Job Description

Posting number: FY2025-01405

Department: Engineering

Job classification: Engineering Inspector

Posting type: Open

Categories: Engineering, Trades, Professional, Miscellaneous

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, this position inspects municipal construction projects to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, codes and related regulations. Reports to Engineering Superintendent.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Performs inspections of municipal construction projects, to include construction and renovation of public buildings, parking decks, athletic fields, roadway projects, utilities and drainage, and Right of Way (ROW) work associated with subdivision and site plans.

Ensures project work adheres to sound construction methods, city standards, regulations, project specifications and codes; identifies noncompliance and corrective action measures; makes field decisions to accommodate unforeseen conditions, changes plans to meet field conditions, and informs Engineers and Engineering Superintendent of changes to conditions and progress of projects; approves or rejects driveway and sidewalk placements; monitors erosion and sediment control on projects.

Ensures contractors properly interpret specifications and drawings; monitors work while in progress; approves and/or rejects final work; monitors projects as to calculations of quantities and cost to keep project within budget funds; investigates and responds to public inquiries; prepares and files daily job reports to document progress of project and problems encountered, work related to inspections, site reports, materials, driveway and concrete logs and erosion and sediment reports, etc.; and confirms contractors working on the city Right of Way have permits, and the approved traffic control plan as needed; coordinates scheduling with other departments. Performs other duties as assigned.

Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Examples of duties

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Job: Has general knowledge of the principles, regulations/codes and methodologies of inspecting construction projects. Is able to inspect projects in progress and determine compliance with specifications, code and plans. Is able to understand and interpret oral and written instructions. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under “Essential Job Functions.”

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures with minimum errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Engineering Superintendent, professionals and the public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions of time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Requires an Associate Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, and 1-2 years of construction or inspection experience, or a related field, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must obtain the American Public Works Association (APWA) inspection certificate within two (2) years of hire. Must obtain the Basic Work Zone Traffic Control Certificate within one (1) year of hire.

This position requires pre-employment medical evaluation, and substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Supplemental information

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements Must be able demonstrate physical flexibility needed to inspect project work in progress. Requires the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up
to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are those for Medium Work.

Data Conception Requires the 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.

Interpersonal Communications Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from supervisor.
Language Ability Requires the ability to read and interpret blue prints, construction drawings, city code, contracts, and specifications. Requires the ability to prepare reports documenting project progress, problems encountered and compliance to code and specifications using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence Requires the 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 and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English and construction terminology.

Numerical Aptitude Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, determine percentages, proportions, etc.

Form/Spatial Aptitude Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a vehicle and materials testing equipment.

Manual Dexterity Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as office equipment and a vehicle. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under high levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situations).

Physical Communication Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTSThe City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.

About City of Portsmouth, Virginia

The City of Portsmouth was founded in 1752 and incorporated by the Virginia General Assembly in 1858. Over 250 years old, the city is home to one of the world's greatest natural harbors, situated on the James and Elizabeth Rivers, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Portsmouth, with a land area of approximately 33 square miles and a population of 96,066, is located in the heart of the Hampton Roads Region. It is bordered by Chesapeake and Suffolk, respectively, to the south and west and the City of Norfolk to the east.

The City of Portsmouth boasts 75.8 miles of shoreline and is home to Mile Marker Zero of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway, which stretches from Maine to Florida. Part of one of the world’s largest natural harbors, Portsmouth is just 18 miles from the open sea. Portsmouth's location on navigable waterways has been a dominant force in the City’s rich maritime history and economy. Its location on the over 40-feet-deep Hampton Roads shipping channel and the presence of both the CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroads allows Portsmouth to support national and international port commerce activities and the military presence in the region.

Portsmouth derives its governing authority from a charter granted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The City's governing body is the City Council, which formulates policies for the administration of the City. The City's charter provides for a Council-Manager form of government.

Industry

Government & Public Safety

Company Size

501-1,000 employees

Headquarters

Portsmouth, VA

Year Founded

1752

Website

portsmouthnh.gov

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