Position: Building Inspector/Real Property Maintenance Officer
Department: City of Westlake Building Department
Salary Range: $20.00 – $44.30/hour
Position Type: Full-Time
Closing
Date: City of WestlakeApplications
will be accepted until the position is filled
Job Description
Under the general direction of the Director of Inspections, the individual in the position conducts inspections of commercial and residential construction and provides information and advice to contractors and owners to ensure compliance with city, state and federal building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and related codes. The individual will also perform a variety of routine and complex work in the interpretation and enforcement of adopted codes and related rules and regulations.
Responsibilities
Building Inspector
- Compare field work to the approved construction documents.
- Ability to review plans and research the body of codes
- Ability to understand the permitting process from beginning to end.
- Perform daily list of assigned inspections.
- Records and/or logs all inspection requests and results.
- Prepares and maintains required records and reports.
- Maintain field reports, photographs and other documentation pertaining to inspections.
- Perform biennial rental inspections and annual apartment inspections.
- Perform occasional property maintenance inspections.
- Ability to utilize computer to perform data entry functions.
- Close permits in computer program after final inspections have passed.
- Inspections require field reports, photographs, job meetings and close out in our computer program.
- Confer with and advise contractor, owners, architects, engineers and general public regarding interpretation and application of building code and other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations on site, by phone and in the department.
- Follow City of Westlake policies, regulations and safety standards.
- Perform any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Inspections and/or the Mayor or his designee.
Real Property Maintenance Officer
- Some knowledge of code enforcement principles, practices and methods as applicable to a municipal setting; working knowledge of applicable laws, standards and regulations relating to various land use, nuisance and public safety codes; working knowledge of inspection techniques
- Ability
to:
- Prepare, organize and maintain inspection field data, reports and systems
- Analyze complex situations, problems and data, and use sound judgment in drawing conclusions and making decisions
- Comprehend and articulate complex facts and relationships in detail and to summarize and write clearly, concisely and legibly, and to testify in court in an objective, concise, and professional manner
- Produce or obtain reports, graphs, charts, photographs or the evidence or exhibits
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, employees, supervisors and the general public
- Follow verbal and written instructions
- Handle stressful situations and effectively deal with difficult or angry people
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Periodically patrols or inspects an assigned area to monitor for violations of the Property Maintenance Code and the Zoning Code
- Respond to complaints of potential code violations relating to signing, building occupancy, nuisances, hazardous sidewalks or other conditions, housing conditions, construction, land use, polluting, or other code related matters
- Conduct field investigations of potential violations; gathers evidence; questions or interrogates complainants, witnesses and suspects; compares facts to code requirements; makes findings; and issues warnings, correction notices, or citations
- Meet with owners, tenants, contractors, developers, businesses, etc. to review and explain code requirements and violations or potential violations; secures code compliance
- Draft and distributes a variety of correspondence, memoranda, notices, flyers, brochures, media releases, and reports relating to code enforcement issues and actions
- Provide information to persons who request information or assistance in code enforcement related matters
- Maintain a variety of logs and records related to inspection and enforcement activities; prepares recommendations for amendments and additions to codes or regulations, which relate to the position
- Coordinate efforts with the police, planning, building and related departments, the prosecuting attorney, and other staff or agencies, as needed
- Work with police and prosecutors to obtain written or tape- recorded statements, depositions, or admissions, as needed
- Review cases being prepared for trial with emphasis on the evidentiary and legal issues crucial to successful prosecution. Prepares detailed reports of activities and investigations made; consults with prosecutors and prepares case report for court action; testifies in court
- Assist in obtaining, enhancing, preparing or presenting exhibits or other evidence in court as required
- Review and recommend changes in the Codes of the City to ensure the quality and value of the real property within the City
Peripheral Duties
- Perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by Ordinance or by the Mayor of the City of Westlake.
Qualifications
- Possess a bachelor’s degree in law-related field or have a minimum five years’ experience in law enforcement or public administration or building inspection experience.
- State of Ohio certification preferred in one or more of the following classifications: (1) Plumbing Inspector; (2) Electrical Safety Inspector; or (3) Commercial and Residential Building Inspector. A copy of the state certification must accompany the application and resume.
- Valid State of Ohio driver license.
- Ability to work independently and complete daily activities according to assigned work schedule.
- Ability to lift heavy objects, walk and stand for long periods of time and perform strenuous physical labor under adverse field conditions.
- Ability to understand, follow and transmit written and oral instructions.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, elected officials and the general public.
- Ability to make sound independent judgments.
- Ability to work extra hours when needed for the safety and welfare of the community.
- Pre-employment drug test and background check required.
Tools and Equipment Used:
- Personal computer, including word-processing and data base software; motor vehicle; phone; mobile or portable radio, copy and fax machine, IPad/Tablet.
Physical Demands/Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling (Strength):
- Lifting object in excess of 40 lbs. with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing 20 lbs. or more.
Climbing and/or balancing:
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps and poles using the feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching or running on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.
Stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling:
- Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.
- Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.
- Crawling: Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.
Reaching, handling, fingering and/or feeling:
- Reaching: Extending the hands and arms in any direction.
- Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hand (fingering not involved)
- Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling).
- Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature or texture by means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips.
Talking and/or hearing:
- Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
- Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear.
Seeing:
- Obtaining impressions through the eye of the shape, size, distance, motion, color or other characteristics of objects.
- The major visual functions are:
- Acuity, far and near
- Depth perception
- Field of vision
- Accommodation
- Color vision
Taste and Smell
Work Environment
Work shall primarily be performed in the field. The noise level for the work environment is sometimes loud. Work in the field may be indoor or outdoor. Thus, the employee shall occasionally work in outside weather conditions. When working outside the employee shall occasionally be exposed to wet, dry, hot, cold and humid weather conditions as well as fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and vibrations.
The work environment described herein is representative of those an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Selection Guidelines
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview, reference check and any related test to demonstrate the ability to perform essential duties may be required. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer, as needed.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
To be considered for the position, applicants should email or mail completed City of Westlake employment application, resume, and cover letter detailing background and experience to:
Mail: City of Westlake
Jazmyn J. Stover, Human Resource Manager
27700 Hilliard Boulevard
Westlake, OH 44145
Email: humanresources@cityofwestlake.org
Fax: 440-617-4299
Download employment application form
The City of Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer