Building Inspector - Retaining Wall

Under general supervision of the Assistant Building Official, the Retaining Wall Inspector primarily performs inspections of private retaining walls and screening walls used in residential and commercial site construction. Monitors construction compliance with approved plans, reports, materials, and methods that meet City standards.

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) in this position. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties in this description and incumbent(s) may be required to perform position-related tasks other than those specifically listed in this description.

• Performs on-site inspections of fences, screening walls and retaining walls for safety, code, and ordinance compliance requirements.
• Reviews plans of engineered wall submittals for permit approval and for compliance with applicable building codes and ordinances.
• Communicates with wall engineers and contractors the city walls standards and expectations.
• Verifies materials for the walls to assure compliance with City standards.
• Assists with observation of residential and commercial site development civil improvements for drainage compliance with approved plans and standards.
• Responds to, evaluates, and resolves issues and problems.
• Provides technical assistance to engineers, contractors, and City staff.
• Maintains inspection, enforcement and complaint records and files and computer database.
• Researches, reviews, and interprets applicable building trade codes and ordinances.
• Assists in cross training building inspectors in trade codes and ordinances.

Other Important Duties:

• Monitors and enforces building codes and ordinances related to life safety issues of the public.
• May be required to work some evenings, weekends or on assignment as needed
• Travels to construction sites, meetings, conferences, and training.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work hours is essential.

• Knowledge of construction of fences, screening walls and retaining walls and safety rules, regulations, codes, and ordinances.
• Knowledge of stonework and masonry materials, methods, plan reading, and tools involved in the construction or repair of stone/masonry walls.
• Knowledge of building code enforcement practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of customer service practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of computers and related equipment, hardware, and software.
• Knowledge of City policies and procedures.
• Skill in effective oral and written communications.
• Skill in providing technical code enforcement and building inspection assistance to builders, contractors, developers, and homeowners.
• Skill in recognizing substandard, faulty, or hazardous building conditions and materials.
• Skill in recommending alternative construction materials to meet building code compliance.
• Skill in interpreting and enforcing building codes and ordinances.
• Skill in resolving customer complaints and concerns.
• Ability to speak fluently in the English and Spanish languages.

Education, Experience, and Certifications/Licenses:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D., and two (2) years experience in building construction, masonry construction, concrete construction or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preference given to individuals with previous masonry or concrete construction experience.
• Preference given to individuals who speak fluent English and Spanish.
• International Code Council Model Code Certificate in one of the trades such as building, or masonry preferred or must obtain International Code Council Building Inspector or Structural Masonry Special Inspector Certificate within six (6) months from entering the position.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, criminal background check, physical agility exam and MVR check.
• Must possess a valid State of Texas Drivers License.

• Work is performed in office and construction site environments.
• May be required to work in inclement weather.
• Balancing maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
• Climbing ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility.
• Crawling moving about on hands, knees, or hands, feet.
• Crouching bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
• Feeling perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips.
• Fingering picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
• Grasping applying pressure to object with fingers, palm.
• Handling picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
• Hearing 1 perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.
• Hearing 2 receive detailed information, make discrimination in sound.
• Kneeling bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
• Lifting raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.
• Mental Acuity ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
• Pulling - use upper extremities to exert force, haul, or tug.
• Pushing use upper extremities to press against objects with force, or thrust forward, downward, outward.
• Reaching extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
• Speaking expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
• Standing for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.
• Talking 1 - expressing ideas by spoken word.
• Talking 2 shouting to be heard above ambient noise.
• Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 2 - color, depth perception, field of vision.
• Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.
• Visual Acuity 5 - close acuity for inspection of small defects, machines, use measurement devices, or fabricate parts.
• Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.

Work Environment:

• Work performed is primarily medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Equipment and Tools Utilized:

• Equipment utilized includes personal computer, copier, calculator, fax machine, other standard office equipment, trades testing equipment and department vehicles.