Plans Examiner

City of Napa; Napa (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation leave

Paid holidays

Retirement plan (CalPERS)

Tuition reimbursement

Phone stipend

Job summary

The City of Napa is seeking a Plans Examiner in the Building Division to review construction plans for compliance with the California Building Code and city ordinances. You will determine submittal requirements, assist applicants, and perform field inspections in collaboration with Permit Technicians, Inspectors, and the Chief Building Official.

Ideal candidates have ICC Plans Examiner and Building Inspector Certifications within one year of hire, strong technical knowledge, and excellent

Qualifications

• Technical knowledge of building/plans examination and current code developments.
• Managing relationships to build trust and effective communication.
• Quality oriented approach, attention to detail across tasks.
• Strong decision making and judgment based on data and constraints.
• Coaching and developing others to improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Review construction plans for conformity with building codes and laws.
• Determine submittal requirements and assist applicants in achieving compliance.
• Perform field inspections and respond to inquiries during plan review.

Skills

Technical Knowledge

Communication skills

Relationship management

Decision making

Problem solving

Planning and organizing

Emotional intelligence

Applied learning

Education

ICC Plans Examiner Certificate

Building Inspector Certification

Tools

EnerGov

BlueBeam Plan Review

Job description

Upcoming Salary Increases:

• 2.5% Salary Increase effective January 2027
• 3.5% Salary Increase effective July 2027
• 3.25% Salary Increase effective July 2028
• 2.85% Salary Increase effective July 2029

Prior Years of Public Service Vacation Accrual Credit:

Full-time service in a City, County, State, Federal Agency, or Special District may be counted towards vacation accrual tiers at the City of Napa.

The Community Resources and Development Department is seeking applicants for one (1) Plans Examiner opening in our Building Division. Our Building Division continuously provides professional recommendations to our community on construction plans for compliance with the latest California Building Code, city ordinances, and state and federal laws. The Plans Examiner works in collaboration with multiple team members in the Building Division including Permit Technicians, Senior Permit Technician, Building Inspectors, and Chief Building Official, as well as other City departments and divisions across the organization.

As a Plans Examiner, you will have the opportunity to be the go-to specialist in technical and administrative tasks related to processing plans concerning the construction of industrial, commercial and residential structures in Napa. It will be your responsibility to determine compliance with applicable codes, laws and regulations to support the safety and growth of the community. This position reviews and checks construction plans and related documents submitted by architects, engineers, contractors and owners for general conformity and compliance to requirements of applicable building and safety codes and related laws and ordinances.

You will also be responsible for determining submittal requirements for permit applications, assisting applicants in gaining compliance, performing field inspections, resolving disputes, and responding to counter, phone and written inquiries.

We are looking for a team player with strong communication and collaboration skills who excels at interpreting building/zoning regulations and working with a wide variety of customers. Experience working with EnerGov permitting software and BlueBeam plan review software is highly desirable. Applicants who have experience with plan checking for a Building Division, or in a similar setting for a local government agency are encouraged to apply!

Special Requirements: Possession of an International Code Council (ICC) Plans Examiner Certificate and a Building Inspector Certification are required within one year of hire.

Ideal candidates for the position of Plans Examiner will have shown success in demonstrating the following competencies:

• Technical Knowledge and Skill– Knowledge of principles and practices of building/plans examination and keeping up with current developments in building codes.
• Managing Relationships– Meeting the personal needs of individuals to build trust, encourage two-way communication, and strengthen relationships.
• Quality Orientation– Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved no matter how detailed; showing concern for all aspects of the job.
• Decision Making – Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probable consequences.
• Coaching and Developing Others – Providing feedback, instruction, and development mentorship to help others excel in their current or future job responsibilities; planning and supporting the development of individual skills and abilities.
• Resolving Conflict– Helping others deal effectively with an antagonistic situation to minimize damage to the relationships and promote shared goals; using appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people and facilitate agreement.
• Emotional Intelligence – Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; leveraging insights to effectively manage own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• Planning and Organizing– Establishing an action plan to complete work efficiently and on time by setting priorities, establishing timelines, and using resources.
• Applied Learning– Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Vacation Leave – New employees can accrue up to 104 vacationhours annually.
• Prior Years of Public Service Vacation Accrual Credit – Full-time service in a City, County, State, Federal Agency, or Special District may be counted towards vacation accrual tiers at the City of Napa.
• Paid Holidays – 15 paid holidays per year.
• Personal Leave – 4 hours per year.
• Sick Leave – Employees can accrue up to 96 hours annually.
• Dental and Medical Insurance Plans – The City provides significant contributions to dental and medical plans.
• Retirement – The City participates in the CalPERS retirement pension system.
• Deferred Compensation Program – Employees are eligible to enroll in a 457 Plan and the City contributes $83.33 per month to a 457 plan.
• Life Insurance and AD&D – $50,000 of coverage paid for by the City.
• Phone Stipend – Up to $110 per month
• Tuition Reimbursement – $2,000 per year

Please visit our Benefits webpage to view the full benefits guide.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE

Additionally, upon completion of the probationary period, our Community Resources and Development Department offers the flexibility of a 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off) which allows employees to enjoy a three-day weekend every other weekend to promote work/life balance.

This recruitment and examination are being conducted to fill one (1) vacancy and may be used to fill future similar vacancies as they occur during the active status of the employment list. The active status of this employment list will be for six (6) months unless abolished sooner or extended beyond that date in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

MISSION STATEMENT for the City of Napa

Rooted in public service, our mission is to grow a vibrant, sustainable community for all who live in, work in, and visit the City of Napa, through thoughtful leadership and dedication to excellence.

CORE VALUES for the City of Napa

• Integrity - Consistently demonstrating the highest level of ethical conduct with accountability and pride.
• Service - Engaging in meaningful work to care for our community through resourceful dedication and humble actions.
• Inclusion - Creating a sense of ease and belonging through respect, acceptance, and mindfulness of our collective diversity.
• Collaboration - Working together with a shared purpose while respectfully considering all voices to achieve common goals, solutions, and greater outcomes.

NOTE: CITY OF NAPA EMPLOYEES SHOULD USE A PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

SELECTION PROCESS

The City of Napa utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, an eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments and eligible lists may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

Candidates who have participated in a testing process for a recruitment are not eligible to re-take the same test within six (6) months.

What happens next?

• We will review your application and all supplemental materials to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the selection process. Application appraisal includes a review of qualifications, education, training, and experience related to the job, as well as supplemental questions if applicable.
• Applicants moving forward in the selection process may be asked to participate in any combination of the following (at any phase of the selection process): online assessment, written examination, job-related exercise, phone interview, and panel interview. These testing steps may be conducted on a pass/fail basis, and/or percentage-based scoring methodology.
• Based on the City Charter, the final phase of the selection process is the Probationary Period, which in most cases is six (6) months but may be twelve (12) months depending on the classification.
• When three or fewer candidates are available, the testing procedures outlined in the Job Announcement may be waived by the Human Resources Department.

Language Equity

• If you need assistance with the recruitment and selection process in Spanish, contact us at 707-257-9505. These requests will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Si necesita ayuda con el proceso de reclutamiento y selección en español, contáctenos al 707-257-9505. Estas solicitudes se evaluarán caso por caso.

Reasonable Accommodations

The City of Napa Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified disabled applicants. Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation in the testing process must inform the HR Department in writing by the final filing date. A Reasonable Accommodation Request Form is available from HR and may be obtained by calling 707-257-9505, or dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service, offering free text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.