City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Plans Examiner Supervisor

The Plans Examiner Supervisor, under managerial supervision, supervises subordinate staff engaged in the review, examination and interpretation of building plans to ensure compliance with applicable building codes, policies and precedents.

1. Manage the review of complex technical code issues relating to building, zoning (residential), mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy codes, update and maintain program records and generate monthly performance data for programs.
2. Organize, call and chair meetings dealing with issues affecting special projects, and develop and administer new programs such as Registered Industrial Plant and Special Inspections.
3. Consult with contractors, engineers, architects and other City staff to identify and resolve issues and problems, and designate projects for Special Inspections program.
4. Develop and implement specific strategies for achieving department’s goals and objectives as they affect special projects, and communicate with engineer, owner, general contractor, and testing lab to resolve Special Inspections problems.
5. Interact with and advise inspectors concerning unusual projects and alternative methods and approve alternate methods of code compliance and mediate code related problems with customers and Plans Examiners.
6. Track plans and review history of buildings.
7. Prepare rejection comment lists.
8. Develops code amendment language for ordinances adopting related codes, and coordinate work of Plans Examiners on overlapping code issues and coordinate with other programs or divisions for problem resolution
9. Answer code related questions from customers, City management and other divisions, and speak to public groups on code issues
10. Coordinate with other divisions for planning, zoning, environmental protection and inspections.
11. Provide field inspection assistance for Special Inspections problem resolution.

Leads and trains plans examiner staff.  The Plans Examiner Supervisor has supervisory responsibility including employee development and evaluation of employee performance using the City of Austin SSPR process.

• Knowledge in the use of building codes and related state and local regulations with regard to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes.  Certain positions require recognized expertise in zoning regulations and the ability to research the City of Austin’s zoning regulations.
• Knowledge expertise in the terminology and techniques for one or more of the following professional disciplines:
  Architecture; Civil, Environmental, Structural, Architectural, Plumbing, Mechanical and/or Electrical Services or Engineering; Zoning aspects of land planning.
• Knowledge of architectural and engineering principles and practices.
• Knowledge of construction practices.
• Knowledge of architectural drawing practices, symbols and abbreviations.
• Knowledge of leadership and management principles.
• Knowledge of various phases of the plans review and inspections processes.
• Skill in reading and interpreting complex architectural and engineering plans and specifications, including shop drawings.
• Skill in the use of common computer software programs, including productivity software, computer aided design software, and data entry for databases.
• Skill in performing complex analyses including skill in interpreting code provisions in order to determine compliance with or deviation from applicable codes, including the analysis of alternate methods of compliance or performance based designs.
• Skill in communicating code requirements orally and in writing to city plan review and inspections staff, architects, contractors, developers and the general public
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other employees, customers and the general public.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Ability to communicate with and provide direction to peers and assigned personnel.
• Ability to maintain records.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture or other field related to design or construction and four (4) years of related technical or professional experience.  The Plans Examiner Supervisor position requires a minimum of one (1) year of the related experience involved supervisory or lead experience, or completion of formal training in basic supervisory skills. 
•  One (1) additional year of relevant work experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years. 
•  Master’s degree may substitute for experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.

• Plans Examiner Supervisor shall meet the requirements of a Plans Examiner C plus an additional certification in a related field by ICC, IAPMO, AICP, NFPA or other recognized authority; or a Master State issued license with one (1) State issued license endorsement.
•  An employee who is certified by ICC or other recognized authority as a Certified Building Official (CBO) shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for the Plans Examiner Supervisor position.
•  An employee who is a Texas registered professional engineer (PE) or an active Engineer-In-Training (EIT) who has passed the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) principles and practices examination for a related discipline shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for the Plans Examiner Supervisor position.
•  An employee who is a Texas registered architect (RA) or has passed the Architect Registration Examination shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for Building or Zoning Plans Examiner Supervisor positions.
•  An employee who is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for Zoning Plans Examiner Supervisor position.