SENIOR BUILDING INSPECTOR

Tuolumne County; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Tuolumne County in California is seeking an experienced Building Inspector II to provide technical and functional direction, perform plan reviews and inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial sites, and enforce building codes. This advanced journey-level class emphasizes leadership and code enforcement responsibilities.

You will read and interpret plans, advise on construction methods, train staff, and coordinate inspections with contractors and property owners.

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or GED plus four years of responsible building/inspection experience.
• Desirable completion of an accredited building inspection program or college-level study.
• Possession of ICC building inspection certificates or ICC Combination Certificate is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and functional direction to assigned staff and conduct plan reviews for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
• Perform advanced inspections to ensure compliance with California building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes.
• Read and interpret construction plans, diagrams, and specifications; identify deviations from approved plans.
• Issue stop-work notices for unsafe or non-compliant work; communicate inspection results to contractors and property owners.
• Train staff on procedures, safety rules, and code requirements; participate in budget planning as needed.
• Represent the County in meetings with public and private organizations; coordinate with Chief Building Official on inspections and plans examination.

Skills

Supervision

Plan review

Building inspections

Reading plans

Code enforcement

Training staff

Customer service

Education

High school diploma

ICC certifications desirable

Tools

ICC codes references

Job description

INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON OCTOBER 20, 2026

Under general supervision, provides technical and functional direction to lower-level staff and/or performs routine to complex plan review and combination inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial building sites to enforce building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and environmental codes, with specific expertise, knowledge of, and emphasis on one of the building trades; ensures conformance with approved plans, specifications, standards, permits, and licensing; provides a variety of information to property owners, developers, architects, engineers, and contractors; functions as a commercial and/or residential plan checker; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Chief Building Official. May exercise technical and functional direction over and provide training and guidance to staff as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey-level class in the Building Inspector series that performs the full range of duties related to participating in and conducting a variety of plan review and combination inspection activities. Responsibilities include reviewing plans, conducting inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial building sites, enforcing compliance with regulatory codes, laws, and ordinances, ensuring conformance with approved plans, specifications, standards, permits, and licensing, and providing technical and functional direction to lower level staff. This class is distinguished from Chief Building Official in that the latter has management responsibility for all plans examination, building inspections, permitting, code enforcement, and related programs, functions, and activities.(Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides technical and functional direction to assigned staff; reviews and controls quality of work; participates in performing complex building inspection and plan check duties.
• Plans, schedules, prioritizes, and assigns inspections in consultation with the ChiefBuildingOfficial; communicates status of inspections to appropriate staff, working cooperatively to schedule inspections in accordance with established priorities.
• Trains employees in work principles, practices, methods, policies, procedures, and applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, codes, and regulations.
• Assists in the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards including recommending improvements; assists in developing work plans, procedures, and schedules.
• Performs the technical review and checking of construction plans for compliance with California building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other codes as required by state and local authorities.
• Performs all duties of a Building Inspector, including conducting field inspections of residential, commercial and industrial structures for code compliance.
• May serve as the primary resource person for specific functions of the department, such as the review of commercial building and construction plans or the inspection of mobile home parks.
• Schedules appointments with contractors, developers and property owners for inspections at various stages of construction.
• Writes "stop work" notices for work being done without permits or in an unsafe manner.
• Provides information to contractors, developers and property owners regarding building inspection requirements and code enforcement activities.
• Performs code compliance investigations; processes code compliance case files for violations of Tuolumne County Ordinance Code under supervision of the Chief Building Official.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance and complaints regarding division and department projects, policies and procedures.
• Monitors and interprets changes in building code requirements and new construction techniques.
• Reviews and prepares building inspection reports, and maintains accurate files, logs and records of completed inspections.
• May assist in department budget development and administration.
• Represents the County in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of supervision and training.
• Principles, practices, methods, materials, techniques, and safety standards of building construction, building inspection, and structural design for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.
• County and department policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices in general construction, electrical and mechanical systems.
• Safety standards and methods of building construction for commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
• Principles and techniques of building inspection work.
• Principles of structural design and engineering mathematics.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to the governing the construction of assigned projects.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in the area of building inspection and construction.
• Research methods and sources of information related to building code enforcement.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Plan, schedule, assign, and oversee activities of staff; train others in work procedures.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and departmental policies governing the construction and inspection of buildings.
• Read and interpret building and construction plans, diagrams and specifications.
• Apply technical knowledge and follow proper inspection techniques to examine workmanship and materials, and detect deviations from plans, regulations and standard construction practices.
• Advise on standard construction methods and requirements for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
• Understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations in support of goals.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with other departments, public and private organizations, and individuals.
• Establish and maintain accurate logs and records.
• Perform required mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be Equivalent to completion of twelfth (12th) grade and four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in the building and/or construction trades, including at least one (1) year in a lead capacity, or two (2) years of experience as a Building Inspector II in Tuolumne County. Completion of an accredited technical school or college-level program of building inspection, plan review or closely related field is desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Possession of at least three building inspection certificates issued by the International Code Council, or possession an International Code Council Combination Inspection certificate.