What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plans Examiner position at City of Duluth?
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
Under the authority of Minnesota State Statute and the City of Duluth Building Official, protect the community, first responders, and property from hazard, injury, and destruction by overseeing design of construction in the City of Duluth through review of applications and construction documents for all construction work, ensuring compliance with the Minnesota State Building Code. Provide code-related professional and technical expertise to the Construction Services & Inspections team, contractors, architects, engineers, drafters, and others.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The supervisor provides continuing or individual assignments by indicating generally what is to be done, limitations, quality and quantity expected, deadlines, and priority of assignments. The supervisor provides additional, specific instructions for new, difficult, or unusual assignments, including suggested work methods or advice on source material available.
SUPERVISION GIVEN
Does not supervise.
1. Review all types of construction documents (such as site, civil, architectural, and structural plans, geotechnical reports, specifications, and calculations) prepared by architects, engineers, contractors, and owners to ensure compliance with building codes, ordinances, statutes, and life safety regulations.
2. Identify aspects of plans that do not comply with the required codes and standards, and communicate code requirements to architects, engineers, contractors, and owners for correction.
3. Compose plan review comment letters documenting non-compliances, requesting corrections, and obtaining all necessary information for a complete, accurate, compliant set of construction documents to be used for construction.
4. Compile complete construction documents to be used by inspectors to ensure construction complies with codes and standards.
5. Interpret and explain code requirements to inspectors and provide them with technical support to resolve field related code issues.
6. Perform field inspections to observe site conditions and provide guidance to inspectors, contractors, architects, engineers, and others in problem-solving during construction.
7. Advise design professionals (architects, engineers, surveyors, etc.) developers, contractors, drafters, inspectors, homeowners, and others regarding how designs comply with applicable codes and standards.
8. Accurately identify deficiencies in critical aspects of the life safety requirements in buildings of all construction types, heights, areas, and occupancies, and any combination thereof, and verify that engineers and architects have used appropriate criteria for building design.
9. Serve as a technical expert, conduct presentations, and provide information to other City divisions, contractors, engineers, architects, and the public regarding codes, ordinances, and proper methods governing building design and construction work.
10. Assist homeowners, designers, and contractors in mitigating risk at the work site by advising them of precautionary, safety, and fire prevention methods that may be employed during the construction phase of the work, and compile informational handouts on commonly asked questions regarding building codes and ordinances and plan submittal requirements.
11. Research regulations, codes, and standards, and construction methods and materials to determine code compliance and for consideration by the Building Official as permitted alternate materials, methods, and modifications.
12. Interpret, explain, and enforce provisions of the building code, fire code, and other laws and regulations related to the construction of buildings.
13. Communicate effectively to explain complex technical requirements to constituents with all levels of experience, translating code language to common language.
14. Organize and lead pre-plan-review meetings with architects, engineers, developers, and others to discuss projects in the design phase and provide preliminary feedback.
15. Through discussion and research, ascertain existing and/or proposed use, purpose, existing conditions, and occupancy classification of buildings and spaces to determine code requirements.
16. Maintain complete and accurate files, paper or digital, of plan reviews, approvals, meeting notes and correspondence in CSI division records, including permitting and plan review software.
17. Perform math computations to determine code requirements for structural and other components of construction, and determine whether designs comply with applicable regulations.
18. Review plans for buildings and structures which incorporate routine to complex architectural and structural concepts in their design.
19. Review new legislation regarding building codes, ordinances, and regulations, and attend and participate in workshops, meetings, seminars, and/or training opportunities regarding certification, to acquire current industry knowledge, and to maintain current knowledge.
20. Coordinate approval process of building or remodeling plan review with appropriate inspection units including construction, electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation.
21. As a delegate of the Building Official, regularly exercise thoughtful independent judgment and decision-making in keeping with Building Official policy and interpretation.
22. Perform public outreach in the form of targeted events that serve to educate design professionals, contractors, and/or the general public about various building code topics, as well as permitting and review processes geared towards facilitating successful building projects.
23. Be an effective team member by exhibiting self-motivation, supporting other employees in handling tasks, interacting effectively and respectfully with others, showing a desire to contribute to the team effort, accepting assignments willingly, and completing tasks within agreed upon timelines.
24. Other duties may be assigned.
Education & Experience Requirements
A. A minimum of six (6) years of related education and/or professional experience working with codes in construction, plan review, or building design, OR; three (3) years of experience working in the City of Duluth as a Construction Inspector or Permit Coordinator. An Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of experience.
License Requirements
A. Must obtain certification as a Plans Examiner from a nationally recognized code agency within two (2) years of appointment.
Education/Experience Review (100% of scoring process; 70 pass point): Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be rated based on the type (relatedness) and extent of their education and experience as documented on their application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Applicants who pass this exam will have their names placed on an eligible list for this classification.
Salary : $70,455 - $82,856
