Plans Examiner

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES :
The purpose of this classification is to perform technical and administrative work involving review of commercial and residential building plans and specifications for building codes regulation compliance. Employees in this classification perform complex inspection and enforcement of building codes, ordinances and regulations to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local codes and standards.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATEMENT
Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will require routine assignments during an emergency event. All employees may be subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Receives and reviews commercial and residential building plans and specifications for compliance with Florida building, mechanical, plumbing, and fuel gas codes, and life safety regulations; checks plans for proper component size, materials and location; evaluates ventilation, fire dampers and smoke detectors; checks gas fuel plans for meter location, pipe size, approved material type, regulator locations, and potential hazards in location or design; approves/disapprove plans; and communicates any problems to be addressed on disapproved plans.
• Performs field inspections; inspects new and existing residence, business, commercial and other buildings and structures for conformance with regulated safety and other requirements of established state and regional codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Reviews marine permit applications for compliance with local codes; reviews plans for agreement with setback and height restrictions; and ensures plans meet size restrictions for zoning districts.
• Reviews sign permit applications; reviews permit application for compliance with size, location to setbacks, lighting, and number of signs permitted for specific zoning district.
• Enforces local and state zoning/building codes and regulations.
• Investigates reported complaints of defective projects; notifies responsible parties of defects, and issues oral and/or written instructions for correction.
• Advises City inspectors, builders, owners, contractors and architects on building and structural problems, and needed modifications of plans/specifications/blueprints to bring about compliance.
• Generates, maintains, and reviews records, logs, and reports of inspections performed covering conditions found, actions taken, and recommendations made for further action, as well as names of owners, builders and addresses of inspections.
• Prepares building construction reports and training reports to maintain education data of City inspection personnel.
• Coordinates work assignments of City inspectors; provides technical assistance and guidance to City inspectors as needed.
• Assists the Building Official in planning, implementing, and maintaining the City's Plans Review and Inspections programs.
• Coordinates City development efforts and initiatives with applicable federal, state, and local agencies.
• Attends and participates in workshops, meetings, seminars, and/or training opportunities regarding certification, to acquire current industry knowledge, and to maintain current knowledge of regulatory developments.
• Communicates with City officials, supervisor, architects, builders, contractors, engineers, homeowners, laborers, the public, and other individuals as needed to clarify plans/codes requirements, coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

• Data Utilization : Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analysis to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
• Human Interaction : Requires the ability to perform in a supervisory capacity over subordinate supervisors.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization : Requires the ability to start, stop, operate and monitor the functioning of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive and/or design data and information as applicable.
• Mathematical Aptitude : Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
• Functional Reasoning : Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Situational Reasoning : Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associates degree in building construction, engineering, architecture or fire administration
• Supplemented by minimum five (5) years experience in code enforcement and/or construction inspection activities in at least one of the critical disciplines, i.e., electrical, mechanical, plumbing, structural, fire
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position
• Additionally required to acquire a Provisional State Plans Examiner Certification within ninety (90) days of hire
• A Standard State Plans Examiner Certification within one (1) year of acquiring a Provisional State Plans Examiner Certification.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license, class "E" and a driving record which meets or exceeds minimum City driving standards.