Title: HQS Inspector
Reports To: Director of Housing
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Date: March 20, 2026
Position Summary
Responsible for conducting Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections for the Housing Authority of County of Wake to ensure compliance with HUD regulations, HACW policy and for performing related administrative tasks. May perform a variety of inspections for the Agency’s public housing properties as appropriate and/or directed. The duties listed below illustrate the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements regarding duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment in association with this position.
Responsibilities
Undertakes and performs the following and other work-related duties as assigned.
1. Performs, documents, records, and uploads into appropriate system initial, special, or recertification inspections of units for compliance with HQS and City Code. Advises owners/landlords and program participants of inspection results, ensures required repairs are completed, and encourages proper maintenance of units. Prepares all inspection-related correspondence, documents, and reports in a timely and accurate manner.
- Presents HQS information at applicant, tenant, and moving briefings.
- Determines Rent Reasonableness comparison for program units to unsubsidized units. Ensures documentation is provided to HCV Specialist in an accurate and timely manner.
- Plans and facilitates landlord meetings to attract new and maintain current landlords. Ensures the program is landlord-friendly without sacrificing duty to participants and to HUD.
2. Makes home visits as scheduled or as required. May greet the general public and explain the HQS/HUD rules and regulations.
- Photographs all housekeeping inspections to document conditions at time of inspection.
- Reports to supervisor any and all violations that occur that may be life threatening and/or not in compliance with HQS standards and HACW policies.
- Informs HCV specialist of situations and/or conditions of participants’ non-compliance with housing assistance contract and HACW policies.
3. Notifies owners and program participants in writing of HQS violations so that deficiencies can be corrected within specified time.
- Sends letter of abatement notice to owner/tenant within specified time period.
- Performs and documents participant-complaints and owner damage-claim inspections. Advises parties of results and ensures actions are taken to comply with HQS.
- Responsible for creating and maintaining landlord/owner pool.
4. Maintains complete records/files for area of responsibility in an accurate and timely manner.
- Handles documents on a variety of general and technical topics. Maintains the confidentiality of all documents and information received.
5. Participates in job and certification trainings; attends continuing education classes for certifications and to stay abreast of current codes, regulations, and laws governing area of responsibility.
6. Responsible for maintaining Agency Inspection vehicle.
7. Accountable for consistent adherence to strong Agency standards regarding the ethical, responsible, and appropriate use, care, and safeguarding of Agency materials, supplies, resources, and other assets.
8. Must be able to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
9. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, owners/landlords, participant, and other business contacts; and deal effectively with situations requiring tact and diplomacy, yet firmness.
10. Ability to prepare clear and concise statistical reports and maintain accurate records.
11. Must maintain the confidentiality of the Agency’s operations.
12. Ability to inspect and determine necessary repair for units to meet HQS qualifications.
13. Ability to work effectively with all types of people and maintain composure under pressure.
14. Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in residential and multi-family building maintenance and/or inspections or an equivalent combination of education and experience resulting in the ability to fulfill the essential job duties of the position.
The following Certifications must be obtained within twelve (12) months of employment or other allowable period of hire as authorized by the Executive Director:
- Housing Quality Standards (HQS) w Landlord/Tenant Law
- Fair Housing and Reasonable Accommodation w SEMAP/Self-Assessment
Knowledge and Skills
- Thorough knowledge of: federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to HCVP and Agency policies and procedures on leased housing and HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and inspection procedures.
- Thorough knowledge of: general inspection techniques, principles and procedures applicable to all types of residential structures including foundations, framing, plumbing, HVAC, interiors, and insulation; federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to HACW policies and procedures on Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
- Working knowledge of: the principles, practices, and techniques of HCV housing management program.
Supervision Controls
The HCV Inspector and Landlord Liaison receives assignments and instructions from the Director of Housing. Work to be done is usually determined by existing procedures or may be specified by the supervisor. The employee performs routine tasks with minimal supervision and must have excellent problem-solving abilities. Unusual situations not covered by instructions or procedures are referred to the supervisor for resolution. The employee's finished work is reviewed regularly for thoroughness, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with inspection requirements through housing quality control inspection samplings and periodic rental market samplings.
The HCV Inspector and Landlord Liaison has no supervisory duties.
Guidelines
The employee performs routine duties by following HACW policies, HUD regulations and inspection checklists. These guidelines cover most job-related decisions. The employee consults the supervisor if guidelines do not cover a specific situation.
Complexity
Various aspects of work performed by the employee may be repetitive and routine in nature. Work to be performed is often straightforward, but above average technical and communication skills are required to accomplish tasks. The employee routinely plans, coordinates, and performs the work. The employee must be sensitive and objective in dealing with owner/landlord and participant interactions and resolving problems. Difficulty may be experienced while working in inclement weather or unsanitary conditions.
Scope and Effect
The employee's work affects a significant portion of the units in the Agency's housing programs and the participants and owners. Thorough, effective, accurate, and timely inspections ensure that participants are provided housing that is decent, safe, and in good repair, and that owners are adequately compensated.
Work Relationships
The employee will interact daily with landlords/owners and tenants. The purpose of such contact is to provide information, guidance, and assistance in maintaining dwellings that are decent, safe, in good repair, and affordable. Conditions under which contacts occur can range from normal to stressful in emergency situations.
Physical Requirements
- Work is performed both in-office and on-site and involves physical exertion during the inspection of units and sites, including climbing stairs and ladders, walking across roofs, crawling into attics or basements, and examining plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, facilities, and equipment.
- Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and persons outside the Agency and perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.
- Must be able to sit and/or stand for up to eight hours at a time while preforming work duties.
- Must be able to bend, stoop, push, and pull in the performance of job-related duties.
- Must be able to work around various fumes, odors, chemical agents, and solvents.
- Must be able to use fingers bilaterally and unilaterally to operate testing and office equipment.
- Must have vision and hearing corrected to perform essential job functions.
- Must maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.
- An employee may request a reasonable accommodation to mitigate any of the physical requirements listed above.
Work Environment
Work involves the normal risks or discomfort associated with an office environment and visits to outdoor developments, sites, dwellings, or facilities, confrontations with clients, and negotiations with housing owners, landlords, coordinators, and agents. Required site visits may involve exposure to adverse weather and road conditions.
Work requires travel throughout the area, performing fieldwork in inclement weather. Position is often required to inspect unsanitary dwellings.
Other Requirements
- Must possess a State of North Carolina driver’s license and regularly participate in continuous improvement and education.
- Must be available for occasional overnight travel for training.
- Must pass employment drug screening.
- Must pass criminal background check.
- Must work with the highest degree of confidentiality.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $35,000.00 - $40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
