Senior Building Inspector

Job Opportunity in Sammamish

The City of Sammamish is a safe, family-friendly suburb in the Seattle area. The community boasts amenities found in a much larger community, all while maintaining its small-town charm. Sammamish has quality neighborhoods, vibrant natural resources, high-quality schools, retail offerings, and an abundance of recreational opportunities.

Looking for a role where your expertise truly matters? Step into a position that keeps our community safe, resilient, and thriving. As part of our local government team, you'll play a hands-on role in ensuring that homes, businesses, and public spaces are built and maintained to high standards. This position performs complex technical activities inspecting residential and non-residential structures during construction for structural and non-structural integrity compliance. Work involves performing complicated inspections, the development, maintenance, and operation of an inspection-tracking program, providing weekly and monthly summaries to designated/appropriate personnel, and performing a wide range of office and field activities to support administration of the division's work plan/operational plan.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work: Your work directly protects public safety and ensures that every structure built in our community meets the highest standards of quality and integrity.
• Professional Growth: Access to continuous learning opportunities and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, FSA, retirement plans, and generous paid time off (vacation and sick).
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a dedicated and supportive team passionate about public service.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and comp time option as a commitment to your well-being; 14 paid holidays plus a floating holiday.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts field inspections of construction projects to ensure compliance with the International Code Council (ICC) Building, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fire Codes, State Energy, Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality and Barrier Free Codes, as well as other state laws and City of Sammamish Ordinances and policies.
• Reads and interprets architectural drawings, site plans, topography, and structural drawings with actual construction to ensure compliance with applicable codes; recommends interpretations of adopted codes.
• Reviews architectural and structural plans for compliance with adopted technical codes, and evaluates proposal for new materials, conducts research regarding new products and materials for code compliance, and prepares corrections notices when appropriate.
• Assists with investigating field complaint circumstances to determine validity of complaints about inspectors or inspection results.
• Develops zoning procedures, setback enforcement, and shoreline regulations; assists with interpretations of codes and regulations in solving difficult problems.
• Assists architects, engineers, contractors, and the public in understanding the code requirements of the city.
• Supports division administration by preparing recommendations regarding building inspectors' staffing and equipment needs during the budget workshop cycle.
• Responds to and/or addresses construction compliance concerns and assists in developing policies and procedures.
• Maintains notes, files, and records documenting inspections and related work.
• Serves as liaison between Building Division management and building inspectors, with other city departments, agencies, and code enforcement officers; assists in developing solutions.
• Serves on the MBP Inspection Services Committee or MBP Training Committee; participates in developing statewide inspection checklists.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• May be required to attend evening and/or weekend meetings and events based on organizational responsibilities and/or requirements.

Supervision Exercised This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Associate degree in or trade school completion for structural engineering, construction technology, building inspection technology, or a closely related field; supplemented by four (4) years of experience as a Combination Building Inspector and journey-level experience in building construction and/or building or code compliance inspection; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience. Employees must be residents of Washington State. Certifications and Licenses Current International Code Council (ICC) certification as a Building, Plumbing, or Combination Inspector.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Washington State Driver License and the ability to drive a city-owned vehicle per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications Field experience in the building trades, and five (5) years as a Combination Building Inspector for a municipality; ICBO certification as a Plans Examiner.

Knowledge of Local, state, and federal codes, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to development, and responsibilities pertaining to building and life safety inspections.

Building and construction terminology and structural systems and components, and construction materials, strengths, sequencing, and mechanics, and the standards and regulations pertaining to such.

Sizing frame members for gravity loads and building performance dynamics in mitigating wind and seismic forces.

Skills and Abilities Skill in maintaining accurate and complete records and preparing reports and the ability to meet deadlines and legal timelines.

Skill in interpreting and explaining city, state, and federal codes, ordinances, specifications, policies, procedures, and standards to a variety of audiences (technical and non-technical parties).

Skill in remaining calm in stressful and/or confrontational situations and ability to diffuse potential conflicts and challenges.

Skill in clearly communicating and understanding information in English, both orally and in writing, and use professional composition, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Skill in maintaining a customer service orientation and positive image of the city to the public, courteous and professional approach to exchanging information, and adhere to strict confidentiality requirements.

Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and applicable department / organization specific software and to learn and become skilled in the use of other specialized software and online meeting platforms as may be required.

Ability to maintain responsive and flexible handling of work assignments and prioritize work to complete assignments accurately and timely.

Ability to regularly attend work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule, including when working remotely per an approved hybrid schedule.

Additional Information

Physical Requirements Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and extended periods of time standing and/or walking.

Environmental Requirements Tasks are regularly performed inside and/or outside with exposure to adverse environmental conditions (e.g., dirt, fumes, temperature, weather, and noise extremes).

Sensory Requirements Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from any background. The City will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set.

The City of Sammamish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, this organization provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Benefits

In addition to offering competitive salary, City of Sammamish is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our employees. When you join our team, you'll enjoy these benefits:

• Health and Wellness (*eligibility applies*) Your well-being is important to us. We provide affordable health insurance plans that include:
• Regence HealthFirst® 250 Medical Plan Free preventive vistis; $250 deductible for individuals/$750 for families; 10% coinsurance for primary and specialist care with in-network providers; $3,000 out-of-pocket limit for individuals/$6,000 for families; affordable prescription drug coverage starting at $5 copay for generic meds and insulin costs are capped at just $35 per month; OR
• Kaiser 200 Medical Plan: