Job Details

Chief of Real Property - Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Under the direction of the Deputy Assessor of Operations, the Chief of Real Property is a key member of the Assessor-Recorder's senior leadership team. The Chief oversees the day-to-day operations of the Real Property Section, ensuring that appraiser, analytical, and clerical staff fairly and accurately appraise and manage the property tax assessments that form the foundation of San Francisco's annual property tax revenue.

Each year, the Office prepares an assessment roll reflecting the taxable value of land, improvements, and personal property. This roll valued in the hundreds of billions has recently generated over $4 billion in property tax revenue, representing as much as one-third of the City's General Fund and supporting essential public services. The Chief ensures that assessments resulting from new construction and changes in ownership are properly enrolled and that appraisal practices remain consistent, equitable, and compliant with all legal standards. The Chief also ensures the city is expertly represented in assessment appeals hearings.

The Chief oversees multiple Real Property teams supported by deputies and supervising Principal Appraisers, reviews all appraisals of properties valued at $200 million and above, and may personally conduct the most complex real property appraisals. The Chief helps lead personnel decisions for the division, develops training plans, sets and enforces division standards, and establishes data driven work assignments and performance expectations that align with the department's goals and objectives. The Chief may also represent the Assessor-Recorder before the Assessment Appeals Board as well as in other forums.

The Chief contributes to the Office's strategic pillars - people, systems, services, and engagement - including cultivating a culture where management, supervisors and staff all have open communication, mutual respect and a shared purpose and goals so that there is no sense of misalignment between executive, managers and frontline staff. The Chief will also lead to help foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture; advance continuous improvement in systems and services; and support meaningful collaboration with other city departments including the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector and the Controller's Office. The Chief also plays a role in the Office's commitment to addressing systemic inequities and expanding access to information and services through community outreach, presentations, workshops, and resource events.

Essential duties include but are not limited to:

• Use performance data to plan, organize, and administer the activities of a subsection of the Real Property Division to achieve maximum operational efficiency, improve technical performance and reduce overall operating costs.
• Responsible for the quality and efficiency of the section's customer service functions including providing accurate information and related services to the general public either in person, over the phone, and by mail or email.
• Interact with and coordinate the activities of the Real Property Division and represent the department in working with the City Attorney's Office, the State Board of Equalization, Assessment Appeals Board, other divisions within the Assessor-Recorder Office, other City departments and the general public to resolve complex problems and issues involving real property tax and/or taxpayer complaints, often under stressful conditions.
• Responsible for the training, monitoring, evaluating, and coaching of subordinate employees engaged in the daily activities of the Real Property Division to meet all service expectations and commitments and improve performance.
• Interpret and enforce California laws, City ordinances, and regulations governing real property taxes and assessments and their applications as set forth by the California Revenue and Taxation Codes.
• Use real property assessment and appraisal systems, supervise and verify difficult and complex accounting, financial and operational records and documents pertaining to real property; ensure department's standards and procedures are followed by subordinate staff: work with colleagues to revise procedures as technology and policies change.
• Responsible for the implementation of Division strategic goals, objectives, performance measures, policies, procedures and guidelines, and input into their development.
• Responsible for the maintenance of taxpayer records and operational reports as mandated by State and local laws and ensure the proper use of the department's document management system.
• Participate in the Department's management team, developing and implementing the Department's strategic plans, goals, and objectives.
• Assist in the development, improvement and maintenance of the department's website to provide the general public, especially non-English speaking taxpayers, with reasonable and timely access to important and updated information pertaining to real property assessments.
• Analyze new and proposed legislative changes to property tax laws and related activities to determine operational impact and make appropriate recommendations.
• Work with other managers and staff to evaluate and implement goals, responsibilities, policies and procedures of the division and department.
• Coordinate with the Information Technology division in development and implementation and operation of new property tax software solutions.