Job Description
DUTIES
ANNUAL SALARY
$72,683 to $106,279 and $85,649 to $125,238
NOTES :
Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
A Housing Investigator conducts preliminary and follow-up investigations of alleged violations of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and/or Housing Code (Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapters XV and XVI); gathers and evaluates evidence through investigative research, which may include inspecting properties, interviewing tenants, complainants, landlords, and other witnesses; obtains physical and documentary evidence; compiles, evaluates and organizes legal documents; undertakes legal research; prepares oral and written reports on investigative findings; prepares legal cases for referrals to the City Attorney’s Office Criminal Division; negotiates complaint settlements and case closures with landlords and tenants; represents the City at public events to provide information about the RSO; may act as a head investigator reviewing the work of a team of housing investigators; may supervise investigative support and public counter staff; and performs related work.
REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and one year of full-time, paid professional experience investigating complaints, evaluating evidence, and preparing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions; or A paralegal certificate from a paralegal training program within the United States and one year of full-time, paid paralegal experience investigating complaints, evaluating evidence and preparing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions; or Four years of full-time paid experience investigating complaints, evaluating evidence, and preparing legal documents, one year of which must be related to civil or criminal enforcement actions.
PROCESS NOTES
A valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of filing. Applicants will be disqualified and not eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI.Applicants filing under Requirement #1 must list their school name and location, type of degree earned and major in the Education Section of the application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their application will not be processed.Applicants filing under Requirement #2 must submit a paralegal certificate at the time of filing. The copy of the certificate must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted it. Applicants who fail to submit the certificate at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application WILL NOT be considered further in this examination.Experience in Housing Law is highly desired.For qualifying work experience gained outside of the City of Los Angeles, the term “professional experience” applies to positions that require possession of a degree from an accredited four-year college or university in order to obtain that position. Therefore, to be considered “professional,” non-City qualifying experience must be gained in positions after obtaining a four-year degree.Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at https://personnel.lacity.gov/Accredited%20Institutions%2008-21-08.pdf . Candidates completing the examination process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying degree and coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying degree and transcripts to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.
WHERE TO APPLY & APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity .
NOTE :
Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be received by THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 .
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.
SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Weights:
Essay: Advisory
Interview: 100%
The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Analytical Ability; Self-Management; Objectivity; Responsiveness and Follow-Up; Interpersonal Skills; Written Communication; Fact Finding, including knowledge of: proper investigative techniques and procedures for identifying and obtaining evidence; interviewing techniques and strategies; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: mediation techniques; principles and practices of confidentiality; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Housing Investigator.
Prior to the interview, candidates will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Housing Investigator. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which a candidate is required to provide an answer. Please note that candidates must complete the advisory essay and meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.
The advisory essay will be administered on-line . Candidates invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Candidates will be required to complete the on-line advisory essay between MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025 and MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025. Candidates who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.
Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line. It is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of APRIL 14, 2025 to APRIL 25, 2025.
NOTES :
This examination is based on a validation study.As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf .Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applicants who have received a regular appointment to a City position or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding seniority credit at the rate of 0.25 of a point for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22, and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.
Notice :
If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.
THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS
The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://personnel.lacity.gov/faqs/employment-testing-process.html
There are many things to consider in a new employer. Visit the following webpage to view benefits the City of Los Angeles offers its employees:
http://per.lacity.org/bens/index.html
Closing Date/Time: 2/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific