Building Inspector

Building Inspector

This position is responsible for conducting field inspections during construction through completion to assure compliance with Federal, State, and local codes, ordinances, and safety standards. The Building Inspector will be required to coordinate with City departments, developers, builders, architects, and property owners to resolve compliance problems and assure that concerns are addressed and resolved in a timely manner. The Building Inspector must maintain a high level of personal integrity.

Essential Job Duties

Conducts field inspections of structures during construction or modification to ensure compliance with approved plans, and building, plumbing, and mechanical codes, safety standards, municipal codes, and all other applicable codes or standards. Effectively communicates with contractors to rectify problems and seek compliance with codes and standards.

Conducts field inspections of utility connections during construction or modification to ensure compliance with approved plans, City guidelines and development standards, municipal codes, and all other applicable codes or standards. Effectively communicates with contractors to rectify problems and seek compliance with codes and standards.

Responds to inquiries, complaints, or requests for assistance relative to construction projects by the general public in writing, by telephone, or in person, and be responsible for satisfactory resolution while representing the City; refers items of a sensitive or complex nature to supervisor. Refers non-code compliance questions to the proper department.

Recommends revisions, where discrepancies with codes and regulations are noted, in order to ensure compliance with codes and ordinances. Confers with supervisor regarding disputed or exceptionally difficult cases to determine compliance with codes and ordinances, and for prosecution of violations; issues stop work orders and/or correction notices as directed.

Maintains accurate and complete records of inspections, investigations, and other work performed; prepares reports for written or oral presentations; prepares reports regarding code violations for legal action.

Accepts and reviews permit applications.

Conducts simple construction plan review under the guidance of the Building Official.

Calculates permit fees and issues permits.

Maintains permit tracking system, logs, and related files and data; prepares various periodic reports of permit activity.

Participates in a project team consisting of various City departments to resolve nuisance and building code violations as determined appropriate by supervisor.

Performs other duties as required and assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Associates degree and/or two (2) years of trade school in related field preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience, at least two (2) years of permit review.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the incumbent with the necessary qualifications may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of building terminology, and building and related codes.
• Knowledge of stages of construction where possible violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, blueprints and specifications, and compare them with construction and provisions of the code.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consultants, contractors, subordinates, other employees, other Federal, State and Local entities, and the general public. Requires the ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Ability to enforce building codes, development standards, and regulations with tact, control, and impartiality, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, architects, co-workers, and the general public.
• Knowledge and ability to use computers and proprietary permitting software.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; in clear, concise language appropriate for the purpose and parties addressed. Use tact, discretion and courtesy to gain the cooperation of and establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, consultants, vendors, co-workers, other departments, and diverse members of the public.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team member.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers and the general public.
• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, set priorities, and deliver products on time with minimal direction and oversight.

Licenses/Certificates/Registrations

• Possess an International Code Council (ICC) certification as a Residential Building Inspector.
• Possess ICC Commercial Building Inspector certification, or obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Pass appropriate background checks.

Supplemental Information

The statements contained herein reflect general details to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

The City offers an excellent benefit package including:

• Participation in WA State Retirement
• Health benefits at 90-percent
• Vision care benefits at 100-percent
• Dental benefits at 100-percent
• 12 paid holidays (11 plus 1 floating)
• 15 paid vacation days starting (up to 26 days)
• 12 annual sick leave days
• City Matching Deferred Compensation