The City of Santa Rosa is excited to announce that we are seeking a highly-qualified candidate to join our team of professionals with an immediate opening for Building Plans Examiner in the Fire Department!
Building Plans Examiner - Fire is a journey-level technical position working under general direction of the Division Chief, Fire Marshal or their designee. Building Plans Examiners are expected to complete work exercising independent judgment under minimal supervision. Typical tasks include the review of building construction and site development plans; review of plans and specifications for fire suppression and fire detection systems and high piled storage or hazardous materials installations; and review for compliance with federal, state, and local fire and life safety codes and city ordinances.
These are very busy, challenging, yet rewarding times for the City of Santa Rosa due to a dramatic increase in activity as a result of the unprecedented October 2017 fire disaster in which several businesses and 5% of the City's housing stock were destroyed. In addition, the City Council approved a comprehensive cannabis ordinance and program in December 2017. The Building Plans Examiner within the Fire Department also provides plan checking services at the Building Department twice a week as part of our over the counter service delivery.
The Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is an effective team player who combines technical expertise with superb analytical and organizational skills. The ideal candidate will have two years of experience providing design, plan review or inspection services of residential and/or nonresidential buildings and/or building fire protection systems for a municipal Fire or Building Department, or professional design or consultant firm, and hold ICC Certification as a Fire Plans Examiner or other Fire-related training. The successful candidate will have excellent customer service skills and experience working with architects, engineers, contractors, builders, City staff and the general public; and be proficient in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook.
Selection Process: Applicants possessing the MOST DESIRABLE qualifications based on a thorough screening of the application materials, including a supplemental questionnaire, will be placed on a candidate list for further consideration. Top candidates from the list will be invited to interviews based on their qualifications relating to the open assignment.
Each employee in this classification may not perform all of the duties listed below. Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of building and zoning code requirements, basic engineering and architecture as applied to building design and construction; methods, materials and techniques used in building construction; California Model Codes including Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Energy and CalGreen Codes; and other applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.
Ability to: Read and interpret building plans, documents, specifications, codes and regulations; understand and review simple and moderately complex energy and engineering computations; use computer systems to track and document permit applications; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City staff members, builders, contractors and the general public; enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
Experience and Education: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience - Four years of experience in building inspection, plan review, engineering or architectural work related to building construction; Education - Equivalent to an AA or AS degree from an accredited college with major study in architecture, engineering, building technology or closely related field.
License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid class C California Driver's License is required. Possession of a certificate as an ICC Certified Building Plans Examiner is required within 24 months of employment or possession of a credential that would qualify as an exemption for this requirement. Possession of ICC certification as a Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Mechanical Inspector or California Access Specialist (CASp) are highly desirable.