Plan Check Engineer I/II/III

Description

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the salary of approximately $95,506.01 to $148,403.53 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) provided performance 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 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 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.
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule - We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 workweek) for most positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• 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 County service (equivalent to seven (7) years) 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 457 Plan. 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.

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
Under direction, performs technical engineering and life safety review of construction plans, calculations and related documents for structural integrity and code compliance; consults with architects, engineers, builders, technical societies and the public concerning codes, building plans, and other matters related to building construction; and performs other related work as assigned.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Architecture with their elective course work being in Structures or Structural Engineering, be a registered Professional Engineer or Architect in the state of California and will have experience using the current California Building Code and referenced standards to design or plan check various types of structures. The candidate will have a basic knowledge of building construction methods and materials and will understand the principles of structural engineering and soil mechanics. In turn, the candidate will be able to apply those principles and basic knowledge in the plan checking of the architectural and structural plans of various types of buildings. The ideal candidate will also be able to communicate effectively with the public and co-workers, be a strong team player, will be able to multi-task, and work in an environment with tasks that may have varying priorities and deadlines while having excellent customer service skills.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

Plan Check Engineer I is the entry level classification into the series and is distinguished from Plan Check Engineer II in that I level incumbents are expected to have specific engineering and code knowledge to perform assignments requiring less technical plan reviews and engineering competence.

Plan Check Engineer II incumbents are typically responsible for more significant technical plan check engineering duties, or for assisting in completing technical plan check engineering assignments.

Plan Check Engineer III is the journey level in the job series. It requires specific engineering and code knowledge to perform technical plan check duties with minimum direction or supervision.

PAYROLL TITLES AND APPROXIMATE SALARIES:
Plan Check Engineer I: $3,673.30 - $5,242.15 biweekly
Plan Check Engineer II: $4,010.12 - $5,407.07 biweekly
Plan Check Engineer III: $4,565.33 - 5,707.82 biweekly

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: 4/28/2025
CLOSING DATE: 5/21/2025

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews construction plans, calculations and related documents for structural integrity and code compliance.
• Consults with architects, engineers, contractors and the general public in matters related to this function.
• Prepares reports and correspondence.
• Reviews test reports from laboratories and soil analysis reports from consulting engineers.
• Assists in training of plan check and inspection staff.
• Researches technical problems as required.
• Makes field inspections, as necessary, to resolve engineering questions and code interpretations.
• Develops plan check procedures.
• Performs other related duties as necessary.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Plan Check Engineer I : The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Civil OR Structural Engineering OR Architecture; OR certification in Fundamentals of Engineering (formerly known as Engineer-in-Training); AND two (2) years of professional engineering experience.

Plan Check Engineer II : The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Civil OR Structural Engineering OR Architecture; OR certification in Fundamentals of Engineering (formerly known as Engineer-in-Training); AND three (3) years of professional engineering experience.

Plan Check Engineer III: The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Civil OR Structural Engineering OR Architecture; AND four (4) years of professional engineering experience. The Plan Check Engineer III will require registration as an engineer or architect in the State of California and the additional certification as a Plan Check Engineer by the International Code Council (ICC) at the time of hire.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid certification as a Plans Examiner or Building Inspector by the International Code Council (ICC) is required per Health and Safety Code below within one year of employment. All employees in this classification are subject to the provisions of Health & Safety Code 18965 et seq. which mandates certification and continuing education. Those employees hired after October 4, 1993 are required to “complete one year of verifiable experience in the appropriate field and shall, within one year thereafter, obtain certification from a recognized state, national, or international association as determined by the local agency,” (which is the County of Ventura, Resource Management Agency) [Section 19868, Health & Safety Code.] All employees in this classification “shall complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education for every three-year period. Providers of continuing education may include any organization affiliated with the code enforcement profession, community colleges, or other providers of similar quality, as determined by the local agency,” [Section 18969, Health & Safety Code.]
• Must also possess and maintain a valid California driver license.

DESIRED

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Architecture with the elective course work in Structures or Structural Engineering.
• Two years of experience in designing or plan checking of wood, steel, masonry, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or concrete structures, including related structural calculations.
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Experience with the current edition of the California Building Code and referenced standards.
• Experience working with electronic permitting software, Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat, AutoCAD, Revit, ENERCALC, Bentley RAM Steel, RISA, Sap 2000, or Etabs.
• State of California registration as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
• Excellent customer service skills.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
Some to thorough working knowledge of: principles, methods and techniques of civil and structural engineering and soils mechanics; construction methods, materials and practices; basic legal requirements governing the practice of architecture and engineering; the California Building Code and applicable State laws and local ordinances.

Some to thorough working ability to: make comprehensive studies and prepare reports and recommendations; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; administer and enforce building codes and other requirements objectively and equitably; establish and maintain effective working relationships to deal effectively with the public and co-workers, including handling difficult situations; and to utilize various related computer programs for this position.

Supplemental Information:
Duties are performed primarily indoors and may involve moderate to heavy physical activities.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

To apply on-line, 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 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 removal of the application from further consideration.

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, the 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 rank ordered 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. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an oral exam 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.

Candidates successfully completing the exam 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, Extra Help, Intermittent, and Fixed-Term) vacancies for this position and similar positions within the Resource Management Agency. There is currently one 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 is 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.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Daisy Silva by email at Daisy.Silva@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2479.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE
Ventura Employees' Association
(VEA)

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: VAA, VPE

Closing Date/Time: 5/21/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• County of Ventura

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