Appraiser Trainee/I/II

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Merit Increases – New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards.  Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Educational Incentive – An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.  

• Bilingual Incentive – Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III). 
• Vacation Accrual – New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked. 
• Annual Leave Redemption – After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months. 
• Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods. 
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions. 
• Health Plans – Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.  
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

 

THE ASSESSOR:
California tax law directs the Assessor to discover, inventory and assess property for tax purposes and to keep a public record of this information. The primary mission of the Ventura County Assessor is the production of the local assessment roll that reflects the current status of ownerships, owners' addresses, and values of all locally assessed property.
 
The Assessor’s office is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion at all levels of our organization, recognizing that equity is a fundamental principle that applies to all polices, practices and systems. We celebrate community and employee diversity, striving for inclusion and belonging, and promoting empowered participation. We encourage a fair and inclusive environment enabling all to participate and reach their full potential, aspiring to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities that we serve.
  
THE POSITION:
Under immediate supervision (the Appraiser Trainee) or general supervision (the Appraiser I and II), the incumbent performs progressively complex assignments in the appraisal of real property for ad valorem taxes; and performs related duties as required.
  
At each successive level, incumbents are expected to demonstrate greater initiative, self-direction, independent judgment and conflict resolution with less supervision than preceding levels.
  
Appraiser Trainee: $30.30 - $40.96 per hour, is the entry-level class. Incumbents receive training and assist higher-level appraisers in performing routine field and office duties involved in the appraisal of real property.  This is a trainee/entry level classification, and Veterans’ Points may apply to eligible applicants. Presentation of discharge papers or a certified copy thereof for inspection by the Director-Human Resources prior to the final filing date of the announcement shall be required of all applicants seeking Veterans’ preference credit.
  
Appraiser I: $31.65 - $44.26 per hour, is the intermediate level class. Incumbents appraise residential subdivisions, tracts and areas with an active market and a fair degree of comparability among properties.
  
Appraiser II: $36.49 - $51.16 per hour, is the journey-level class. Incumbents independently perform appraisal work on a wide range of residential as well as non-residential real properties (i.e., commercial, industrial and rural) applying all three (3) approaches to valuation (cost, comparative sales and income).

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There are currently two (2) Regular Full Time vacancies within the Assessor's Office.
  
NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level(s) without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.
  
Promotion to the Appraiser I and II levels will be non-competitive subject to successful completion of the requirements specified in the Ventura County Assessor's Office "Career Ladder" Program.
  
Appraiser Trainee/I/II is represented by the Ventura Employees Association (VEA) and is eligible for overtime compensation.
  
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE:  June10, 2026
CLOSING DATE:   June 16, 2026

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Examines new and existing single-family homes, new residential tracts for types and quality of construction; 
• Classifies structures according to shape, size, types of construction and estimated costs, reads and interprets blueprints; 
• Obtains, verifies, and analyzes pertinent sales information, income and cost data to arrive at value conclusions; 
• Contacts realtors, builders, lending agencies, city planning offices and property owners to gather information pertaining to factors which affect market values; 
• Identifies and recognizes view factors and negative influences such as railroads, freeways, drainage channels, or adjacent commercial uses; 
• Determines depreciation factors and their effects on market value; 
• Performs other duties as required.

In addition to the above duties, the Level II may perform the following:

• Examines multi-family residential, commercial, industrial and rural properties for types of quality of construction; 
• Performs cost, market and income appraisals; 
• Determines cost trends, unit cost and market factors utilizing information on construction costs, sales, rents, leases, business income and expenses; 
• Completes appraisals on structures affected by calamities such as fires, floods, landslides, and earthquakes; 
• Explains assessments to taxpayers; if necessary, appears before the Assessment Appeals Board to defend assessments. 

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
  
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Progressively responsible experience in real property appraisal which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities also can be obtained by:

Completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  
AND
  
Appraiser Trainee: No experience required.
Appraiser I: One (1) year of experience performing duties comparable to that of an Appraiser Trainee.
Appraiser II: Three (3) years of experience as a real property appraiser. Two (2) years of which must be at a level comparable to that of an Appraiser I.
  
Substitution:
Professional experience within the last ten (10) years that demonstrates application of analytical methodologies or statistical techniques to real property appraisals may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four (4) years. Experience as an Assessor's Technician or equivalent class in Ventura County Assessor's Office may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.
 

Supplemental Information
Appraisers are required to conduct field appraisal work and may be exposed to hazardous conditions, inclement weather and uncooperative and/or hostile property owners. Incumbents are required to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, twist, reach and occasionally work on irregular surfaces.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driver's License: A valid California driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. 
• Certification: Appointees must attain State certification as an Appraiser for property tax purposes within one (1) year of appointment. Failure to pass the State Board of Equalization Certification Examination within one (1) year may result in termination. 
• Conflict of Interest Statement: In accordance with the Political Reform Act of 1974, incumbents at all levels will be required to file an annual Conflict of Interest Statement.

If you are using education to qualify, verification of completion of college coursework and/or a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. 

• Submit your college diploma or transcripts/grade reports from an accredited college or university which shows your name, the conferred date of your degree and the major area of study; submit within three (3) business days of the closing date of this recruitment.    
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. 
• Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency. 
• If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Some to thorough knowledge (depending on level in series) of: state and local laws relating to property valuations; appraisal methods and techniques; the effect of economic trends on building construction, practices, materials and the other factors involved in the valuation of land, financial records and accounting practices relating to depreciation and income capitalization, current social, political, economic, and scientific developments and trends; policies and procedures of the Assessor's Office.

Some to thorough ability (depending on level in series) to: make appraisals; assemble and analyze appraisal data; analyze factors influencing the changing valuation of real property; make arithmetical calculations, charts, and sketches in connection with appraisal work; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with persons contacted in the course of work; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; prepare written correspondence and reports; print and write legibly and communicate effectively; read maps and make aerial map analyses; work independently or with minimum supervision. Operate a personal computer in an online processing environment; and utilize Microsoft Office software application programs.

FINAL FILING DATE:  Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
  
To apply online, please refer to our website at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
  
Note to Applicant: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your applications and supplemental questionnaire; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
  
NOTE TO LATERAL TRANSFER CANDIDATES: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.  If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.
  

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying
All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.
  

APPLICATION SCREENING – qualifying
All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the recruitment process. 

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%
An un-proctored, online, and internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to Mathematics; Directional Relationships; Collation, Tabulation and Data Analysis; Reading Comprehension; Public Relations; Calculations, Directions, Progression; and English Usage. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
  
ELIGIBLE LIST

Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months.

 
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.
 
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
 
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Yvonne Martinez by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (805) 654-3051.