Real Estate Assessment Director

Responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and continuous improvement of the City's real estate assessment program, ensuring equitable, accurate, and legally compliant property valuations that support the City's financial sustainability. Provides executive leadership for assessment operations, tax base analysis, market forecasting, technology initiatives, customer service, and organizational performance while serving as the City's chief assessment official. Work involves responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing a program of real estate assessments for the City according to state laws and ordinances. Supervision is exercised directly over the professional, technical, and clerical staff. Work is performed with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent technical judgment and action under the general direction of the Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer. Work is reviewed through conferences and reports of the effectiveness of the program and results achieved. Plans, organizes, evaluates, and directs the activities of the Real Estate Assessment Division of the Department of Finance; ensures compliance with state assessment laws and conducts required reporting to the Virginia Department of Taxation. Directly appraises and values all types of real property, utilizing the three approaches to valuation, in the City of Fairfax; defends those valuations at the Administrative Review level, at Board of Equalization hearings and in Circuit Court. Oversees and guides staff appraisers who directly appraise and value all residential and special use properties; reviews and approves all valuations conducted by staff appraisers. Forecasts and reports real estate current and future market activity in support of city management and City Council during quarterly updates and annual budget preparation. Forecasts and reports on current and future new construction activity in support of city management and City Council during quarterly updates and annual budget preparation. Provides strategic analysis of real estate market trends and their impact on City revenues. Develops long-range valuation forecasts supporting multi-year planning and collaborates with Finance, Budget, Economic Development, Community Development and other City departments regarding development activity and revenue forecasting. Evaluates impacts of major development projects on future tax revenues. Prepares annual budget requirements for office operations. Prepares, reviews, and certifies the Land Books of all real property, taxable, non-taxable, and supplemental, after budget adoption and at the end of each year. Leads the administration and strategic enhancement of the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system; ensures the accuracy of all inputs and outputs; monitors and maintains web interface ensuring accuracy and user-friendly functionality. Promotes the use of GIS, data analytics, and business intelligence tools and ensures data integrity and cybersecurity practices for assessment information. Develops, documents, and implements standard operating procedures and internal controls that promote consistency, compliance, and operational excellence. Identifies opportunities to improve customer service and operational efficiency. Serves as the City's primary resource for complex assessment inquiries and resolves sensitive taxpayer concerns. Directs the development of new or revised office procedures. Determines the necessity for reappraisals. Attends meetings of the Board of Real Estate Equalization, the City Council, and others as required to assist in the hearing of taxpayer complaints. Prepares staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, and briefing materials and represents the City before governmental agencies and professional organizations. Testifies in appeals to the Circuit Court. Serves on the Property Tax Exemption Committee; acts as city liaison relative to real property tax exemption applications; composes staff reports and ordinances for introduction and public hearing before City Council. Serves on various committees and sub-committees such as the Budget Committee, Development Coordination Committee, and the Development Review Team. Provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development opportunities for division staff. Meets with appraisal staff to clarify and solve personnel problems. Performs related work as assigned. The duties listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Requires a bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field. Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in real estate assessment, including supervisory and management experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of real property appraisal and valuation. Thorough knowledge of state and local laws pertinent to real estate appraisal and assessment. Considerable knowledge of office management, budget preparation, and of the principles and practices of personnel supervision and performance evaluation. Ability to analyze and evaluate factors which influence real estate values and exercise sound judgment in determining property values. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, other city officials and employees, real estate agents and brokers, community groups, and the public. Skill in maintaining professionalism and composure while interacting with individuals under stressful or challenging circumstances. Skill in problem-solving with respect to determining accurate and equitable valuations of different types and categories of real property.

Additional Desirable Qualification :

Master's degree from an accredited college or university.

Professional designations such as:

Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) or Member, Appraisal Institute (MAI), Virginia Certified General Appraiser, and/or International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) coursework and certifications are desirable.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Licensure as a Virginia Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE), or an equivalent combination of professional appraisal certifications and assessment designations.

Hours:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Evening meetings as required.