Plans Examiner

Job Summary

The objective of the Plans Examiner is to review all residential and commercial plans and documents to verify compliance with adopted codes prior to the issuance of permits. This position also serves as backup to the City’s code inspectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties described below are indicative of what a Plans Examiner may be asked to perform; duties may be changed with or without notice.

• Provide written directives for issuance of permits for residential and commercial construction.

• Review commercial/residential construction plans for compliance with City, State, and Federal rules and regulations for compliance with applicable codes.

• Coordinate with the fire department, planning department, utilities department, city engineer, and other departments.

• Furnish information to the public (citizens, builders, developers, architects, and engineers) regarding the requirements of building codes, zoning and sign ordinances.

• Facilitate corrections to be made when deficiencies exist and may assist builders, owners, and design professionals in determining how corrections are to be made to ensure conformance.

• Assist the public with building code questions and interpretations.

• Serve as backup to the code inspectors; performing inspections.

Records & Reports

• Provides information on applicable regulations and requirements.

• Maintain the records and documents collected and created for plan reviews performed by the City.

• Write reports, logs, permits, memoranda, and plan evaluations.

Investigations and Inspections

• Reviews building plans and specifications; performs or assists in inspections.

• Conducts plan review for all commercial and residential construction projects.

• Conducts inspections for new construction, including private developments.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

REQUIRED

• University, community college, trade or technical school with a concentration in construction or a related field (minimum 2 years required).

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Construction or Construction Inspection.

• Texas Licensed Plumbing Inspector or the ability to attain within two years.

• TDHS Registered Code Enforcement Officer or the ability to obtain within two years.

• ICC certified as a Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner, Commercial Building Inspector, Residential Building Inspector, or the ability to obtain within two years.

PREFERRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or related field.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Reads and interprets blueprints, construction drawings, and specifications.

• Interprets, applies and explains construction-related codes, regulations and policies; communicate building permit issuance and inspection requirements, policies and decisions to the public in a courteous and effective manner.

• Makes accurate arithmetical computations; evaluate and recommend systems improvements and procedures related to the Building Division; make sound independent judgments in complex or difficult situations within established guidelines.

• Write clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence on administrative and technical issues.

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other City staff, public officials, construction professionals, outside agencies and the public.

REASONING ABILITIES

• Ability to organize time and resources.

• Ability to plan work and establish job priorities.

• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control and adapt to stressful situations.

• Ability to use good judgement and effectively problem-solve.

• Ability to define problems and deal with a variety of situations.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the staff, supervisor, and the public.

• Ability to communicate with private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

• Ability to communicate in both written and verbal form.

• Ability to read City policies and procedures; written instructions and general correspondence.

• Ability to read and comprehend City policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; SDS sheets, safety manuals; traffic signs and warning labels.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to calculate basic mathematical calculations (add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals).

Physical and Work Environment

The physical environment and the work environment described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• An employee must regularly be required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear, reach, kneel, climb, stoop, crouch, use hands to finger, handle or feel. Also regularly must be able to bend, stoop, twist, and reach with hands and arms.

• An employee may be asked on a regular basis to lift 50 pounds.

• Vision requirements are close, distance and color vision, peripheral and depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• May be exposed to moving mechanical parts and workspace distractions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment may include some or all of the following:

• Inside and outside environment.

• Repetitive activities (performance of the same physically and mentally demanding activity).

• Dirty environment (situations in which workers or their clothing can become dirty, greasy, etc.).

• Air contamination (may work in an area with dust, fumes, odors, etc.).

• May be exposed to electrical hazards, road hazards, vibration and confining workspaces.

May come in contact with hazardous materials.