Assistant Assessor
Position Title: Assistant Assessor
Department: Finance/Assessing
Reports to: Director of Assessing
Grade Level: Grade 9 Personnel Policies, Management Provision
FLSA Status: Exempt- Full-Time, Benefit eligible
Salary Range: Begins at $33.04 to $44.60 (dependent upon qualifications)
Statement of Duties: The Assistant Assessor is responsible for the property inspection and office work necessary to document “New Growth” and to maintain the accuracy of the Town’s real property database. The position is also required to work closely with the Director of Assessing in analyzing sales in the Vision CAMA system to establish if any value changes are needed for the upcoming fiscal year. This includes verifying ASR ratios by numerous different characteristics. This position also supports the Town’s abatement process and cyclical property inspections.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations 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.
- Inspects all residential and commercial real property undergoing physical changes (e.g., new construction, additions, alterations, fire, demolition) and performs required cyclical inspections per DOR guidelines.
- Devotes a substantial amount of time in the community, performing the physical tasks related to the inspection, measurement and photography of land and structures.
- Based on completed inspections, draws building sketches, examines building plans & records data on property record cards and completes computer data entry.
- Under the direction of the Director of Assessing, the Assistant Assessor applies complex appraisal techniques that are applicable and necessary for the accurate and defensible determination of property values. Ensures compliance with state laws, regulations and best practices in assessing.
- Assists in the preparation of support documentation to defend values at the Appellate Tax Board and provides testimony as required.
- Reviews all building and land values for recertification each fiscal year.
- Provides support to office staff in the areas of motor vehicle and boat excise, tax exemptions, personal property, form of list, income and expense statements, abutter lists, all required DOR reporting, and senior tax work-off processing.
- Works with the Director of Assessing in analyzing specific neighborhoods, home styles, land uses, sale price quartiles, grades, depreciation and other factors (i.e.: cost per sq ft).
- Performs all inspections based on the Town of Duxbury Data Collection Manual.
- Attend Board of Assessor meetings, as needed.
- Maintains designation as Massachusetts Accredited Assessor.
- Performs similar or related work as required, directed or as situation dictates.
Supervision Required: Under general direction of the Director of Assessing, the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independence in planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the work methods. The employee is expected to solve, through experienced judgment, most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out and carries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail but may be on occasion.
Supervisory Responsibility: Upon the extended absence of the Director of Assessing, the Assistant Assessor is to assume all duties associated with the Director’s position both in terms of managing the administrative/clerical staff and the work schedule of the Director. These responsibilities also pertain to work-related absences from the office by the Director.
Confidentiality: Employee has regular access to confidential information of the department. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and the Public Records Act.
Accountability: Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse public relations, monetary loss, legal repercussions, labor/material costs and personal injury. The production of the annual tax rate in a timely manner means that the tax bills go out on time and would not necessitate additional expenditures for borrowing.
Judgment: The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations, or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices, and precedents, which may be complex or conflicting, at times. Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. Employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making. Requires understanding, interpreting and applying complex federal, state and local regulations along with adherence to USPAP.
Complexity: The work consists of the practical application of a variety of assessing concepts, practices and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact-finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work. Selects and applies appraisal techniques to ensure that appraisal data is accurate and defensible.
Work Environment: The work environment involves everyday discomfort typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements when conducting field inspections. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, i.e.: Board of Assessors and/or to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner. Employee operates an automobile, laser measuring device, camera and computer and standard office equipment.
Nature and Purpose of Public Contact: Employee regularly interacts with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from other organizations, representatives of professional organizations, and the news media. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of the department to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. May be required to discuss controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation.
Occupational Risk: Duties generally do not present occupational risk to the employee. Personal injury could occur through employee failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures when conducting field inspections. Examples of injury include bruises from falls, cuts or burns, or muscular strains from lifting or carrying equipment or materials.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience: Graduate of a two-year college with an associate’s degree with three to five (3-5) years related work experience in the field of assessing/appraising and municipal law; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Special Requirements: Massachusetts Accredited Assessor Designation (MAA) preferred or attained within two years of employment. Valid Class D Motor Vehicle Driver’s License.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge of real property appraisal methods and procedures and Mass General Laws relating to municipal finance and property assessment for tax purposes; knowledge Vision CAMA Software preferred as well as knowledge of Nearmap Aerial Technology and CAI GIS. Familiarity with researching and reviewing legal documents relating to property transfer; knowledge of various building types and quality of construction; familiar with the local real estate markets, its history and current trends.
Abilities: Ability to make changes to the Town’s property inventory database; ability to inspect, measure and list all types of real property; ability to interact effectively and appropriately with the public and other personnel with diplomacy and tact, perform multiple tasks and maintain confidential information. Ability to provide expert testimony before the State Appellate Tax Board.
Skills Required: Excellent communication and organizational skills are required.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Demands: Moderate physical demands are required to perform the essential functions of the position. Ability to maneuver stairs and uneven terrain for field inspections during all types of weather conditions. May spend several hours walking or standing. Office work principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper.
Motor Skills: Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle, using a personal computer, or climbing a ladder to inspect properties.
Visual Demands: Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, routinely reviewing non-written materials such as instrumentation for analytical purposes and with a need for color vision.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change)
Posting begins on July 15, 2025 and will remain open until filled.