Allegheny County, PA(pop. 1,238,090). Located near the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County is home to the historic city of Pittsburgh and highly ranked educational institutions including University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
The county offers visitors and locals alike plenty to do year-round. There are a large number of attractions including the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, the Carnegie Science Center, and the Andy Warhol Museum. Allegheny County also has many parks and recreation areas, including the Allegheny County Park System, which is one of the largest county park systems in the United States. The county is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.
With a 2023 total budget of $5.6M for assessment management, the Assessment Office of Property Assessment delivers uniform base year assessments for real property and maintains accurate property description records on the 576,000 parcels in Allegheny County.
About the Position
The Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Assessment (OPA) works under the supervision of the Division Manager and Department Director, and is responsible for supervising all assessments and valuations of all real property for ad valorem tax purposes. The incumbent makes determinations of tax-exempt status of any parcel of real property in accordance with law, ordinance, industry standards, and is also responsible for assisting in the development of assessment procedures within the OPA. This position is responsible for the annual revision and equalization of all assessments and valuations and for performing all of the duties and responsibilities required of a chief assessment officer under applicable Pennsylvania law and ordinances/regulations of Allegheny County pertaining to property assessments.
Key responsibilities for the position include:
Oversees all assessments and makes the final determination of the value of all subjects of taxation in accordance with law, ordinance, and industry standards
Ensures the revision and equalization of all assessments and valuations are done in accordance with law, ordinance, and industry standards at the lowest cost per parcel
Provides information as requested by the Division Manager, Department Director, and/or Administration
Deliver to the Administration on behalf of the Office of Property Assessment a request for certification of values for properties in the County in the form and within the time period set forth in the County's Assessment Standards and Practices Ordinance
Recommends to the division, department, and Administration elements of assessment standards, practices, and ordinances as the Chief Assessment Officer deems appropriate
Promulgates guidelines for use by county assessors in applying the cost approach, sales approach, and income approach to property valuation as part of the county's computer assisted mass appraisal system
Provides advice and assistance in public relations efforts
Assists in establishing policies and procedures for the Office of Property Assessment
Reports on administrative matters to the County Manager through the Manager of the Office of Property Assessment and performs other administrative duties as assigned by the County Manager
Performs and/or participates in special projects and other duties as requested or assigned by the Director or Division Manager
Provides sales information to the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) to be used by STEB for the calculation of the common level ratio
Minimum Requirements
Must be an International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) OR hold the highest-ranking Commonwealth of PA General Appraiser's license.
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the management of property valuation is required.
Must have a firm command of assessment and taxation practices. A valid Certified Pennsylvania Evaluators license is preferred.
Applicants must possess and maintain a valid PA Driver’s License throughout employment. Residency within Allegheny County is required within one year of hire for the Chief Assessment Officer.
Pre-employment Covid-19 Vaccination and Background Check Requirements: It is the policy of Allegheny County that in order to receive a final offer of employment, candidates for positions within the executive branch must provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccination. The prospective employee will need to be fully vaccinated or have at least one shot of a two-shot series before beginning work. Any employee who does not receive and provide proof of the second shot within 30 days will have their probationary employment terminated. Allegheny County will allow for medical and religious exemptions from the requirements in accordance with state and federal law.
Additionally, it is the policy of Allegheny County that in order to receive a final offer of employment, candidates must successfully pass a background check, which includes verification of Allegheny County Real Estate Tax status, and drug/medical examinations as required for the position. The pre-employment drug screen must be completed within 48 hours of the acceptance of the conditional offer of employment.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range is up to $140,000 DOQ. Allegheny County also offers a generous employee benefit package which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, and voluntary benefits. Employees are vested and eligible to participate in the Allegheny County Employees’ Retirement System (ACERS) after 10 years of creditable service. The county has 11 paid holidays in addition to 10 vacation and 10 sick days per year for new employees, (number of days are pro-rated within the first year based on hire date).
Selection Process
Apply online immediately at www.GovHRjobs.com with a resume, cover letter and contact information for five professional references. Position is open until filled. First review of resumes in late February. Confidential inquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Heidi Voorhees, President, GovHR USA at 847-380-3240 ext. 101 or Alan Rosen, Vice President, GovHR USA at 954-644-9999 or ARosen@GovHRusa.com.
Allegheny County is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/V/D
GovHRUSA is a certified woman-owned business that provides comprehensive executive recruitment, interim staffing, human resources consulting and organizational analysis consulting services for local governments, intergovernmental organizations, school districts as well as other governmental and non-profit entities. GovHRUSA consultants have worked in all areas of local government leadership including city/county management, human resources, public safety, finance, public works, parks and recreation, and utilities. This combined hands-on knowledge and experience have made GovHRUSA a proven leader in public sector consulting.
