Description

About the Department

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Celebration. The City's Public Works Department is seeking an individual whose values align with the values of the City's employees. 

The Department of Public Works is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating and regulating development activities, and providing animal care and services. The Department is committed to high-quality service, partnering with the community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work.

Benefits & Compensation

The City offers a variety of benefit options to employees, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Employees in the Building Inspector Combination/Certified classifications are represented by the bargaining unit, Association of Building, Mechanical and Electrical Inspectors (ABMEI). Explore a comprehensive list of benefits by visiting CSJ’s Human Resources Benefits webpage. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Regular Work hours of 40-hours/week + overtime opportunity
• Annual Paid Holiday Time-off: 15 days
• Accrued annual Paid Time-off: approx. 10 days (first 5 years of service)*
• Accrued annual Paid Sick-time
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Retirement/Pension (Download PDF reader)
• Employee Assistance Program & Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical Reimbursement and Dependent Care)
• Commuter Benefit &Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Long Term Disability (LTD) & Personal Accident Insurance (AD&D)
• Long Term Care (for existing subscribers only) (2080 hours worked = 1 year)

Salary range(s) for this classification is/are: 

Building Inspector Combination: $114,769.20 - $139,579.44

Building Inspector Combination Certified I: $118,154.40 - $143,554.32

Building Inspector Combination Certified II: $121,321.20 - $147,878.64

Building Inspector Combination Certified III: $126,169.68 - $153,709.92

Building Inspector Combination Certified Senior: $143,073.84 - $174,370.56

This salary range(s) includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

Position Duties

The Department of Public Works is recruiting to fill three (3) Building Inspector-Electrical Specialty, Combination/Certified I/II/III/Senior positions within the Engineering Services Division, Code Inspection Section.

The Building Inspector Combination/Certified I/II/III/Senior positions will be located subject to business need. These positions will provide inspection support at a variety of City of San José facilities, including the Airport, Regional Wastewater Facility and Central Service Yard.

Key responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct inspections of industrial, commercial, manufacturing, and facilities to ensure compliance with codes, regulations, ordinances, standards, and contract agreements which includes setting up inspection schedules; gathering information and evidence; and, ensuring conformance to plans, specifications, and safety regulations.
• Investigate building, construction, and land use changes in the field by gathering factual data to ascertain present use of land and location of structures; conducting background investigations and research; and preparing reports to use as evidence.
• Provide technical assistance for development of codes and policies.
• Generate written reports and enforcement orders which includes noting deficiencies in standards and submitting final documentation.
• Review plans and specifications for compliance with codes which includes assisting in projects in complying with regulations, prioritizing deficiencies, and preparing timetables.
• Provide technical support for agencies and the public which includes inputting data into system for general public access.
• Meet with architects, engineers, City officials, and building contractors to discuss construction projects.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

 
Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent.

Experience: 

Building Inspector Combination: Four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to either a journey level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience, or two (2) years of combination inspection experience for a public agency and two (2) years of construction related experience equivalent to the above.

Building Inspector Combination Certified I: Four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to either a journey level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience, or two (2) years of inspection experience for a public agency and two (2) years of construction related experience equivalent to the above.

Building Inspector Combination Certified II: Four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to either a journey level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience AND one (1) year of inspection experience for a public agency. Two (2) additional years of inspection experience for a public agency may be substituted for two (2) years of construction experience.

Building Inspector Combination Certified III: Four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to either a journey level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience AND two (2) years of inspection experience for a public agency. Two (2) additional years of inspection experience for a public agency may be substituted for two (2) years of construction experience.

Building Inspector Combination Certified Senior: Four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to either a journey level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience AND three (3) years of inspection experience for a public agency. Two (2) additional years of inspection experience for a public agency may be substituted for two (2) years of construction experience.

Acceptable Substitution: Closely related college level courses such as classes in construction, architecture, fire protection and engineering or equivalent from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required contractor or journey level construction experience on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.

Licensing/Certification Requirements

Valid California Driver’s License.

Building Inspector Combination: Obtain and maintain valid commercial certification issued by an agency acceptable to the City in the employee’s specialty area as soon as possible but no later than twelve (12) months from the employee’s start date in the classification.

Building Inspector Combination Certified I: Possess and maintain valid commercial certification issued by an agency acceptable to the City in the employee’s specialty area.

Building Inspector Combination Certified II: Possess and maintain valid commercial certifications issued by an agency acceptable to the City in the employee’s specialty trade and in one (1) additional commercial specialty trade.

Building Inspector Combination Certified III: Possess and maintain valid commercial certifications issued by an agency acceptable to the City in the employee’s specialty trade and in two (2) additional commercial specialty trades.

Building Inspector Combination Certified Senior: Possess and maintain valid commercial certifications issued by an agency acceptable to the City in the employee’s specialty trade and in three (3) additional commercial specialty trades either through maintaining individual certifications, or through maintaining a Commercial Combination Inspector certificate which represents commercial certifications in Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical OR in two (2) additional commercial specialty trades and one other certification such as Plan Review or CASP.

Form 700: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Background Investigation Process: Eligible candidates will complete a Class C Background packet. Upon successful completion and review of the background investigation, the hiring board will make their employment selections. Those selected will move forward in the hiring process.

 
Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include: 

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and skill in:

• Applicable construction laws, rules, codes, and regulations;
• Inspection practices;
• Judicial procedures and practices;
• Public administration principles;
• Basic building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, construction, and safety principles;
• Using electrical or mechanical measuring tools;
• Performing inspections;
• Reading and interpreting technical documents, plans, ordinances and blueprints;
• Operating photographic and video equipment to document evidence;
• Preparing sketches and drawings.

Communication Skills - Communicates and listens effectively and responds in a timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form.

Conflict Management - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.

Customer Service - Approaches problem-solving by focusing on customers first; advocates for customer results point of view; demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently in a timely, accurate, respectful and friendly manner.

Decision Making/Problem Solving - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; ability to use good judgment, make ethical decisions and work with City policy; approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information.

Flexibility - Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Demonstrates a positive attitude and flexibility along with the ability to develop effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Diana Gonzalez at [email protected]. 

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility:  Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.  

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application.  If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided.  IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [email protected] and we will research the status of your application. 

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.