Senior Construction Inspector

Are you ready to transition your construction project inspector experience to the public sector? The City is working on many new and exciting projects and we need your expertise in Public Works!

At the City of Bellingham, the Senior Construction Inspector performs complete field inspections of major capital construction including WSDOT and Federal Aid projects and subdivisions to ensure compliance with specifications and standards; initiates field engineering changes; serves as lead worker on major inspection projects.

Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($34.85/hr) for full time positions. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full 2023 hourly range for this position is $34.85/hour - $42.87.  

City of Bellingham employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance and long-term disability. Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts, a medical insurance opt-out program, and access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plan. Additionally, employees may elect to participate in the City's 457 deferred compensation retirement savings plan.

Employees will receive 12 paid holidays in addition to one paid floating holiday each year. Employees accrue 8 hours total of contract and state sick leave per month in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Washington State Law. At the time of hire, employees will accrue 7.33 hours of vacation per month. Vacation accruals increase based on years of service. Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employee to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

For additional information regarding benefits and compensation Information please visit the following:

• Labor Agreements, Pay Schedules and E-Team Employee Handbook

• City of Bellingham (cob.org)

• Employment Benefits

• City of Bellingham (cob.org)

Closing Date/Time: Mon, July 1, 2024, 8:30 AM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Observes work in progress on major construction projects and ensures procedures and materials used are within specified standards; interprets plans and specifications for contractors; recommends and/or approves field design changes; advises contractor if work performed or materials used do not meet applicable codes and/or contract; orders suspension of work and removal of defective material, as needed.

• Records daily progress of capital improvement projects and subdivisions, and photographs project to maintain pictorial evidence. Measures project to facilitate making "as built" drawings for permanent records; provides information and resolves problems with the contractor, City staff, and citizens. Provides all field engineering data to the construction engineers.

• Develops and implements engineered field solutions where project designs are not compatible with existing field conditions; in consultation the Project Engineers, coordinates change orders and controls and authorizes additional costs to the project.

• Records quantities received and used during specific project phases; measures distances, thicknesses, and widths; verifies grades, alignments and elevations on construction project; prepares documents, records and pictures for possible legal use; prepares pay estimates for completion of project phases. Maintains Records of Material (ROM) and associated paperwork for Federal Funding audits.

• Organizes tests on wet and cured concrete, asphalt materials, bank run gravel, crushed rock and other embankment materials. Collects water samples and conducts preliminary testing; performs pressure testing for water, sewer and storm lines. Inspects sewer and water pump stations, steel structures, bridges, street light systems, and traffic control systems during construction and for final acceptance.

• Informs supervisor and project engineer(s) of progress and details of construction projects, necessary field adjustments, or design changes; maintains communications with contractor, citizens and City staff regarding complaints, construction activities, and concerns. Acts as main point of contact in the event of emergencies that arise after hours related to construction.

• Assists Project Engineers with design, special provisions (Specs), research, and constructability. Corrects errors, identifies omissions, makes known additions to plans and design changes as needed. Prepares estimates for materials. Participates in the development of departmental engineering standards and guidelines.

• Coordinates with the operations division of the public works department to schedule work to be performed by water, sewer, street or traffic personnel to ensure project timelines are met.

• Inspects traffic control and personnel for compliance with local guidelines and current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

• Occasionally acts in responsible charge in the absence of the Construction Manager.

• Performs related duties and assists in other areas of engineering as assigned.

• May assist with design and plan review of capital projects.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office setting and field environments while conducting inspections, exposing the employee to inclement weather, traffic and construction site hazards, noise, toxic fumes, and infrequent lifting. Employees are required to use appropriate safety equipment and follow standard safety practices. Inspectors should expect to enter and exit their vehicle many times each day. Must be available for on-call problem resolution and troubleshooting of emergencies and issues that arise after hours as a result of construction.

Physical ability to perform essential functions of the job, including:

• Frequently communicate verbally.

• Mobility necessary to safely move about construction sites and stand, sit or bend in awkward positions.

• Operate a computer and read a computer screen or typewritten page.

• Infrequently lift heavy objects of approximately 50 lbs.

• Mobility necessary to safely move about construction sites and stand, sit or bend in awkward positions.

• A minimum of three years of construction inspection experience for a variety of construction projects required. Must include inspection on public works projects, civil engineering construction or closely related area.

• Associates degree or equivalent education in engineering technology or related field.

An equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job will be considered.

• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record.  A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire.

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check and child and adult abuse records check. (See Fair Hiring Practices)

• Must secure and maintain the following certifications within 1 year of hire:

• Water distribution Manager 1 (WDM1)

• Cross Contamination Certification/Cross Connection Control Specialist (CCS)

• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL)

• Pervious Concrete Installer Certification

• CPR and First Aid Certification

• Flagger Certification

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and required supplemental questions). Provide as much detail as you believe will fully describe your experience and training.

Application Review Process:

• Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around July 2, 2024.

• If there are nine (9) or more qualified candidates; 

• Applications will go through an Experience and Training Review. Relevancy of your experience and training, together with composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation will be considered when evaluating responses. Applicant status will be updated on or around July 9, 2024.

• The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Application Review will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of July 15, 2024.

• If eight (8) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all will be invited to the Oral Board Interviews, tentatively scheduled for the week of July 8, 2024.

• Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following:

• If eight (8) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, the Oral Board Interview will be 100% of overall score. Candidates scoring a 60% or higher on the Oral Board Interview will be placed on the eligibility list.

• If there are nine (9) or more applicants that meet minimum qualifications, the Application Review will be 40% of overall score and Oral Board Interview will be 60% of overall score. Candidates scoring a 60% or higher on the Oral Board Interview will be placed on the eligibility list.

If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 2 full-time vacancies in the Public Works Department. This position is represented by a union. 

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers. 

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.

• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.

• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.

• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.