Appraiser Aide

Job Description:

Appraiser Aide

Description

Position Information

Do you have a passion for real estate appraisal and a commitment to public service?
If so, join the County of Sonoma as an Appraiser Aide-apply today!


Starting salary up to $38.21/hour ($79,748/year) and a competitive compensation package*

The Assessor’s Division of the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters office is responsible for determining the assessed value of each parcel of land within Sonoma County. As an Appraiser Aide, you will support the Division by performing technical work related to appraisals, both in the office and in the field. Additional responsibilities will include:

• Reading and interpreting building plans and Assessor building records
• Identifying key parts of building plans for the appraisers and sketching the building footprint using sketching software
• Assessing factors such as zoning regulations, building ordinances, and location; and how these influence market value
• Working with property owners to gather data related to defining real property for new and existing property appraisal records
• Analyzing data related to properties' sale, building, cost, lease, rent, business income, and related expenses
• Assisting with the appeals, business property, and manufactured home desks
• Explaining revenue and taxation codes to the public

The ideal candidate will bring knowledge of building permitting, cost estimating, and property records, and will possess many of the following:

• Experience reading blueprints and converting them to draw/sketch format
• Completed coursework in bookkeeping, building, real estate, and/or planning/zoning
• Excellent customer service skills
• Experience preparing a variety of correspondences and reports
• The ability to interpret and analyze data and summarize it in a format that is easy to understand
• Proficiency in appraisal design and drafting software such as Apex, AutoCAD, and/or DaVinci is highly desirable, but not required.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief- County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill an Appraiser Aide position for the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's Office. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of education and experience which would clearly demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate and two years of relevant experience.

(Relevant experience is defined to mean employment experience within the last ten years in accounting, appraising, building cost estimating, or engineering, or, for real estate licensee licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, engaged in buying, selling, leasing, or managing real estate, or, successful completion of an Appraiser's Aide or Trainee program in a California Assessor's Office, or an employee, other than an appraiser or an appraiser aide, of an assessor's office or of the property tax department of the State Board of Equalization.)

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
The position advertised on this announcement does require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Note: In order to apply for an Appraiser I position, applicants must meet requirements for permanent certification issued by State Board of Equalization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: English grammar sufficient to write letters, update reports, interview property owners, and explain regulations in a clear and concise manner; mathematics sufficient to compute costs and measure changes to property.

Some familiarity with: appraisal principles and practices related to real property sufficient to evaluate changes to real property; develop unit value factors; assess the effects of building ordinances, zoning regulations and location on market value.

Ability to: read and adequately apply property taxation codes, department policy and procedure; interpret and transcribe real property characteristics; assemble and analyze data and reach logical conclusions; establish and maintain tact, courteous and cooperative working relationships with Appraisers, supervisors, staff, and the general public; follow written and oral instructions and effectively utilize supervision; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; make mathematical calculations, interpret charts and tables.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
How To Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: KK

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 9/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$65,619.05 - $79,748.86 Annually