Building Inspector I/II/III

Description

WHAT WE OFFER

The County of Ventura offers attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the salary of approximately $61,729.35 to $95,310.11 annually an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Merit Increases - New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual Incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.
• Annual Leave - 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service.
• Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Annual Leave Redemption - After 14,560 hours of continuous service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - Full time regular employees are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans: Tier one for employee only is $509 per pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $779 per pay period and tier three for employee plus family is $983 per pay period.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit plan.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program

VENTURA COUNTY

The County's 1,873 square miles include 1,846 square miles of land with 42 miles of coastline which is home to the following cities and points of interest: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Ventura County is a "general law" county, governed by a five-member, elected-by-district Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors appoint a County Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the County budget, day-to-day operations, and to advise, assist, and act as an agent for the Board of Supervisors in all matters under the Board's jurisdiction. It focuses on serving its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution, and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.

THE AGENCY

The primary goal of the Resource Management Agency (RMA) is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public through administration and enforcement of County ordinances, Board policy, and state and federal laws regarding land use, and commercial and environmental regulation. The agency includes five divisions: Environmental Health, Building & Safety, Code Compliance, Operations, and Planning. RMA also plays an important role in economic development by assisting County residents and businesses in obtaining permits needed to construct new or reconfigured buildings, start new businesses such as home occupations, restaurants and food service establishments, and agricultural enterprises.

RMA recognizes the value of having a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels of our agency to best serve our clients and be representative of the community we serve and is committed to being an active participant in removing barriers to ensure equitable access and opportunities for success. The agency is dedicated to attracting, hiring, developing, retaining, and valuing quality employees fully empowered to protect everyone’s health, safety, and the environment, and committed to providing excellent customer service through the efficient, accurate, and consistent application of laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies.

THE DIVISION

The key responsibility of the Building & Safety Division is to enforce various requirements associated with fire safety, structural safety, energy conservation, water conservation, sustainability, accessibility for disabled persons, and various other aspects that make the buildings in our community safe to use and occupy. The Ventura County Building Code contains references to the State Codes that are used in the State of California and lists those local construction standards used in Ventura County.

THE POSITION(S):

Under general supervision, inspects buildings and structures in all stages of construction for compliance with governing laws, local ordinances, and adopted state and model codes, and standards, and takes appropriate action to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and laws.

The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills as well as strong interpersonal skills which allow them to successfully work with a diverse customer base including home and business owners, builders, contractors, trades people, designers, and general public. The ideal candidate will also have recent construction experience with working knowledge of current construction methods and materials, including work experience in mechanical, plumbing, and electrical installations; ability to work under direction and/or independently with the use of mobile technology at various work sites throughout the County. Additional trade certifications from the International Code Council (ICC) are highly desired.

Building Inspector I and II: Under general supervision (I and II), inspects buildings and structures in all stages of construction for compliance with governing laws, local ordinances, and adopted state and model codes, and standards, and takes appropriate action to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and laws. Performs related duties as required.

Building Inspector III: Under direction, inspects buildings and structures in all stages of construction related to the assigned area of specialty for compliance with governing laws, local ordinances, and adopted state and model codes and standards. Takes appropriate action to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and laws. Trains inspection staff in the assigned area of specialty and performs related work as required. May be assigned to inspect complex commercial and industrial electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Building Inspector I is the entry level in the Building Inspector job series. The Building Inspector I differs from the Building Inspector II in that the latter requires ICC (International Code Council) certification.

Building Inspector II differs from Building Inspector I in that the latter is the entry level position in the job series. Building Inspector II differs from Building Inspector III in that the latter is assigned to the more advanced specialist functions and may supervise specific functions or programs.

Building Inspector III is the advanced journey level classification assigned complex structural, architectural, plumbing, mechanical or electrical inspections and/or plan reviews; and may oversee and supervise permit processing and clerical staff of a customer service counter. Incumbents are expected to effectively resolve difficult problems associated with inspection, plan review or permit processing.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES:

Building Inspector I - $29.68-$41.57 Hourly

Building Inspector II - $31.13 -$43.66 Hourly

Building Inspector III - $32.67 -$45.82 Hourly

Building Inspectors I/II/III are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE:4/01/2025

CLOSING DATE: Continuous

FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: On or around 4/21/2025. Subsequent reviews will be conducted until closing date.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Building Inspector I

• Inspects the construction of residential, some commercial and other structures and related equipment for compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and laws.
• Maintains accurate permit and construction support files for the assigned geographical area.
• Approves acceptable work or indicates in writing corrections necessary to comply with codes and ordinances.
• Explains code and ordinance requirements to county personnel, builders, architects, contractors, and the public.
• Issues written notices of violations when required.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Building Inspector II

In addition to the duties above, the Building Inspector II may include any combination of the following:

• Performs simple plan reviews for minor residential additions, alterations, and remodels.
• May appear as an expert witness at legal hearings and court proceedings.

