Licensing Compliance Officer

Full Job Description

This position is in the office and not remote. Travel to various work sites, businesses, and meeting locations is also expected.

Requirements

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

As the Licensing Compliance Officer, you will take on dynamic and impactful work in the field of contract and business licensing compliance, where your work truly makes a difference for businesses and the community.

You will ensure organizations meet Department of Licensing (DOL) and Pierce County standards through thoughtful oversight and auditing.

You will have the opportunity to lead with expertise by providing clear training, technical support, and practical guidance that empowers businesses to succeed.

When challenges arise, we will collaborate to recommend corrective actions that are fair and effective.

This position is not just about compliance; it is about building trust, fostering transparency, and creating a culture of integrity.

Why It's a Great Department:

The mission of the Pierce County Auditor’s Office is to provide the tools and resources people need so they can turn around and impact their community.

We conduct secure and trustworthy elections, we maintain the integrity and accessibility of public records, and we provide reliable licensing and passport services.­­­ We also provide administrative direction and support for the Pierce County Opioid Abatement Council.

We are a team that promotes trust through positivity, change, innovation, and kindness.

Recording. The Recording Division receives, indexes, and records public documents such as deeds, maps, mortgage materials, easements, powers of attorney, liens, and military discharge papers.

We process anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 public documents each year, depending on market conditions. We collect excise tax payments on the sale of real property.

Licensing. The Licensing Division provides auto and boat title services such as tab renewals, trip permits, license plate replacement, and more. Want to get married in Pierce County? That’s us.

Need a pet license in unincorporated Pierce County? That’s us, too. We manage licensing for certain businesses in unincorporated Pierce County, and we staff a full-time, full-service passport office.

Learn more about the Auditor’s Office here.

How to be Successful in the Role:

We are looking for someone who is accurate, detail-oriented, eager to learn, able to multitask, and has excellent communication skills.

Someone who knows when to follow procedures and when to ask questions when things just don’t look right.

As someone who loves to research, meets or exceeds timelines, and understands the importance of reliability, you will most certainly be successful. Following procedures are key to their success.

You will work with staff when errors are made and coach for improved performance.

Use of independent judgment and effective decision-making in the application of a wide variety of laws, policies and procedures and in effective problem-solving is essential.

Your Future in this Role:

In this role, you will play a vital part in ensuring compliance and maintaining the highest standards of accuracy across Pierce County’s vehicle licensing operations.

As the third member of a dedicated team, you’ll collaborate closely with colleagues to oversee daily transactions from our office and 10 privately owned businesses, collectively serving residents through over one million vehicle transactions annually.

Your responsibilities will include monitoring processes across all locations, conducting audits, and supporting staff to deliver consistent, accurate service in alignment with state and local laws.

This position offers an opportunity to lead with integrity, strengthen community trust, and contribute to operational excellence.

Additionally, Pierce County is committed to your growth, providing access to robust online learning and professional development programs to help you thrive and advance in your career.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Understand, interpret and apply County Code, Revised Code of Washington (RCWs) and Washington Administrative Code (WACs) as applicable to assigned area of responsibility.
• Develop and maintain a DOL Sub Agent Review training program; conduct staff and sub agency training sessions.
• Develop policies and procedures related to the implementation of a Business Licensing Compliance Program.
• Identify potential subagent conflicts of interest, areas of subagent non-compliance, issue remedies to subagents, recommend and enforce corrective action including reprimands for non-compliance up to and including termination of subagent.
• Maintain audit files, records, data, reports, including procurement, corrective action, and statistical information.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

• An equivalent combination of education and experience which includes 2 years in a supervisory or lead position may substitute for the recruiting requirements
• Four years or more of progressively responsible experience in the area of contract/licensing compliance
• Two years in a supervisory or lead position
• Extensive knowledge of Department of Licensing vehicle licensing policies and procedures
• Please attach a current resume and cover letter with your application. Failure to include these will result in an incomplete application

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous customer service experience

Special Requirements and/or Qualifications

• Current Vehicle License Representative (VLR) designation is required (1000 hours of training on the Department of Licensing’s DRIVES system is required to become a VLR)
• Must have a current and valid Driver’s license when appointed to position

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Additional Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration.

Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date.

Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step.

We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career.

We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.

Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?