Housing Compliance Officer at Squaxin Island Tribe – Shelton, Washington

Job Title: Housing Compliance Officer - .75 FTE

Department: Planning and Community Development (PCD)

Reports To: Housing Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

TS Range: 7/8 ($ 26.98)

Approved by: PCD Director

Opening Date: April 24th, 2026

Closing Date: May 8th, 2026

SUMMARY: This position ensures a safe, healthy, and clean living environment for the Squaxin Island Reservation and nearby tribally owned properties. The Housing Compliance Officer works to achieve adherence to Housing policies and Tribal Code primarily through community education, tenant assistance, and voluntary compliance, while maintaining the authority to issue civil violations and attend and/or testify in court when necessary.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and similar duties as assigned:

• Compliance & Education Focus: Actively promote a compliance-first approach to housing policy and Tribal Code, working cooperatively with residents to resolve issues through education, technical assistance, and established timelines before issuing civil violations.
• Property Scope Management: Monitor and address compliance issues across different property types, understanding and applying the distinct regulatory differences between tribally owned rental properties (lease agreement enforcement) and conveyed homes (Tribal Code enforcement without standard lease conditions).
• Code & Policy Enforcement: Identify, investigate, and resolve violations of Tribal Code and Housing Policy. Primary areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
  • Animal control and welfare issues: Investigate complaints relating to noise (e.g., excessive barking) and loose or unmanaged containment of pets. Prioritize resolution over enforcement by focusing first on owner education and the reunification of loose pets when appropriate. Escalate to formal enforcement when necessary, especially when animal or human safety is at risk. Utilize capture and transport to an animal shelter as necessary.
  • Property conditions and sanitation (e.g., hazardous accumulation of trash, debris, or unlicensed/inoperable junk vehicles). Assist tenants in coordinating removal of junk vehicles.
  • Non-permitted building activities or unauthorized structural modifications.
• Community Notifications: Distribute official communications to residents, including delivering and posting housing notices and door hangers to tenants as required.
• Interagency Coordination: Collaborate regularly with Tribal Law Enforcement, Environmental Health, and other regional agencies safely address complex code, safety, and housing issues on the reservation and nearby tribally owned properties.
• Documentation & Court Proceedings: Maintain detailed accurate case files and photographic evidence for all investigations. Issue civil violations when voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, and attend and/or testify in court.
• Problem-Solving & Initiative:
  The successful candidate must demonstrate initiative in addressing recurring or systemic issues, including identifying gaps in enforcement systems and working with leadership to develop practical solutions such as interagency agreements, community education strategies, or operational improvements.
• After-Hours Response & Coordination:
  This position may receive and respond to calls outside of standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly in relation to urgent animal control or community safety concerns. The Housing Compliance Officer is expected to actively coordinate animal control efforts, including communication with Tribal Law Enforcement and other partners, while maintaining a reasonable balance with scheduled work hours.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interpersonal & Conflict Resolution Skills: Successful applicant must have demonstrated ability to cope with stressful situations firmly, tactfully and with respect to individual rights and dignity and establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, Tribal officials and members of the public. Must possess strong conflict resolution, de-escalation, and community-oriented problem-solving skills.
• Cultural Competency: Strong understanding of tribal sovereignty, community values, and the ability to navigate complex community dynamics with empathy and respect.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: * Bachelors’ Degree and one year of compliance or enforcement experience; OR

• Associates of Art degree with three years of compliance or enforcement experience; OR
• High School Diploma or GED and five years of compliance or enforcement experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, codes and ordinances, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence clearly and effectively. Ability to speak clearly and effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Must be able to learn and apply tribal law, codes and regulations and housing policies.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

REASONING ABILITY: Must be able to carry out instructions provided in writing, verbally, or through diagrams. Requires the ability to evaluate standard situations and logically solve everyday problems.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must have a Washington State Driver’s license, or able to acquire prior to hire date.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Mobility & Dexterity: Frequently required to reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Requires fine manual dexterity to handle or feel objects and controls. Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, climb, or balance.
• Lifting: Frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds (e.g., assisting with debris or animal transport).
• Sensory: Requires the ability to communicate effectively (talk and hear) and utilize specific vision abilities, including distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Environment: Frequently works outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Hazards: Occasionally exposed to extreme temperatures, wet/humid conditions, airborne particles/fumes, moving mechanical parts, and precarious heights.
• Noise Level: Moderate.

OTHER: The successful candidate will be required to successfully pass a background check.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE: The successful candidate will be required to have a urinalysis for drug and alcohol screening in accordance with the Tribe’s Drug Free Workplace Policy.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: Indian Preference will be exercised in the hiring of this position in accordance with the Tribe’s Personnel Policies.

CONTACT: Human Resources Department (360) 426-9781.