Senior Construction Inspector (Capital Improvement Projects)

Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association Inc.; Suffolk (VA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Suffolk Public Works Department seeks a Senior Construction Inspector (CIP) to supervise inspections of development and capital improvement projects, ensuring compliance with city standards.

Responsibilities include reporting on project status, coordinating with city SMEs, testing materials, erosion control, water/sewer work, and final acceptance.

Excellent communication with contractors and the public, independent judgment, and on-site work in Suffolk, VA are required.

Responsibilities

• Provides project inspection for development and capital improvements projects, observing and documenting construction and maintenance work in the City.
• Analyzes problems and provides recommendations to engineering staff; coordinates with SME teams on highly technical aspects of projects.
• Inspects construction and road projects to enforce City ordinances and standards; reviews project plans and related documents.
• Confers with contractors, property owners, developers, architects and engineers regarding inspection requests and building plans.
• Calculates quantities, percent completion, and adjusts drawings; reviews contracts and oversees tests.
• Inspects erosion and sediment control practices during construction; verifies water and sewer testing when required.

Job description

City of Suffolk

Senior Construction Inspector (CIP)

SALARY
$56,716.00 - $89,215.00 Annually

LOCATION
Public Works, Operations, Carolina Road, Suffolk, VA

JOB TYPE
Full Time

JOB NUMBER
04676

DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC WORKS

OPENING DATE
10/26/2026

CLOSING DATE
11/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Description

Under general supervision, performs administrative and technical work inspecting local construction projects to ensure compliance with City planning and development policy. Works includes inspecting construction projects by both the City and private developers to ensure that materials, methods, sizing, and locations in project development meet City specifications; testing of the materials utilized in such construction; and investigating construction practices and recommending changes when necessary. Employee is also responsible for preparing various reports on construction projects and assisting the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Manager with construction administration. Employee must exercise initiative and independent judgment in performing inspections. Employee must also exercise considerable tact, courtesy and firmness in frequent contact with property owners, developers, contractors and the general public. Reports to theCapital Improvement Program (CIP) Manager.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides project inspection for development and capital improvements projects as well as observes and documents construction and maintenance projects in the City.
• Utilizes experience and knowledge to handle the more complex and difficult inspections; Analyzes problems and provides recommendations to engineering staff; confers with less experienced Construction Inspectors on unusual and/or challenging projects. This position also coordinates with City of Suffolk Subject Matter Experts (SME), including roadway, traffic engineering, and signals maintenance for project inspection highly technical aspects of the project.
• Inspects construction and road projects so as to enforce the City ordinances governing minimum standards and requirements of new construction, alterations, and repairs; examines construction methods and materials used, and locations of construction project to ensure compliance with City planning and development policy; reviews project plans and corresponding documents.
• Confers with contractors, property owners, developers, architects, engineers, and any other project stakeholder regarding inspection requests, construction codes, building plans, etc.; examines and investigates methods and practices employed in local construction projects, recommending changes when necessary.
• Measures installed quantities of construction; calculates percent completion; adjusts construction drawings to reflect actual work; diagnoses and solves engineering problems and reviews construction contracts and oversee test.
• Inspects construction projects for erosion and sediment control practices compliance.
• Prepares monthly estimates for capital projects; prepares daily measurements of materials used.
• Prepares and maintains various records and reports pertaining to status of ongoing construction projects; testing, schedules appointments; conducts final project inspection and recommends acceptance of work; maintains files on each project.
• Conducts required testing of water and sewer systems during construction; oversees and verifies water system decontamination; extracts water samples for bacteriological testing.
• Conducts final project walk through; recommends final project acceptance.
• Assists with training new Construction Inspectors.
• Fuels vehicles; takes vehicles to shop for maintenance and repairs.
• Measures installed quantities of construction; calculates percent completion; adjusts construction drawings to reflect actual work; diagnoses and provides recommendation to solve engineering problems and reviews construction contracts and oversees tests.
• Performs City Right-of-Way improvement inspections, Traffic Control/Work Zone Safety Inspections, Erosion and Sediment control inspections, stormwater inspections, roadway maintenance inspections, and Single Family lot grading inspections and other related infrastructure inspections.
• May assist in Stormwater program plan development, implementation, and reporting; conducts and coordinates post-construction Stormwater management; reviews construction site Stormwater runoff control; provides inspections; and assists in the coordination and reporting for illicit discharge.
• Informs emergency services of roadway operations so they can route first responders around obstructions.
• Provides other inspectors with assistance, guidance and/or feedback on complicated projects; applies experience to help identify solutions to complex concerns, issues and problems.
• Attends construction meetings with contractors, engineers, and inspectors.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of modern construction practices, materials, and equipment and of the various stages of construction when violations and defects should be observed and corrected.
• Knowledge of engineering practices as applied to construction and inspection of commercial and industrial buildings, roadway and related infrastructure, stormwater, water and sewer utilities as well as considerable knowledge of applicable local, state and federal ordinances, codes, regulations and construction standards.
• Knowledge of State and local building ordinances and codes.
• Knowledge in the administration of construction projects.
• Knowledge of City geography.
• Ability to detect and locate defective workmanship in construction or repair of utilities.
• Ability to interpret blueprints, diagrams, specifications, codes and building regulations.
• Ability to extract water samples on construction locations for bacteriological testing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in applying standards to a variety of work situations.
• Ability to exercise considerable tact and firmness in dealing with contractors, property owners and the general public.
• Ability to physically maneuver on scaffolds, structural members, and in cramped quarters to accomplish thorough inspections.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from supervisors.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence and reports, architectural drawings, electrical diagrams, balance sheets, diagnostic reports, inspection slips, blueprints, inspection requests, etc.; prepares correspondence and reports, forms, permits, activity logs, etc., using prescribed format.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to use and interpret building codes, engineering, mechanical and electrical terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; and to utilize basic systems of algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, and ratio and proportion.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office machinery and equipment; to operate motor vehicles.
• Ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.
• Knowledge and proficiency with computers and related software programs.

Knowledge and proficiency with computers and related software programs.