Senior Plan Check Engineer

Senior Plan Check Engineer serves as lead staff member and performs complex technical functions related to community development processes, including reviewing architectural, structural and building plans for code compliance; assisting customers by answering questions regarding code requirements; scheduling and facilitating meetings with professionals regarding permit requirements and building code issues; and processing construction permits.

The ideal candidate will:

• Conduct complex, technical reviews of architectural, structural, building plans for residential and commercial structures.
• Be efficient, organized, and motivated to excel in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Have experience working on high level development construction projects.
• Strong management skills to keep projects focused on review/construction milestones.
• Collaborate with a variety of high-level individuals, including architects, engineers, developers, and design professionals, both internally and within the community to provide information, disseminate departmental information and assist in resolving administrative issues.
• Participate in staff meetings and make recommendations to revise existing policies and procedures to improve services, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Reports to: Building and Safety Manager

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

• Carries out lead staff member responsibilities, including training in job skills; assigning and directing work; assisting staff in resolving problems; making recommendations in performance appraisal; and reporting problems to supervisor.
• Conducts complex, technical reviews of architectural, structural, building plans for residential and commercial structures, including ensuring compliance with codes, ordinances, governmental requirements, reports and structural calculations; checking drawings and calculations; preparing review lists; performing re-checks; performing preliminary reviews of project proposals; ensuring compliance with other agency requirements; assisting various parties in the interpretation of codes and ordinances; answering questions; preparing written plan check corrections comments; verifying valuations; scheduling and facilitating meetings with architects, engineers, constituents, etc.; entering information into permitting system and updating, as needed; and maintaining logs.
• Responsible for providing over-the-counter plan check services and analyses.
• Assists the public by telephone, written and electronic correspondence, and in person at the public counter.
• Accepts permit applications for review and may assist in the processing and issuance of permits.
• Consulting with inspector; discussing code requirements; and taking action to have non-compliant conditions resolved.
• Confers and attends meetings with interdepartmental teams, committees, various governmental agencies, architects, engineers, developers and contractors concerning codes, permits, overall development processes and programs.
• Coordinates with others outside own work area to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
• Participates in staff meetings and makes recommendations to revise existing policies and procedures to improve services, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars, training programs and conferences.
• Works collaboratively with consultants, City departments and all levels of staff to successfully complete multi-departmental projects and initiatives.
• Prepares complex, routine and non-routine reports as requested utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of report; prepares work reports.
• Interacts with a variety of high level individuals, including architects, engineers, developers, and design professionals, both internally and within the community to provide information, disseminate departmental information and assist in resolving administrative issues.
• Adheres to established plan check turnaround times, in accordance with established performance measures.
• Composes correspondence in accordance with standard policies; answers various inquiries; explains policies and procedures; processes routine and non-routine matters independently.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date files and records.
• Performs specialized research and statistical work on assigned subjects for staff and management.

IMPORTANT JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Occasionally conducts field and site visits to determine code violations; contacts owners to seek action for compliance.
• Disseminates a variety of information and/or reports to various agencies, division, or departments via telephone, mail, email or FAX.
• May serve as backup for other positions within the division.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED:

• Computer
• General Office Equipment
• Vehicle

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Civil or Structural Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; and,
• Three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in reviewing plans, plan checking, and project management; or,
• Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications:

• ICBO/ICC Certified Plans Examiner – must be obtained within 6 months of hire
• International Code Council (ICC) certification as a CalGreen Plans Examiner – must be obtained within 6 months of hire
• Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer or Licensed Architect in the State of California (preferred)
• California Access Specialist (CASp) certification (desirable)

Knowledge of:

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations.
• External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
• Architecture, structural and civil engineering principles and practices.
• Construction standards, techniques and common practices.
• City government organization and operations.
• Complex mathematical formulas and calculation processes.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.

Skill in:

• Using a computer and all computer applications to perform the essential and important functions of the job.
• Planning, organizing, assigning, directing, reviewing, and evaluating the work of staff; selecting and motivating staff and providing for their training and professional development.
• Reading and analyzing various types of building plans, reports and calculations.
• Communicating orally with internal staff, public, and City and government officials in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Communicating and working cooperatively with the public. Mediate disputes, resolve conflicts and effect solutions to both technical and non-technical problems.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Analyzing and resolving technical data, situations and problems.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with minimal direction.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
• Operation and routine maintenance of general office machines, such as copiers, facsimile machines, and telephone systems.

Abilities:

• Ability to learn and follow City and departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate in English both orally and in writing at the appropriate level.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the appropriate level.
• Ability to learn the geography of the City.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and so forth.
• Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to draft and type correspondence.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several complex variables in non-standardized situations.

While performing the essential functions of this job, occasionally the incumbent is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; ascend and descend stairs; bend body downward and forward, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; use color, odor, texture, shape and sound perception and discrimination; and push, pull and/or lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 20 pounds occasionally.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in a normal office environment and in the field where there may be extreme temperatures, exposure to sun, dirt and/or dust.
• The incumbent's working conditions are typically moderately quiet, but may be very loud at some locations or during the completion of some functions.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.