Senior Building Inspector
What We Offer
When you join Permit Sonoma, you become part of a challenging and rewarding work environment where you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are working to better your community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
Join Permit Sonoma
Permit Sonoma's Building Inspectors work within an assigned geographical area, performing a variety of building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, floodplain, and fire and life safety visual inspections. Building upon their inspection experience, they conduct research and check building plans and layouts for conformance with building codes, County ordinances, and departmental policies and procedures. Senior Building Inspectors also manage special inspection programs; and perform the most complex and difficult combinations of large and small, commercial and residential, structural inspections. Additionally, using their advanced knowledge of building codes, County ordinances, and departmental policies and procedures, they analyze code disputes, clarify code interpretations, advise staff on non-routine plans and inspections, and coordinate daily route assignments.
As the ideal person to become our next Senior Building Inspector, you will bring your extensive, in-depth knowledge of current model codes, drive to engage others to work together towards a common goal, and your experience:
- Assisting and training staff on how to issue permits for construction improvements and effectively apply provisions of the California Building, Housing, Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical codes; Fire Safe Standards; and related State and County codes and ordinances
- Conducting onsite inspections of existing buildings and structures, ensuring safe occupancy and determining substandard and/or hazardous conditions, fire damage, structural failures, and the need for maintenance or repair
- Clarifying and interpreting code disputes to seek compliance from architects, engineers, and designers during various building stages
- Exercising excellent judgment and a common-sense approach to addressing challenging customer service situations
- Reviewing plans and specifications, identifying any construction that deviated from expectations
- Successfully interacted with a diverse customer base
- Working well in a fast-paced/high-volume work environment
Additionally, possession of Plan Check and Certified Access Specialist Program (CASP) certifications are highly desired.
Please note that Senior Building Inspectors are required to work in both indoor and outdoor environments, in all weather conditions, and drive County vehicles.
Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma
The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.
Permit Sonoma is currently recruiting to fill a time-limited Senior Building Inspector position that is currently funded through June 30, 2024. The employment list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of this position is Senior Building Inspector.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: High school graduation and recent academic course work relating to the knowledge and abilities listed is required.
Experience: Experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, a minimum of two years of experience as a building inspector in a governmental agency utilizing the California Building Code.
Licenses & Certifications: Possession of certification as a combination inspector or certificates in Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical inspection are required. Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of: the general and specific provisions of the California Building, Housing, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical codes, Fire Safe Standards and related State and County codes and ordinances; modern building and construction materials and their quality as it relates to State and County codes and ordinances, and of tools, practices and techniques used in the various building and construction trades; the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department.
Knowledge of: the departmental and county procedures in pursuing an orderly building abatement process, the upgrading of potential or existing hazardous building or structural conditions and for providing technical assistance to upgrade substandard conditions under State and County codes and ordinances.
Ability to: effectively and accurately interpret construction documents; write and speak clearly and concisely for the purpose of instructions and reports; make visual inspections, detect deviations from approved plans, specifications and to secure compliance and enforce State and County codes and ordinances; visually detect substandard building and construction materials, work and conditions; understand and verbally or visually interpret and clarify specific State and County codes and ordinance requirements; establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, the public and other agencies; utilize electronic information systems and analyze and interpret such information; serves as first-line public contact for dispute resolution.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.