Job Description

Posting number: 2026-01848

Department: Public Works

Division: Stormwater Services

Job classification: PLANS REVIEWER, SENIOR

Posting type: Internal/External

Categories: Engineering, Planning and Development, Management

About the Opportunity:
The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Senior Plans Reviewer within the Public Works Department - Stormwater Division. The ideal candidate will have experience reviewing complex professional engineering plans and technical evaluations to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal stormwater management, water quality, and floodplain regulations as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
This is the second level in the Plans Reviewer series. This classification is distinguished from lower levels in this job family by increasing degrees of scope, independence, responsibility, and decision-making, as well as by providing lead guidance and direction to less experienced staff and by having two years of experience in plans review.

Applicants who have already applied for this position do not need to reapply. Existing applications will be considered.

Examples of duties

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Assists direct supervisor in coordinating daily work activities: confers with direct supervisor to obtain direction regarding work assignments and priorities; organizes tasks in order to complete assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work. Assists co-workers with complex/problem situations and provides technical expertise, including other departments staff.

• Assists group with training and instructing co-workers regarding operational procedures and proper use of equipment; and assists with supervision of co-workers by reporting employee problems and providing input on disciplinary action and employee performance evaluations.

• Receives, reviews, and analyzes residential, commercial, and public development projects to mitigate environmental impacts and ensure adherence to City construction standards. Reviews and analyzes erosion control, stormwater conveyance, and stormwater control measures, and floodplain development; approves plans, provides clear written correction comments, or rejects plans and reports as appropriate; calculates development fees; and forwards permits and approved plans to owners and contractors.

• Provides information and technical assistance concerning stormwater, grading, and erosion control: discusses problem areas with property owners, developers, and contractors; makes safety and code suggestions and recommends permitting solutions to problems; and assists with responses to questions or complaints concerning erosion and sediment control codes or code violations.

• Organize and facilitate pre-construction meetings.

• Conduct site visits as appropriate for review or to make recommendations to the Stormwater Supervisor, Plans Reviewers, Inspectors, and other City staff.

• Participate in Early Assistance (EA and FAST), Pre-Application, Level 1 Review, and Technical Review Committee project review meetings with development teams and other City staff, and provide general technical guidance and review comments.

• Interprets, administers, and enforces the provisions of applicable local, state, and federal codes: researches code-related issues, as needed; and initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.

• Maintains records of all plan review activities:, erosion control plans, stormwater conveyance and stormwater control measures plans, floodplain development plans, and other relevant documents; and retains and purges documentation in accordance with rules and regulations regarding records retention.

• Performs customer service functions by telephone and in person: provides information and assistance related to plans review services, activities, procedures, forms, or other issues; responds to complaints; researches problems; and initiates problem resolution.

• Performs related duties in support of department operations: may assign reviews in the absence of the Plan Review Supervisor; and creates and submits various reports, as requested.

• Maintains a current, comprehensive knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, principles, and practices relating to federal, state, and erosion and sediment control codes; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; and attends meetings, workshops, hearings, and training sessions as required.

• Communicates with supervisor, other City employees, contractors, builders, engineers, architects, the public, outside agencies and organizations, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.

• Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated timeframes and per established procedures: receives, reviews, prepares, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate various forms, reports, correspondence, construction drawings, engineering reports, permit applications, review comments, product technical documentation, erosion and stormwater calculations, soil reports, elevation and no-rise certificates, operations and maintenance agreements, Community Rating System records and reports, and other documentation; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

• Operates a personal computer to enter, retrieve, review, or modify data, utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, database, Internet, e-mail, or other software; and operates general office or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions.

Additional Functions:

• Performs other related duties as required by the Supervisor or the Division Manager.

• Makes recommendations to Stormwater Supervisor, Construction Supervisor, Division Manager, and/or Senior Plans Reviewer as to the appropriate course of action, based on field inspections.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Associate degree in Construction Technology, Drafting, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related field required; supplemented by two years of experience in plans review or related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. P referably a Bachelor’s degree.
Specific License or Certification Required: Must possess and maintain a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Depending on area of assignment, must possess and maintain the following additional certifications or licensures: Certified Floodplain Manager.
Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
Human Interaction: Requires the ability to act as lead person or crew leader, providing guidance to a work unit, coordinating activities, and reviewing work of the unit.
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

Supplemental information

ADA Compliance:
Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
Environmental Factors: Most essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Performance of essential functions at development sites may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, water hazards, toxic agents, unsafe structures, electric currents, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, or rude/irate customers.

The City of Asheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.