Our Consumer Services Division supports the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of residents by providing consumer services, education, and complaint resolution assistance. This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community by helping residents, businesses, and other stakeholders understand their rights, responsibilities, and available resources.
Works with consumers and businesses to help resolve complaints to the satisfaction of both parties; provides information and guidance to the public on consumer, tenant-landlord, and related issues; and refers consumers to appropriate enforcement, regulatory, community-based service, and resource agencies as needed. Administers applicable codes, ordinances, regulations, and policies, and communicates complaint processes and relevant code requirements to consumers, businesses, and government agencies.
Additional responsibilities include planning, preparing, conducting, and participating in consumer education and engagement opportunities for diverse audiences on a range of topics; providing consumer education information for Fairfax County Government Channel 16 programs and other communication platforms; reviewing proposed state legislation and providing comments regarding impacts to consumers and the county; and assisting with special projects that support branch and department initiatives, performance measures, and balanced scorecard goals.
Note: This job announcement will be used to fill one full-time Consumer Specialist I vacancy. This position reports to a Consumer Specialist II.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from a four-year accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, public or business administration, conflict resolution, engineering, or related field; plus six months of experience investigating and mediating complaints dealing with consumer and/or tenant-landlord relations, customer service, business regulation and licensing, public safety and code compliance, or related field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:-
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, criminal justice, communications, psychology, sociology, marketing, or related field.
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Two years of full-time equivalent professional experience in mediation and/or conflict resolution, to include managing caseloads/complaints/projects.
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Two years of full-time equivalent professional experience in presenting and communicating information to large audiences.
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Experience communicating effectively in writing and/or verbally with multi-lingual populations or through the utilization of language access services.
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Experience in the administration or operation of one or more of the following functions: Legislation, Homeowner and Condominium Association, Property Management, Virginia Automobile Repair Facilities Act, Virginia Consumer Protection Act, Virginia Home Solicitation Sales Act, and Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act.
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Intermediate proficiency using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position is primarily sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity to work on electronic equipment such as a computer monitor, typing on keyboard, and carrying/lifting to 20 pounds are essential to this position. Ability to drive a county vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home — including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [email protected] EEO/AA/TTY.
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