Associate or Senior Plans Examiner



Associate or Senior Plans Examiner

Salary

$78,529.98 - $112,073.10 Annually

Location

Snoqualmie, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2019TR10571

Department

DLS - Dept. of Local Services

Division

Permitting

Opening Date

09/06/2019

Closing Date

12/17/2019 12:00 AM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

C1 : PTE L17-DES, DNRP, DPER, DOT

Summary

The Permitting Division of the King County Department of Local Services invites applicants reflective of our diverse local service area to apply for the position of Associate or Senior Plans Examiner.

The Plans Examiner will perform plan examination of residential and commercial building plans and supporting documentation for structures and developments to ensure compliance with structural, fire/life safety, energy, accessibility, and other county, state, and federal building code regulations. This person provides direct service to walk-in customers by conducting pre-application and construction consultation meetings, researching code requirements, and permit histories. The Senior Plans Examiner will also perform specialized complex structural plans examination, evaluation, and analysis.
 
KING COUNTY COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

King County employees provide more than 2 million residents with essential services that make this one of the nation's best places to live, work, play, and raise a family. We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
King County is the local service provider for roughly a quarter-million people who live in unincorporated parts of the county. If all of these residents lived together in a single city, it would be the second-largest city in the state. The population of our urban unincorporated areas is three-to-four times more diverse than those of our rural unincorporated areas in terms of race, language spoken, and income. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office, a Community Service Areas group, a Road Services Division, and a Permitting Division. It provides a single point of accountability for delivery of local services to all unincorporated areas in King County.

Job Duties

JOB DUTIES FOR BOTH ASSOCIATE AND SENIOR PLANS EXAMINER INCLUDES:
 

  • Hardcopy or electronic review of building and related permit applications documents to ensure construction proposals meet code requirements for life and safety, structural integrity, energy performance, accessibility, mechanical and other applicable codes.
  • Review structural plans and calculations to verify conformity with structural engineering principles; and perform structural engineering analysis of designs and related features of construction plans.
  • Performs site observation visits to evaluate potential construction conflicts and/or general construction progress towards complying with state codes.
  • Provide public with information on codes, regulations, and permit requirements.
  • Receive and respond to complaints about buildings/construction from citizens, other agencies and jurisdictions, King County Council, and Executive staff.
  • Interpret and apply codes and regulations for architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and property owners.
  • Provide direct customer assistance for the public, design professionals, property owners on building code questions and their application and the permit process.
  • Offer alternatives and initiate problem-solving conferences with owners, contractors, and design professionals.
  • Communicate on the job in ways that reflects well upon King County, the County Executive, the department, and the incumbent.
  • Exhibit and support a culture of superior customer service.
  • Scrupulously honor commitments made to customers and others.
  • Other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR SENIOR PLANS EXAMINER:
 
  • Specialized complex structural plans examination, evaluation and analysis of commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects.
  • Represent Department and County at interdepartmental or interagency forums
  • Assist in mentoring and training staff
  • Assist in developing quality assurance plans and provide quality control
  • Perform site observations as needed

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications for Associate Plans Examiner:
 

  • Construction or plans examination experience or education and experience in a related field such as architecture, engineering or construction management.
  • Demonstrated experience in the application and interpretation of national, state, and local building and fire codes and standards
  • Knowledge of the permitting process.
  • Knowledge of structural materials, systems, and engineering.
  • Skill in reading, interpreting, and explaining construction documents, specifications, codes, ordinances, and policies
  • Conducting meetings with builders, professionals or other customers to review construction, code, or other technical requirements
  • Handle multiple competing priorities and producing quality detailed work within tight timeframes.
  • Working effectively and cooperatively with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  • Must work well in a fast-paced, results oriented, team environment with the ability to think quickly and independently.
  • Strong communication skills, collaborative working style, and the ability to handle stressful situations in a positive manner.

The ideal candidate will have the following additional qualifications for Senior Plans Examiner:
 
  • Experience in structural engineering design and/or plans examination
  • Registration as a licensed Engineer
 
Our Most competitive Candidate Will Also Have:
 
  • Experience as a plans examiner
  • ICC certification as a building inspector and/or plans examiner
  • Experience with electronic review of construction documents
  • Engineer or architect license or professional degree

Supplemental Information

Who May Apply: 
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill full-time current and/or future special duty, term-limited temporary and career service positions in our Division. Special duty applicants must have approval from their current supervisor to accept the assignment. 

Work Schedule: 
This position is nonexempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is overtime eligible.  The regular workweek is full-time 40 hours, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Forms and Materials Required:
An online employment application, resume, and cover letter.
 
Selection Process: 
Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness.  The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.  Reference checks and record reviews will also be conducted.
Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to  interview.

Union Membership: 
This position is represented by PROTEC 17 and is referenced as a Plans Examination Engineer/Plan Review Coordinator II or III in the bargaining agreement.
 
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Theresa Reynolds
Senior Human Resource Analyst
206-477-0380
theresa.reynolds@kingcounty.gov
 
King County values diverse perspectives, life experiences, and differences. The Department of Local Services encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. We are committed to being equitable and fair in providing equal access to opportunities for all.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Agency
King County
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Phone
206-477-3404