Building Inspector III

In addition to the duties above, the Building Inspector III may include any combination of the following:

Generalist Inspector, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical Specialist:

• Inspects complex structural and architectural systems including the installation, alteration, repair, and maintenance of electrical, plumbing and/or mechanical equipment, apparatus and systems.
• Reviews plans and related documents and calculations for compliance with Ventura County ordinances and laws.
• Establishes and prepares training programs in basic to complex inspections as required in the various specialties. Assists building inspection staff on complex inspections.
• Explains codes and ordinance requirements for proper installation of equipment, materials and systems to county personnel, builders, architects, contractors, and the public.
• May appear as an expert witness at legal hearings and court proceedings.
• Maintains accurate permit and construction support files of all assigned projects.
• Recommends and advises the Building Official on proposed changes to the adopted codes.

Typical Qualifications

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

Building Inspector I

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through two (2) years of experience as an inspector or a journeyman in the building trades or building construction. Certification as an inspector by a nationally recognized organization, such as the International Code Council, is preferred.

Building Inspector II

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through three (3) years as an inspector or a journeyman in the major building trades.

Substitution: Satisfactory completion of directly related college coursework may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

Building Inspector III

Generalist Inspector, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical Specialist:

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through four (4) years as an inspector or a journeyman in the major construction trades, one (1) year of which has been with a local governmental agency in the appropriate technical specialty.

Substitution: Satisfactory completion of directly-related college coursework may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience, excluding the required government experience, on a year-for-year basis.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess and maintain a valid California Driver License.
• All employees in this classification are subject to the provisions of Health & Safety Code 18949.25 et seq. which mandates certification and continuing education. Exemptions to certification requirements may be allowed as provided for in the above code sections. The certification will be from a recognized state, national, or international association as determined by the local agency, (County of Ventura, Resource Management Agency). All employees in this classification “shall complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education for every three (3) year period, with at least eight (8) hours regarding disability access requirements with providers determined by the local agency (County of Ventura, Resource Management).”

• Building Inspector II: Must possess at the time of hire at least one current ICC (International Code Council) certificate from the “Residential Inspector” Series, “Commercial Inspector” Series, or “Plans Examiner” Series. Other job-related certification pertinent to job duties may be substituted subject to approval by the Personnel Department.
• Building Inspector III - Generalist/Specialist: Must possess at least one ICC (International Code Council) certificate from the “Residential Inspector” Series, “Commercial Inspector” Series, or “Plans Examiner” Series, PLUS ONE additional recognized certificate in the appropriate discipline.

DESIRED:

• International Code Council (ICC) certifications: Plumbing, Mechanical or Electrical inspector.
• Recent construction inspection experience.
• Recent education or training at a college level in Construction Technology or Building Inspection Technology.
• Experience working on computer databases or permit tracking software.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Some to Comprehensive knowledge of the following:

• Methods of construction and building materials and specialty codes, governing laws, and policies. fundamental tools, practices, and techniques of building construction, repair, and alteration.
• Inspection techniques and procedures.
• Basic provisions of International and California Codes.

In addition to the above, Building Inspector III may include: principles of supervision and training.

• Complex and technical provisions of International and California Codes

Some to Comprehensive ability to do the following:

• Read construction drawing and documents related to assigned specialty.
• Communicate orally and in writing.
• Understand and apply codes and ordinances.
• Use a desktop and/or laptop computer and related software programs for document creation and email communications.
• Detect residential construction defects and hazards in buildings undergoing construction, alteration, or repair.
• Evaluate damaged residential buildings for continued use and occupancy.

In addition to the above, Building Inspector III may include:

• Independently plan, coordinate and organize daily work activities and adjust daily work assignments of inspectors.

Supplemental Information:

Work is performed both in an office environment and outdoors. Incumbents may be required to perform strenuous tasks including lifting and carrying up to 40 pounds and frequently bending, stooping, crawling, climbing, reaching, crouching, and kneeling.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

FIRST REVIEW: A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around 4/21/25, and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or “civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION

A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or ranked according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%

A job-related Oral Examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions within the Resource Management Agency. There is currently one (1) regular vacancy within the Building and Safety Division.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Magali Rodriguez by e-mail at Magali.Rodriguez@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-3805.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ,UPT, UWS

• 

• County of Ventura

Show more