Plans Examiner I/Ii (Open And Promotional)

Description

NOTE: This recruitment schedule was amended on April 22, 2024 to extend the closing date. Final Closing Date will be April 29, 2024.

Note: This recruitment schedule was amended on July 18th, 2023, to extend the Final Filing Date. This recruitment has been changed to "Continuous."

Help protect the health and safety of San Mateo County residents and contribute to the important work performed by the Planning and Building Department. The County of San Mateo Planning & Building Department is seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Plans Examiner I/II.The County is a diverse and dynamic community spanning a wide range of urban, suburban, rural, and coastal settings throughout the unincorporated community. The Plans Examiner plays an important role in ensuring that permit applicants receive exceptional public service, and that are safe and code compliant.

Under general supervision, the Plans Examiner will review project plans for structural integrity and compliance with applicable building codes, ordinances and regulations; advise applicants for building permits on possible modifications to conform with requirements; approve plans for issuing building permits; collaborate with other staff to complete application reviews in an efficient and effective manner; and perform related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Building Plans Examiner Iis the entry-level, training class in the Building Plans Examiner series and is distinguished by performance of routine building plan checking and learning to perform structural and code compliance analyses. This class is flexibly staffed with Building Plans Examiner II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher-level class or upon obtaining certification as a Plans Examiner.

Building Plans Examiner IIis the full working, journey level class in the Building Plans Examiner series and is distinguished from Building Plans Examiner I by working independently in performing structural engineering and code compliance analyses to residential dwellings as well as non-residential structures with emphasis on structural integrity, accessibility, and compliance with relevant California Building Standards; and performing the more complex plan examining duties.

This classification series is distinguished from the Building Plans Specialist in that the latter is a professional engineer level class reviewing and approving plans requiring structural engineering computations and analysis; and assisting the Building Inspection staff by providing technical structural advice and code interpretation. Building Examiner I/II is further distinguished from the Building Permit Technician Series in that the latter series process building permit applications, receive plans and route them for professional review.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Check plans, and specifications for structures submitted by architects, engineers and contractors for a variety of features including adequacy of lighting and ventilation, number of exits and room arrangements in order to ensure compliance with the building codes.

• Analyze non-routine structural plans where site, design or intended use creates vertical and horizontal loads on a variety of materials including timber, concrete and steel, used as structural members to ensure that proposed construction will provide a safe and stable structure.

• Review plans for conformance to state energy conservation and utilization statutes, ensuring that solar or solar assisted equipment is used as required, and that insulation and use of glass conform to regulations.

• Review plans for conformance with County fire safe standards in coordination with relevant fire districts.

• Confer with architects, engineers and contractors regarding features of plans found to be out of conformance with code or where proposed design or materials are clearly unacceptable.

• Refer, discuss and receive instruction from a civil engineer on designs which are of borderline acceptability or unique and highly complex in design; refer issues involving engineering judgment to a registered engineer for resolution.

• Approve for issuance building permits, grading permits, and structure moving permits for plans which meet code and ordinance requirements; and calculates proper fees.

• Give information over the counter and by telephone concerning permit requirements, amounts of fees, and procedures to apply for permits.

• May perform building inspection tasks if properly certified.

• Enter and retrieve data from electronic data processing systems; establish and update information, generate documents and correspondence, communicate with others; update computer system files; prepare, review, and maintain forms, files and other necessary records.

• Maintain records and prepare correspondence and reports.

• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Laws and ordinances regulating building construction, inspection, zoning, accessibility, housing and health and safety.

• Acceptable structural design and materials used in construction.

• Building construction plans and specifications.

• Modern methods, tools and materials used in building construction.

• Building inspection methods including electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural inspections.

Skill/Ability to:

• Read, interpret and analyze building plans and specifications in electric format.

• Interpret, explain and enforce building and safety codes and ordinances and department policies.

• Make field inspections and investigations and advise on use of methods and materials.

• Evaluate code and permit violations and help formulate appropriate action.

• Maintain effective working relationships with County staff, the public, agency officials and others in the building and construction field.

• Prepare reports and correspondence.

• Utilize electronic information systems and analyze and interpret such information.

• Apply sound judgment in making decisions.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Education:

Academic course work relating to mathematics through high level algebra, statics, stress analysis, and strength of materials, building and design with various materials, including concrete, steel and wood, and/or other related courses.

Experience:

Level I:Four years of experience reviewing building plans and processing building permit applications and inspection reports or experience in building construction or engineering work which involved an understanding of building plans and codes and the preparation of plans.

Level II: Two years of experience examining or checking plans for structural integrity and compliance with applicable building codes, ordinances and regulations; and approving plans for issuing building permits.

Licensure/Certification:

Level I:Acquisition of a Certificate as a Building Plans Examiner from the International Code Council (ICC) within one year of employment.

Level II:Possession of a Certificate as a Building Plans Examiner from the International Code Council (ICC).

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply.Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Based solely on the information provided in the application materials, an application screening committee will select those applicants whose education, training and experience most closely matches the needs of the department. Those selected will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include a written exercise. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification.All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT:Applications for this position will only be accepted online.If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the"Apply"button. If you are not on the County's website, please go tohttps://jobs.smcgov.orgto apply.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date: Monday, April 29, 2024 11:59 PM PST

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (06142023) (Plans Examiner II - J069)