Public Works Inspector III, Construction

About the Agency

The mission of Public Works is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Alameda County by providing a safe, well-maintained, and lasting public works infrastructure through accessible, responsive, and effective services. Public services include flood control planning and design, storm water pollution control, transportation planning and design, roadway and flood control maintenance and inspection, and construction and building inspections.

The goals of the Agency are to keep roads safe and well maintained, provide the highest level of flood protection, optimize infrastructure life cycles, minimize deferred maintenance, ensure compliance with applicable State and County rules, optimize disaster preparedness and recovery, minimize environmental impacts, and sustain programs through a vital business and administrative support system.

For more information, visit www.acgov.org/pwa.

About the Role

This series describes three levels of Public Works Inspector, Construction. Incumbents receive close supervision at the lower level and work under general direction at the upper levels. The role involves field inspection of construction projects, improvements, and repairs to flood control facilities, roads, highways, sidewalks, and water supply systems. Inspectors oversee contractors, enforce compliance with plans and specifications, supervise hazardous material removal, and sign off on completed clean-up work.

The Public Works Inspector, Construction is distinguished from the Facilities Inspector by focusing on new construction and contractor oversight, including hazardous material response with a required Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) First Responder Awareness or Operations Certificate.

Public Works Inspector III, Construction is the advanced journey-level role, responsible for full oversight of assigned projects, training and supervising less experienced inspectors, and handling complex or detail-intensive projects.

Responsibilities

• Inspect construction of capital projects, improvements, and repairs to flood control facilities, roads, highways, sidewalks, and water supply systems.
• Oversee and enforce compliance of outside contractors with project plans and specifications.
• Supervise removal of hazardous materials and sign off on completed clean-up work.
• Maintain accurate records, measure and calculate quantities for progress payments.
• Interpret plans, specifications, codes, ordinances, and special requirements.
• Make cost estimates for change orders and identify problem areas.
• Train and provide field supervision to personnel on special projects.
• Respond to hazardous material spills (requires HAZWOPER certification).

Requirements

To qualify, you must meet one of the following patterns:

• Pattern I: Two years of full-time experience as a Public Works Inspector II, Construction or equivalent/higher-level class in Alameda County classified service.
• Pattern II: Five years of full-time journey-level construction inspection experience.
• Pattern III: Four years of full-time journey-level construction inspection experience, one year of surveying and/or materials testing, and completion of a plane surveying course or equivalent experience. (A Certificate of Achievement in Public Works Inspection from an accredited college may substitute for one year of experience.)

Special Certificate: Within six months of employment, inspectors must obtain HAZWOPER First Responder Operations (FRO) level certification or equivalent training to meet hazardous materials response requirements.

License: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of:

• Construction practices (carpentry, cement masonry, ironwork, plumbing, pipe laying, pile driving, earthwork, paving equipment, landscaping, and safety).
• Engineering practices and OSHA regulations.
• Materials testing procedures, including hazardous response and erosion control specifications.
• Basic design criteria and public works construction contracts.
• Surveying and labor compliance.
• Basic computer and software applications related to the work.

Ability to:

• Keep accurate records and prepare progress payments.
• Interpret plans and specifications.
• Work independently and communicate effectively (orally and in writing).
• Adapt to changing priorities and make accurate cost estimates for change orders.
• Identify problem areas and enforce codes, ordinances, and special requirements.
• Apply basic drafting techniques.
• Train and supervise personnel on special projects.