Chief Building Inspector

Johnson County Kansas•Olathe, KS

4d•$33 - $49

About The Position

Johnson County Kansas Planning, Housing and Community Development Department is recruiting for a Plans Examiner/Chief Building Inspector. The position performs plan reviews for building projects and supervises inspections under the direction of the Johnson County Building Official. The candidate is expected to be knowledgeable about building plan review, inspection processes, and administration, and to be highly organized. The role reviews commercial, industrial, and residential design documents for compliance with adopted codes; coordinates required approvals; conducts construction inspections; evaluates existing buildings for life-safety and hazardous conditions; and provides code-related guidance to applicants, design professionals, contractors, homeowners, staff, and the public. The position also maintains electronic permit records, responds to permit and building-code inquiries, and works with county departments and fire districts on code interpretation and compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field; experience may substitute for the degree, and education may substitute for experience.
Five years of experience in architecture, engineering, and/or construction management.
Five years of experience in building and fire codes.
Ability to inspect construction-site conditions.
Must possess and maintain a valid Kansas driver's license, have a driving record acceptable under Johnson County policies, and be able to operate a motor vehicle as required by the duties.

Nice To Haves

Five years of experience in public service.
Plan Examiner certification from ICC or legacy Model codes.
Building Inspector certification from ICC or legacy Model codes.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive plan reviews, with minimal or no supervision, of commercial, industrial, and residential permit design documents for compliance with adopted Johnson County codes, including structural, non-structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, life-safety, and energy requirements.
Review plans for compliance with Fire Code and standards in collaboration with the three Johnson County Fire Districts.
Coordinate plan review and approvals with county, state, and federal departments whose approval is required before a building permit can be issued.
Maintain and update plan-review records in the electronic permit-tracking system.
Communicate review results and discrepancies to building permit applicants and design professionals.
Collaborate with the County Building Official to ensure appropriate interpretation of codes.
Attend meetings, seminars, and workshops and review technical literature to maintain knowledge of adopted International codes and standards.
Conduct thorough field inspections of commercial, industrial, and residential projects during construction for compliance with adopted codes, including structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fuel gas, fire protection, and energy requirements.
Evaluate and analyze existing buildings for code compliance, life-safety concerns, and hazardous conditions.
Initiate remedies for fire-code compliance in cooperation with fire inspectors, the three Johnson County Fire Districts, and the County Building Official.
Enter inspection reports in the permit-tracking system and send copies to the appropriate contractor and building permit applicant.
Meet with design professionals, contractors, and homeowners before and during construction to explain adopted county codes and ensure familiarity with them.
Respond to questions about adopted codes and resolve inquiries and concerns.
Serve as an on-call plan examiner, responding to daily phone calls and walk-ins concerning building permits and building-code questions.
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with coworkers, contractors, design professionals, public officials, and the public.
Communicate regularly with the building official, field inspectors, fire districts, and planners regarding clarification and interpretation of building-code issues.
Provide technical assistance to department staff and other departments regarding code interpretation, permitting functions, inspection requirements, and construction specifications.