Plans Examiner I or II - City of Salem, OR

Make an impact:  
The City of Salem Building and Safety Division is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Plans Examiner to join our team! As a Plans Examiner you will play a crucial role in reviewing and assessing architectural plans and construction documents to ensure compliance with state building codes, regulations, and standards. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the safe and efficient development of structures within our community.
 
Learn and grow: 
We value our employees and provide opportunities for career development. There are many cross-training opportunities within the department. Additionally, this position is a flex classification from Plans Examiner I to Plans Examiner II.


What you will do: 
The Plans Examiner provides all electronic plan review of building plans with modern computer-aided technology while meeting BSD guarantees and goals. The successful candidate will counsel customers on appropriate permits, building code requirements, plan review submittal requirements, enter accurate data into computer records, and calculate fees. The Plans Examiner will also respond to inquiries from the public and other city departments.
 
The ideal candidate is a seasoned plan reviewer with people-oriented skills able to work independently, accomplish daily plan review timelines while working with walk-in-customers. This position will be expected to work full-time in office until it has been determined by their supervisor that they are capable of working from home. A work-from-home hybrid program is available to most employees that have demonstrated sufficient training to work independently.
 
Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Review plans and specifications for all building and related structural construction or alteration for compliance with municipal codes, engineering standards, and material specifications, and recommend changes to meet code standards.
• Conduct field inspections and re-inspections of buildings during the course of construction, alteration, or repair for conformance with code requirements.
• Complete inspection forms, prepare letters and notices of correction for remedy of deficiencies.
• Investigate complaints of code violations.
• Respond to inquiries from the public.
• Perform research activities and prepare reports as directed.

 
What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• 5% Bilingual incentive for qualifying candidate.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Earn $3.03 - $9.08/hr. increase pay with qualifying certifications.
• Position schedule is Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
• Our team follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office 555 Liberty St SE, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks and manager approval. This is subject to change based on business needs.

What are the minimum qualifications? 
Plans Examiner I: 

• Must pass pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Drive license and meet the City of Salem’s driving standards.
• High school diploma or GED, supplemented by college level courses in engineering or architecture, and two years of commercial plan review experience, preferably with electronic plan review experience, or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities as listed, and ability to perform essential job functions.
• State of Oregon Inspector (OIC) Certification
• State of Oregon Residential Plans Examiner (CAX) Certification
• State of Oregon Residential Structural Inspector (CAS) Certification

Plans Examiner II: 

• Must pass pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Drive license and meet the City of Salem’s driving standards.
• High school diploma or GED, supplemented by college level courses in engineering or architecture, and five years of experience as a building contractor, architect, or structural engineer, or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions. 
• State of Oregon Inspector (OIC) Certification
• State of Oregon Structural Plans Examiner A-Level (PEA) Certification
• State of Oregon Fire and Life Safety Plans Examiner (PEF) Certification
• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

 Preferred Qualifications (Not required to apply):

• State of Oregon Residential Plans Examiner (CAX) Certification
• State of Oregon Mechanical Inspector A-Level (MIA) Certification
• State of Oregon Residential Mechanical Inspector (CAM) Certification
• State of Oregon Residential Plumbing Inspector (CAP) Certification
• State of Oregon Residential Electrical Inspector (CAE) Certification

 What you will bring along: 

• Knowledge of state and municipal building, zoning, and related ordinances, and codes;
• Knowledge of all types of building construction materials, methods, and stages of construction when possible violations and defects may be easily observed and corrected;
• Knowledge and experience with construction safety practices and equipment;
• Experience with modern office practices and ability to use office equipment;
• Experience reviewing and accurately interpret complex plans, specifications, and blueprints and to reconcile them while construction is in progress;
• Experience with performing complex structural computations and providing recommendations;
• Experience to tactfully enforce building codes and regulations; 
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with individuals, co-workers, other agencies, and the public;
• Experience and ability to acknowledge others, respect, seek to understand, and value individual differences to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace. 

About us:
The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon, located in the heart Willamette Valley, and is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

   
A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:
Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development Department. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The city has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.
 
Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Plans Examiner I or view by clicking here; and search for Plans Examiner II or view by clicking here.

How can I apply? 
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
 
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.
 
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
 
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!
 
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.