Building Inspector (6331) - Citywide - (X00137)

About the role

Under direction, performs responsible inspection work in connection with the construction and modification of buildings or other structures both public and private with respect to the use of materials and conformance with building and housing codes and approved plans and specifications; and performs related duties as required.

Requires responsibility for: explaining and enforcing existing ordinances and code regulations applicable to construction and reconstruction and urban renewal and rehabilitation activities; making regular contact with property owners, contractors or their representatives, and representatives of outside organizations in connection with inspection activities and the enforcement of codes relating to building, housing, health, and sanitation, laws and ordinances pertinent to building construction and housing; preparing and submitting records and reports on the above activities.

Major, Important, and Essential Duties

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

• Inspects materials and methods employed in the construction and repair of public buildings or other structures for conformity to the construction plans and specifications set forth therein; assures adherence to laws, codes and ordinances regulating public building construction; and reviews and resolves routine field construction problems that may include identifying and referring difficult problems for resolution.
• Prepares periodic progress and related reports on assigned projects; reports on work performed and time utilized by the various crafts assigned to projects; coordinates work sequences of various contractors participating in assigned projects; investigates complaints on completed projects and initiates necessary remedial action.
• Inspects buildings or structures to ensure that the construction, alteration or maintenance work being performed complies with applicable building codes, ordinances and laws; observes violations of other codes and notifies the proper agency; interviews applicants for building permits; provides information on building codes, laws and ordinances; estimates cost of proposed construction in order to establish a proper building permit fee; investigates complaints referred from other agencies; assists property owners and provides information on the application of building codes; reviews applications and plans submitted for building permits; issues Certificate(s) of Final Completion and Occupancy when code violation(s) are abated; and prepares work summaries, reports and correspondence.
• Makes special investigation of buildings and structures for possible condemnation or removal; advises property owners of such buildings or structures as to necessary revision to bring buildings and structures up to code requirements. Performs and participates in inspections in the event of emergencies and disasters per the citywide disaster plan.
• Performs periodic inspections of existing buildings and structures for compliance with building codes; conducts enforcement investigations of non-permitted work and/or substandard buildings; reviews conditions noted in previous inspections as hazardous or violations for code compliance; determines the nature and extent of any violations and provides the necessary corrective action; prepares violation and 'Stop Work' notices, and related documents; investigates complaints and follow-up to assure correction of code violation; reviews and approves plans to correct code violation(s); and may inspect multiple dwellings with respect to the issuance of permit of occupancy. Prepares and processes forms and records on the enforcement activities related to code violations, including issuing citations which may require court appearances and coordination with other departments and agencies.
• At the Department of Public Works, inspection areas include hospital facilities.
• At the Airport, inspection areas include passenger terminals, aircraft hangars, and maintenance facilities.
• At the Port, inspection areas include tenants, houseboats and marinas for code enforcement and compliance.

Important and Essential Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

• Requires considerable knowledge of: building construction methods and techniques as well as the properties and uses of a wide variety of construction materials and equipment; the laws, ordinances, buildings or other structures as well as health and sanitation codes; and building design.
• Requires skill in the use of surveying instruments.
• Requires ability to: read and interpret blueprints, plans, and specifications; inspect and analyze building construction methods and materials; deal effectively with property owners, contractors and others with respect to code or contract enforcement; prepare clear and concise reports on inspection activities.

Minimum Qualifications

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.

Experience

• Four (4) years of building construction work experience responsible for the supervision of building construction and/or inspection as a carpenter supervisor, or as a superintendent of building construction, or as a licensed building contractor with an annual gross contract value of $750,000 in business, or a civil engineer or an architect responsible for the supervision of building construction and/or inspection.

Substitutions

• Possession of a Commercial and Residential Building Inspector certificates issued by the International Code Council (ICC) may substitute for six (6) months of the required experience.
• Possession of a Building Plans Examiner certificate issued by the International Code Council (ICC) may substitute for six (6) months of the required experience.
• Completion of a Building Inspection certificate program from an accredited college or university may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Note

Items 1, 2, and/or 3 above can be combined to substitute up to 2 years of experience.

License and Certification

• Possession of a valid Class C California driver license.
• Possession of the Commercial and Residential Building Inspector certifications or the Building Plans Examiner certification, issued by the International Code Council (ICC), is required within two (2) years of appointment. Inspectors must maintain the certification as a condition of continued employment.

Desirable Qualifications

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring: Possession of a Certified Access Specialist program (CASp) certification; Use a computer, software programs and cell phone for work-related purposes.

Supplemental Information

These positions require the ability to work in inclement weather; and possible exposure to hazardous conditions found in and around damaged buildings, structures or construction sites.

Also required is the ability to move into and out of vehicles frequently, buildings, tunnels, ditches, and other related areas; to climb or crawl into and out of spaces which must be inspected; and to use ladders, scaffolds and other special equipment. These positions require the operation of a motor vehicle in order to visit inspection sites and to respond to emergencies and disasters.

The nature of work includes customer service, responding to difficult situations, and performing plan review that requires sitting for prolonged periods of time under normal office conditions.

Verification of Education and Experience

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

• Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) (Weight: Qualifying): Candidates will be prompted to complete a Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) as part of the online employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications for this position.

• Applicants must also complete the official application.
• It is essential that applicants provide complete information in identifying their education, experience and training.
• The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Written Examination (Weight: 100%)

Candidates will be administered a written multiple-choice examination to determine their relative knowledge, skill and ability level in one or more of the following job related areas as appropriate.

These areas may include, but not be limited to: knowledge of plumbing and mechanical system design and installation practices; knowledge of plumbing and mechanical materials and their uses; knowledge of existing ordinances, regulations and code requirements regarding the installation and maintenance of plumbing and mechanical systems; knowledge of modern construction methods and techniques, particularly as applied to plumbing and mechanical phases of construction projects; ability to read and interpret plans and specifications of plumbing and mechanical system installations; ability to effectively apply knowledge of the plumbing codes and construction procedures to inspection practices.

This is a standardized written multiple-choice examination. In accordance with Civil Service Rule 111.11.4, inspection privileges do not apply to the questions and answers in this examination.

The score you achieve on this examination shall be valid and "banked" for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take this test again should you apply and be found eligible for a future announcement for which this particular test is used.

If the test for this future announcement is held within 1 year of the date of this examination, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the test.

Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which this test is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent (even if it turns out to be lower than your original score).

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates.

Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved.

• The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.
• The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.
• Certification Rule: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Per Civil Service Commission Rule Section 110.9.1, every applicant for an examination must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for the examination. Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission.

Additional Information

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process.

How to Apply

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. No other methods of application will be accepted.

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Upon successful submission, applicants will receive a confirmation email from. Keep this email for your records. If you do not receive it, your application was not submitted successfully.

Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst Jason Hammack, via email at