/far vision and hearing for public and staff communication
• Occasionally lifts up to 30 pounds from ground to waist and carries it up to 50 feet
• Frequently pushes/pulls up to ten (10) pounds to remove posted signs

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is occasionally performed indoor and frequently outdoor with occasional exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed year-round in all weather conditions and includes exposure to loud noise, dust, fumes, mist and chemicals. This is a highly public position where contact with public may be in stressful situations.
Required Materials and Equipment
Must be able to operate standard office equipment including a multi-line telephone system, computers, copiers, printers, digital camera, etc. Must be able to operate a City vehicle. Must wear personal protective equipment includes gloves, safety glasses, goggles, coverall suits, traffic safety vest.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references, criminal history, credit check, education verification
• Drug screen
• Pre-employment physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
  
  

Salary : $85,550 - $109,491