Building Permit and Plans Examiner I-III

Starting pay dependent on experience and qualifications aligned with minimum qualifications listed below.

Building Permit & Plans Examiner I: $25.60 - $26.92/hour
Building Permit & Plans Examiner II: $27.37 - $28.37/hour
Building Permit & Plans Examiner III: $29.54 - $31.05/hour

Primary Purpose of Job
The primary purpose of this position is to (1) perform detailed and technical plan reviews of developments requiring permitting under the administration of the Office of the Building Official and (2) to serve as the first point of contact for providing information about building codes, permitting requirements and processes, to accept and process building and development permit applications, and to prepare and issue approved building and other development permit packets.

Building Permit and Plans Examiner I Under close supervision by the Building Official, an employee works independently on assigned duties and responsibilities. This position is an entry level position focused on learning building and life safety codes, the development permitting process, and plan reviews of developments which require permitting. An employee in this position will work directly with the public, project designers, and developers with permit intake and will perform plan reviews of development projects based on their knowledge, experience, and performance in the position.

Building Permit and Plans Examiner II Under general supervision by the Building Official, an employee works independently on assigned duties and responsibilities. An employee in this position will work directly with the public, project designers, and developers with permit intake and will perform plan reviews of development projects based on their knowledge, experience, and performance in the position.

Building Permit and Plans Examiner III - Under supervision by the Building Official, an employee works independently on assigned duties and responsibilities. This position works directly with the public, project designers, and developers with permit intake and will perform plan reviews of development projects based on their knowledge, experience, and performance in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Initial point of contact for the public, project designers, and developers providing assistance with building and development permit policies and procedures
Performs plan reviews of development that falls under the purview of the Sitka Office of the Building Official for compliance with Sitkas adopted building and life safety codes.
Provides department information and customer service via email, telephone, and in-person
Responds to customer questions dealing with issues such as building codes, permit readiness, and project fees
Reviews permit applications and submittals for completeness, forwards applications to appropriate staff for review, calculates applicable fees, and prepares invoices for department-related fees
Records permit information into software database and maintains electronic and hard files in accordance with building code, records retention policy, and legal requirements
Prepares and distributes approved building permits and plans and Certificates of Occupancy
Collaborates with other department personnel regarding permit inquiries, appropriate responses, project valuations, and permit fees
Coordinates with other public agencies and seeks to promote a process of cooperation between contractors, builders, building owners and the City and Borough of Sitka
Performs plan reviews for compliance with local and state fire statues and regulations as required by State Fire Marshal deferral
Researches and provides information to the Building Official and Public Works Director for use in the revision of existing municipal building codes
Performs other duties as assignedAll Building Permit and Plans Examiners are expected to have a level of knowledge based on their years of experience working with and applying building and life safety codes and their level of certification.

Knowledge of:
Office procedures and best practices with regard to customer service
Building and life safety codes in the Sitka General Code and state law including state and local amendments
Building and life safety standards referenced in state and locally adopted building and life safety codes
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, structural, and grading design requirements and methods
Excavation and grading procedures, properties of construction materials, and building science
Current trends in building and development plan review and permit processing

Skills in:
Operating a personal computer using standard software, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, and customized software applications
Dealing with a wide range of people, including situations in which in individuals may be upset over some issue involving adopted building and life safety codes and delayed or denied permitting
Presenting technical information and building and life safety code explanations to others in an understandable and productive manner
Drafting clear and concise letters and official documents that convey straightforward requirements
Solving basic and moderate math equations
Organizing, maintaining, and managing a wide variety of records and files both in paper and electronic form
Prioritizing work while focusing on multiple tasks that require meticulous attention to detail
Providing customer service including answering questions, handling payments, and dealing with routine problems

Ability to:
Recognize and maintain confidential information
Read and comprehend building and life safety codes and communicate the requirements to people with varying levels building and life safety code experience or training in a courteous and respectful manner.
Perform examination and analysis of permitting applications, construction plans, and supporting information
Work independently based on general instruction and in compliance with policies and procedures and building and life safety codes
Communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language
Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures and instructions
Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions
Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines
Quickly learn and put to use newly acquired skills and knowledge Minimum Qualifications Building Permit and Plans Examiner I (Grade 7) :
HS Diploma or GED; and
One year of experience in construction or building plan review; or
One year of experience working in a busy office environment or customer service; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire, the International Code Council (ICC) Building Plans Examiner Certification, and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire, the Permit Technician Certification with the International Code Council (ICC); or
Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Note: After thirty-six (36) consecutive months working as a Building Permit and Plans Examiner I, an employee will be eligible to move to a Building Permit and Plans Examiner II so long as all licenses and certificates listed below have been obtained and the employee has at least two consecutive written
satisfactory evaluations on record subject to approval of the Public Works Director.

Building Permit and Plans Examiner II (Grade 8) :

Option 1
Three years satisfactorily performing as a Building Permit and Plans Examiner I with Sitka
Possession of certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Mechanical Plans Examiner; and
Possession of certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Residential Plans Examiner; and
Possession of certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Commercial Mechanical Inspector

Option 2
HS Diploma or GED; Associate Degree or equivalent in a related field preferable; and
Three years of experience with building and development permitting, development and construction plan review, and building code administration at a level of Building Permit and Plans Examiner I or equivalent; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire, certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Mechanical Plans Examiner; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 12months of hire, certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Residential Plans Examiner; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 18 months of hire, certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Commercial Mechanical Inspector; or
Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Note: After twenty-four (24) consecutive months working as a Building Permit and Plans Examiner II, an employee will be eligible to move to a Building Permit and Plans Examiner III so long as all licenses and certificates listed below have been obtained and the employee has at least two consecutive written satisfactory evaluations on record subject to approval of the Public Works Director.

Building Permit and Plans Examiner III (Grade 9) :

Option 1
Two years satisfactorily performing as a Building Permit and Plans Examiner II with Sitka
Possession of certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as an Electrical Plans Examiner; and
Possession of certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Fire Plans Examiner

Option 2
HS Diploma or GED; Associate Degree or equivalent in a related field preferable; and
Five years of experience with building and development permitting, development and construction plan review, and building code administration; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire, certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as an Electrical Plans Examiner; and
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire, certification with the International Code Council (ICC) as a Fire Plans Examiner; or
Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Employees are expected to maintain the above-required certifications for the duration of their employment in this position.

Other Job Requirements or Expectations
None. Working Conditions:
Works in office setting for about 90% of the time
Works in the field outside for about 10% of the time, often in inclement weather with related hazards

Specific Physical Requirements:
Operating office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination using a computer and keyboard on a daily basis
Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time at a desk in front of computer
Occasional bending, climbing, stooping, reaching, and twisting while in the office
Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects up 50 pounds with or without the assistance of proper equipment
Frequent physical movement (walking, standing, sitting, stooping, or climbing) during the assigned hours of work in the field

General Physical Requirements:
Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits the employee to communicate effectively
Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work with detailed finely printed documents and to perform detailed and technical review of plans in various formats and sizes
Sufficient manual dexterity which permits the employee to operate a personal computer
Sufficient personal mobility, strength, balance and physical reflexes, if assigned to work in the field, which permits the employee to perform duties at a variety of inspection sites under sometimes physically demanding and hazardous conditions in all forms of weather, including work in rough terrain, construction sites, ladders, scaffolds, crawlspaces, heavy equipment and live exposed electrical equipment