Plans Review Specialist 3

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga , a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College , our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​ The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $23.19- $28.02 per hour (GS.8)

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt position.

Department: Public Works

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for serving as a lead to lower-level plans review staff and reviewing complex commercial plans and residential permits to ensure compliance with relevant Codes and regulations. Duties include addressing more complex issues and coordinating the review process to include site visits. Work requires limited supervision and the use of independent judgment and discretion.

SERIES LEVEL: The Plans Review Specialist 3 is the third level of a three-level plans review series.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: ( The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties. )

Serves as a lead to lower-level plans review staff to include assigning and monitoring work, training staff on work methods and procedures, and providing direction; supervises and performs review of blueprints, construction drawings, and site plans for new buildings and remodeling projects for conformance with applicable Codes, established specifications, and approved construction plans.

Interprets and enforces the provisions of applicable federal, state, and local Codes, laws, rules, regulations, specifications, standards, policies, and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.

Educates and/or provides guidance for the City’s On-line Permitting & Licensing system. Consults with assigned staff to review work requirements, status, and problems; assists with complex, unusual, or problem situations; provides direction, advice, and technical expertise.

Provides information and technical assistance concerning Code requirements; discusses problem areas with architects, design engineers, contractors, and developers; recommends solutions to problems; responds to questions or complaints concerning Code violations.

Conduct site visits as needed to obtain information on projects to ensure compliance with the Code. Observe the surrounding areas of Variance Application sites.

Approves building permits for commercial and residential projects. Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, plans, review reports, annual reports, or other documents.

Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, appeals board reports, variance board reports,

city council reports, fire district maps, historic certificates, architectural drawings, construction plans, zoning maps, tax maps, manuals, Code books, ordinances, standards, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards, or retains as appropriate.

Reviews residential and commercial plans, ranging from routine to complex, for compliance with applicable zoning, health, and life safety Codes prior to issuing permits.

Prepares plans for storage and maintains logs of review and approval records. Meets with architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and the general public to discuss Code compliance issues.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate degree with coursework emphasis in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and/or Building Construction supplemented by four (4) years' experience involving building construction, architecture, civil engineering, and/or Code enforcement. supplemental experience involving building construction, architecture, civil engineering, and/or zoning/building code enforcement, to include interpretation of blueprints and building codes; or any combination of equivalent experience and education preapproved by the Director of the Land Development Office, Assistant Director of the Land Development Office, or the Chief Building Official.

Experience should include interpretation of blueprints, building codes, and plan/permit review, or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

Valid Driver's License

Building Inspector Certification (B2) or TDEC EPSC Level 1 Certification

CPMSM, TDEC SCM Inspection and Maintenance, or TDEC Level 2

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge of basic civil engineering principles; GIS database systems; applicable terminology; customer service principles; general construction practices; and applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, processes, and procedures. Skill in using a computer and related software applications; providing customer service; interpreting and applying applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, processes and procedures; creating and editing layers in the GIS

databases; reviewing engineering plans for compliance with applicable codes; conducting research; communicating technical information to a non-technical audience and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction. Skills in records maintenance principles, customer service principles, and skills in prioritizing and assigning work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Positions in this class typically require fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises, and travel.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Safety Sensitive: NO Child Sensitive: NO Dept of Transportation (CDL): NO

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KNV 3/13/2026

KJF