Building Inspector I/II

Why Join our Department?

The City of San Mateo is a very progressive City that encourages staff and resident engagement to develop positive solutions that meet the demands of our community. You’ll be joining a talented team in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment dedicated to serving the San Mateo community.  The Community Development Department’s core function is to ensure a quality-built environment, healthy neighborhoods, and a strong economic base in the City. 

The Community Development Department is staffed by 50 employees. The Department, which is divided into four divisions: Building, Code Enforcement, Housing and Planning, provides a broad range of functions relating to the development of the community.  The Planning Division provides long-range planning and review of applications for new developments.  The Code Enforcement Division provides maintenance of the city’s neighborhoods.  The Housing Division provides development and administration of affordable housing programs.  The Building Division provides construction permit review, issuance, and inspection for residential and commercial structures.

Collaboration, Innovation, Respect, Creativity, Transparency and Informed Risk-taking are attributes that we are seeking in the candidates.

Look to some of the reasons why the City of San Mateo is a great place to work,

https://youtu.be/XNAF7GZUNl8?list=PL3QUX6-y-89-D28g895DzvObmoD89Dqdn

What You’ll Do

To conduct inspections of routine and intricate structural and building systems during different phases of construction, modification, and repair projects; to collaborate with other departments and conduct investigations to ensure adherence to housing, zoning, environmental, and overall land use regulations; to assist in the examination of building plans and specifications; to maintain accurate records utilizing software and computer systems; and to perform related tasks as necessary.

For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at www.cityofsanmateo.org.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES ‑ Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Make field inspections of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings during various stages of construction and remodeling; ensure proper and safe installations of routine and complex building systems; ensure building progress conforms to California Building Code, Plumbing and Electrical Codes, City codes and ordinances and pertinent provisions of Federal, State and County health and environmental ordinances.
• Responds to emergencies when called upon by supervisor, or emergency dispatchers, to assist as technical expert in evaluation of safety.
• Issue permits for work to be performed.
• Assist in the checking of building plans.
• Make field review of plans and specifications.
• Conduct inspections with the Code Enforcement office to verify complaints and/or conditions violating building and zoning codes; conduct follow up‑ inspections to check and verify that conditions are completed.
• Conduct review of complex technical documents for conformance with accuracy, industry standards, codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Prepare reports, warning letters, citations, calculations, analysis, grants, diagrams, or technical materials for City, City Committees, public vendor, state and federal filings, and advisory reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Who You Are

An individual who possesses thorough knowledge of:

• Methods of building construction.
• Accepted Safety standards.
• Research methods and sources of information related to building code enforcement.
• Building related codes and ordinances enforceable by the City, including the California Building Codes, zoning ordinances, and other environmental codes and energy regulations.
• Principles and techniques of building inspection work.

An individual who possesses the ability to:

• Learn to perform journey‑level inspections in a variety of specialty trade areas and to perform competent and efficient work as a combination Building Inspector.
• Learn to enforce a variety of zoning, general land use and related City codes.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Read and interpret building plans, specifications, and building codes.
• Advise on standard construction methods and requirements.
• Make arithmetical computations rapidly and accurately.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relations with those contacted in the course of work.
• Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
• Apply technical knowledge and follow proper inspection techniques to examine workmanship and materials, and detect deviations from plans, regulations, and standard construction practices.
• Apply City Codes and policies regarding zoning, environmental matters and other regulations to field situations.
• Work independently without supervision.

What You Bring

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Building Inspector I:

• Three years of experience in the building construction field as a journey level plumber, electrician, carpenter or related craftsperson.
•  Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

License and Certificates

• Possession of an appropriate, valid California driver's license.
•  Possession of, or ability to obtain, within one year, certification as a Building Inspector issued by the ICC (International Code Council) or other equivalent state, national, or international association.

 Building Inspector II (in addition to the qualifications for Building Inspector I):

•  Two years of responsible experience performing duties comparable to those of a Building Inspector I for the City of San Mateo.

License and Certificates

•  Possession of certification as a Building Inspector issued by the ICC (International Code Council) or other equivalent state, national, or international association.  Possession of an appropriate, valid California drivers' license.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with customer service, commercial inspections, and proficiency in utilizing technology such as Microsoft Office 365, Teams, SharePoint, and permitting software.

ADA Special Requirement: Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment. Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, squat, stoop, reach, crawl, twist, climb, and lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 75 pounds rarely; exposure to extreme noise, outdoors, confining work space, electrical hazards, vibration, chemicals, dust, toxic waste, mechanical hazards, and explosive materials.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
• CalPERS retirement – 2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members.   Classic employees contribute 8.30% to CalPERS and New members contribute 6.75% to CalPERS with participation in the Social Security Program
• Programs:  Deferred Compensation plan with City match up to 0.5% of base salary, City will contribute 0.5% of base salary to the deferred compensation plan, and 1% city contribution to a Retirement Health Savings Account
• Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation, Employee Assistance Program and Credit Union Membership
• Bilingual Differential:  $195 monthly (if applicable)
• This classification is represented by the San Mateo City Employees' Association

Are You Ready? Apply.

Go to: https://www.calopps.org/san-mateo/job-20122755 to complete an on-line employment application packet. All applicants must submit a completed official City of San Mateo employment application, supplemental questionnaire, and attach a résumé.  You may also mail a complete application package to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403.

Application Deadline

Recruitment will close by Sunday, December 17, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m. or upon receipt of the first 50 applications, supplemental questionnaires, and résumés, whichever occurs first.

 Examination Process

All applications, résumés, and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications.  A resume does not take the place of a completed application, including work history.  Applications with "see résumé" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with none or unclear current/past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed.  A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these. A Zoom oral panel interview is tentatively scheduled for January 11, 2024

An employment list will be established with those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least 6 months with the possibility of an extension for an additional 6 months. Once placed on an eligible list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the Community Development department and scheduled for additional departmental interviews

Date Posted – November 16, 2023