PRINCIPAL PLANS EXAMINER **$12K Hiring Incentive**

APPLY NOW! POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Hiring Incentive – paid in first paycheck

$2,000

Personal Leave credit in first paycheck

40 hours

Upon completion of probationary period and meets expectations on performance evaluation

$1,500

Upon completion of 3 years and meets expectations on performance evaluation

$2,000

Upon completion of 4 years and meets expectations on performance evaluation

$3,500

Upon completion of 5 years and meets expectations on performance evaluation

$3,000

TOTAL

$12,000

Under general direction, plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of the Plans Examiner staff and Permit Technicians; oversees the Community Development Department customer service and permitting counter activities; supervises and reviews plans and specifications for construction, alteration, and repair of residential and commercial buildings and related structures for adherence to established building codes and ordinances; reviews complex plan checking requirements for specialized or complex projects; provides instruction and training to plan review and inspection staff on current codes, ordinances, and division policies; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Chief Building Official. Exercises technical and functional supervision over and provides training and guidance to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the highest level and full supervisory class in the professional plans examiner series responsible for supervising the functions of the plans examiner staff. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The incumbent organizes and oversees day-to-day Community Resources Agency customer service and permitting counter activities, current or advance plans examining activities, and is responsible for providing support to the Building Official in a variety of areas. Successful performance of the work requires an extensive plan check experience as well as skill in coordinating departmental work with that of other County departments and public agencies. Responsibilities include performing and directing many of the department’s day-to-day administrative functions. This class is distinguished from Chief Building Official in that the latter has overall management responsibility for all plans examination, building inspections, permitting, code enforcement, and related programs, functions, and activities and has overall responsibility for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy.(Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, supervises, and oversees the daily activities of work performed by the plans examining function and oversees the Community Resources Agency customer service and permitting counter and staff.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the assigned function; recommends within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned services, projects, and activities; assesses and monitors workload; identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends to the Chief Building Official.
• Participates in the development and administration of and oversees assigned budgets.
• Participates in selection, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues; reviews staff reports and other work products prepared by professional planning staff; assigns work and provides guidance and direction to staff regarding work plans and methods.
• Provides training to plan review and inspection staff relating to adopted codes and ordinances as well as common design and construction practices; provides training to permit technicians and Community Resource Agency customer service and permit counter staff.
• Works with the Chief Building Official to establish and maintain policies and guidelines to improve efficiency and proficiency within the division relating to plan review and permit processing.
• Checks for compliance with requirements of national, state, and local codes and ordinances relative to building structure, electrical systems, plumbing, mechanical, fire safety, and energy.
• Meets with design professional, owners, builders, and others to discuss problem area with submitted projects.
• Provides customer service to owners and project officials in regards to assembling project information and meeting code requirements.
• Provides direct support to plan review staff on plan review assignments; participates in the most complex plan review assignments.
• Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
• Coordinates project approvals with staff, other departments, and outside agencies.
• Oversees coordination for all building permits and plan reviews by other departments, divisions, or agencies; provides support to division managers regarding customer service and permit counter operations and activities.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in plans examining; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to County needs.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
• Assists the Chief Building Official with special projects, as needed.
• May assume Chief Building Official administrative duties in his/her absence.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, work plan development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management.
• State housing laws, local zoning and occupancy ordinances, health, and safety codes.
• Construction plans, materials, and safety standards.
• Principles and techniques of plans examination and structural design.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and proceduresrelevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and record management techniques
• Basic engineering principles and associated mathematics
• Terminology and technical report writing requirements related to building and safety programs.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of staff; train staff in work procedures.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Read and interpret building and construction plans, diagrams and specifications.
• Advise on standard construction methods and requirements for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
• Perform required mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to division programs and services.
• Collect, interpret, and analyze construct documentation and data accurately.
• Prepare and administer project budgets.
• Analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations in support of goals.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to completion of twelfth (12th) grade and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience as a plans examiner including two (2) years of experience managing plan review staff, or three (3) years of experience performing plan review duties as a Senior Plans Examiner in Tuolumne County. Completion of an accredited technical school or college-level program of building inspection, plan review or closely related field is desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Possession of two plans examiner certificates and two additional building inspector or plans examiner certificates issued by theInternational Code Council, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, or National Inspection Testing Certification. An Associate’s degree in building technology, architecture or related field or equivalent certificate from an accredited college or vocational school or Energy Efficiency Certifications from accredited sources such as California Association of Building Energy Consultants may be substituted for one of the additional required certificates.
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a professional engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, or possession of a valid certificate of registration as an architect issued by the California Board of Architectural Examiners may be substituted for all of the required certificates.
• Possession of a Certified Accessibility Specialist (CASp) Certification is desirable.