Senior Plans Examiner

About the role

To perform advanced journey-level professional plans examining work involved in enforcing compliance with commercial and residential building codes, regulations, and ordinances; to conduct special inspections; and to provide technical assistance to the Building Official.

Responsibilities

• Exercises technical and functional supervision over professional, technical, and administrative support staff.
• Supervise and provide counter support to the public; issue building permits and accept applications for permits; confer with architects, contractors, builders, and the general public in the office; explain and interpret requirements and restrictions.
• Review all building plans and consult with builders, developers, owners, professional designers, and the general public regarding compliance with building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, and zoning codes, State laws, and City ordinances; make decisions regarding interpretation of code items and technical problems; approve methods of construction and material.
• Plan, direct, and review the work of staff responsible for providing commercial plan review services; verify work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable codes, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Review plans, specifications, and calculations for commercial projects, including fences, siding, roofing, and non-structural remodeling, to determine compliance with the provisions of building codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Cover defects or inadequacies; require that corrections be made to meet the requirements of pertinent City codes.
• Analyze structural engineering aspects of designs and calculations.
• Evaluate test reports, including engineering reports and soil analysis reports.
• Answer questions and advise the public concerning codes and plan check reports; advise building inspectors of design, construction, or installation problems.
• Coordinate, classify, and log new projects for plan checks; create plan check files; enter initial site data and permit data on the computer; revise data as project status and details change.
• Compute the area of buildings and determine valuation and permit fees.
• Maintain files and reports regarding plan check activities and findings.
• Inspect residential and commercial buildings during various stages of construction and remodeling to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations as required.

Requirements

• Minimum of six years of journey level building construction, plan checking, or building inspection experience.
• Specialized course work in engineering or construction technology.
• International Code Council (ICC) certification as a Plans Examiner.
• Ability to obtain Building Inspector certification within one year from the date of appointment.
• Valid driver's license and insurability at regular rates for the City’s automobile insurance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of building-related codes and ordinances enforced by the City, including commercial and residential Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Codes.
• Principles and techniques used in plans examining work.
• Principles of structural design and engineering mathematics.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Major types of building construction materials and methods.
• Principles and procedures of recordkeeping and reporting.
• Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction for commercial and residential buildings.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Safe driving principles and practices.

Skills

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Read and interpret building plans, engineering specifications, site surveys, and building codes.
• Determine if construction systems conform to City Code requirements.
• Apply technical knowledge and follow proper inspection techniques to examine workmanship and materials and detect deviations from plans, regulations, and standard construction practices.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Make mathematical and engineering computations rapidly and accurately.
• Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Benefits

• Holidays: The City observes fifteen (15) holidays per year.
• Vacation: Accrual of eight (8) hours of vacation per month of service for years one (1) through five (5) of employment (maximum of 300 hours accrual).
• Paid Leave: Eight (8) hours of sick leave per month of service (maximum of 340 hours accrual).
• Bereavement: Up to 5 days of bereavement leave.
• Jury Duty Leave.
• Retirement: Retirement benefits shall be provided at 2% @ 60 PERS retirement formula for existing PERS members or 2% @ 62 for new hires entering the CalPERS system for the first time (pursuant to the City’s contract with PERS and as required by law).
• The employee is responsible for the full member contribution.
• Health Benefits: The City shall pay the median amount of all medical insurance offered for medical insurance premiums (currently $2,408.95 per month) employee and dependents.
• Dental/Vision: The City’s dental plan pays up to two hundred ($200.00) dollars per month of the premium for either the Dental HMO or PPO. The City also provides vision-care reimbursement up to eight hundred fifty ($850.00) dollars.
• Life Insurance: The City provides a life-insurance policy of $50,000 to each full-time employee.
• Flexible Spending Account: The City provides a pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for medical expenses and a pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for dependent care expenses.
• Education Incentive: An employee who holds a verified Master’s degree from an Accredited University will be eligible to receive a seven (7%) percent incentive pay to their annual salary. Also, an employee who holds a Doctorate degree from an Accredited University will be eligible to receive a two (2%) percent educational incentive pay increase to their base salary hourly rate. The maximum cumulative educational incentive pay for Master's and Doctorate degrees shall not exceed nine (9%) percent.
• Bilingual Compensation: Bilingual compensation is available for oral and written translation for those employees whose duties include enforcement, public counter or reception responsibilities, as needed and on a case by case basis. Premium pay varies from ($125.00 — $150.00) per month.
• Specific courses, degree and certificate programs require pre-authorization by the City Manager’s Office.

Pay

Salary range: $60,000 - $80,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-time position, 40 hours per week.