Senior Building Inspector

The City of Signal Hill is seeking a Senior Building Inspector to lead vital inspections, ensure code compliance, and play a key role in maintaining our city's unique infrastructure and standards. Be a part of a forward-thinking team in a city that values innovation, integrity, and community pride.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME ONCE SUFFICIENT QUALIFIED APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY IMMEDIATELY.

FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: August 11, 2025

Our City

The City of Signal Hill is a desirable place to live and work because of its safe neighborhoods, abundant business opportunities, inclusive culture, and beautiful green spaces. With its central location, the community takes great pride in its recreational amenities which include 11 City parks and open space area covering over 29 acres, an extensive walking trail system, abundant recreation and library programs, and an array of annual events.

The City of Signal Hill, with a population of 11,500 and covering 2.2 square miles, is located in Los Angeles County within four miles of the Pacific Ocean. Signal Hill was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after the discovery of a vast oil field. Known for its beautiful setting, Signal Hill claims the only accessible high ground for miles around with an impressive hilltop park which provides spectacular panoramic views.

The Position
The Senior Building Inspector is part of the Community Development Department. Under general supervision, the Senior Building Inspector inspects routine and complex structures and building systems at various stages of construction, alteration and repair for compliance with California Building Codes.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Senior Building Inspector is the journey class in the Building Inspector series. Incumbents perform the more complex inspections and in-house plan checking, technical fieldwork, and investigation in the enforcement of a broad range of buildings, municipal, and related codes and reference standards. The Senior Building Inspector also functions as the Oil Services Coordinator and conducts regular inspections of oil field facilities and identifies conditions which are not in compliance with the City Oil and Gas Code, including beautification standards. The work requires independence and discretion in both field inspections and plan examinations. This classification differs from the next higher classification of Principal Building Inspector in that the latter is responsible for the performance of even more complex duties and supervision. Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include, but are not limited to the following characteristic duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
BUILDING

• Conducts field inspections of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings during various stages of construction and remodeling to assure compliance with applicable codes and regulations of the City, County, State and Federal agencies as well as Building Dept. Conditions of Approval for entitlements.
• Performs complex inspection duties in several trade specialties such as plumbing, electrical and mechanical, structural and finish trade areas.
• Ascertains conformance to California Building Code, Plumbing and Electrical Codes, and pertinent provisions of State and County health and environmental ordinances.
• Inspects foundation, concrete, steel, wood framing, plastering, plumbing, heating and electrical installations, and a large variety of other complex and routine building system elements.
• As directed, may inspect existing dwellings for conformance with California Building Codes.
• Participates in the City's Code Enforcement Program for violations related to the California Building Code and the City Oil and Gas Code and to supplement the City Code Enforcement Officer as needed.
• Examines grade, quality, and treatment of lumber, concrete, lath, wire and composition; check stud, joist, rafter spacing and other structural member factors.
• Conducts field review of plans and specifications; ensure proper installation of complex building systems.
• Assists in the conduct of zoning, general land use, and code enforcement inspection work as assigned.
• Confers with architects, contractors, builders and the general public in the field and office; explain and interpret requirements and restrictions.
• Reviews permits for code compliance before issuance and works closely with Building Permit Technician.
• Assists in providing customer service at the public counter, telephone, email, etc.
• Provides technical assistance to other Department staff.
• Keeps daily inspection records and prepares reports as needed.

OIL FIELD SERVICES

• Functions as the citys Oil Services Coordinator
• Maintains oversight of the oil field and compliance with the relevant sections of Chapter 16, of the City Oil and Gas Code.
• Performs regular/annual oil field facilities inspections, identifies conditions which are not compliant with the City Oil and Gas Code, including beautification standards and issues corrections.
• Coordinates oil field related activities with other City departments, and oil operators.
• May be required to perform emergency inspection outside of normal work hours.

Any combination of education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess:
Experience: Three (3) years experience as a building inspector with increasingly responsible building professional permit or planning experience.
Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Licenses and Certification: Possession of the following International Code Council (ICC) certifications : B1 Residential Building Inspector, and B2 Commercial Building Inspector.
Valid Class C California driver license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance are also required.
Desirable Qualifications: Associates or Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Knowledge of:

• Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction. Building, electrical and plumbing codes and ordinances enforceable by the City, specifically the California Building Code.
• Principles and techniques of building inspection work.
• Principles, practices and procedures in the construction trades, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical and heating/air-condition trades.
• Energy regulations and access regulations.
• City Oil and Gas Code SHMC Chapter 16
• Operational characteristics of oil field tools and equipment, including heavy construction equipment.
• Plan check experience and ICBO certifications.

Mathematical Ability:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
• Ability to calculate decimals, ratios, percentages, fractions, volumes and spatial relationships.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to utilize functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable criteria.
• Ability to research and evaluate products and materials for suitability of applications.
• Ability to analyze and categorize data and information in order to determine the relationship of the data with reference to established criteria/standards; ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and/or sort data, as well as assemble, copy, record and transcribe data; ability to classify, compute and tabulate data.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication:

• Ability to train/lead/collaborate with others.
• Ability to advise and interpret how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information, such as technical operating manuals, procedures, guidelines, plans, specifications, codes and other laws.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, architects, engineers, builders, contractors, property owners, and the general public, both verbally and in writing.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing slightly skilled movements, such as cutting, pressing or grinding.
• Ability to exert mildly heavy physical effort in moderate to heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling.
• Ability to maneuver and steer equipment and machinery requiring simple, but continuous adjustments, such as the operation of an automobile.
• Ability to lift, push and pull 25 pounds.

Environmental Adaptability: Ability to transition from office work to outdoor work. While performing the duties of this job, employees occasionally work in outside weather conditions with exposure to wet and/or humid conditions. Employees work near moving construction equipment, and in high precarious places. Noise levels in the office environment are typically low and may be moderate to loud when in the field. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. Selection Procedure: All statements made on applications are subject to investigation and verification. Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City of Signal Hill. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City application and supplemental questionnaire. Admission to competitive examination may be limited to those whose applications show the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position. Any part of the examination process may be qualifying only. Equal Opportunity Employer: T he City of Signal Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workplace diversity. Americans with Disabilities: Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at ... or ... no later than 5 business days before the test date.
Fingerprinting: Applicants who are selected for hire are fingerprinted during the pre- placement processing period. All fingerprints will be processed with the Department of Justice to verify criminal records or absence thereof. Physical Examination: Employment offers are conditional based, upon the successful completion of a medical examination which may include drug and alcohol screening. Physicals are performed by the City's designated physician at the City's expense. Candidates are cautioned not to quit their jobs or give notice to their current employers until they are determined to be medically qualified.
Oath and Disaster Service Worker: All City employees are required to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Public Employees upon the beginning of employment. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all City employees are required to perform assigned emergency service duties in the event of an emergency or disaster and are required to sign a Disaster Service Worker Statement upon hire.