Job Details

Plans Reviewer

This position answers directly to the Contract/Flood Plain Administrator in the Department of Urban Development. This position is responsible for the review of all buildings and building system plans, ensuring that plans and material conform to existing code and ordinance requirements, including but not limited to fire prevention and life safety. This role involves technical and skilled inspection work to maintain compliance with local codes, ordinances, national codes and regulations governing the construction, alteration, installation and repair of buildings, building appurtenances, and building systems. This includes technical and skilled review of new plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical systems, fire suppression systems and allied equipment. This position will work independently on field inspections and must make decisions requiring independent judgement; however, technical advice and assistance are available from superiors on difficult or unusual cases. Work is performed with considerable independence and under general supervision within established codes, regulations and technical guidelines. Work is reviewed through conferences, observation and reports. This position is classified as a non-essential personnel classification for Emergency Response. This means that during an emergency response the position's roles are not immediately necessary for emergency response or critical continuity operations.

Essential job duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following:

• Checks fire suppression, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and installation permits, plans, and specifications for compliance with code provisions; confers with business owners, homeowners, and contractors regarding deficiencies and corrective action required; as necessary to secure compliance.
• Facilitates and coordinates the review of plans and specifications for permit approval and issuance; answers inquiries regarding fire suppression and prevention, building electrical, plumbing, mechanical and heating and air conditioning regulations.
• All other duties as assigned by your direct supervisor, manager, director or mayor.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods, materials, and techniques involved in building construction, repair and alteration and the inspection of electrical, fire suppression, plumbing and heating systems and allied installations and appliances.
• Considerable knowledge of national and local laws governing building construction, fire suppression and prevention, life safety, electrical installations, plumbing, heating and allied installations and appliances.
• Considerable knowledge of city codes and ordinances pertaining to building construction, repair and alteration and the installation, modification and repair of electrical, fire suppression and prevention, plumbing and heating systems and allied installation and appliances.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of building, electrical, plumbing, halting, life safety and fire prevention inspections.
• Some knowledge of the functional responsibilities and operation of other city departments.
• Ability to detect and identify deficiencies in materials or workmanship and to determine appropriate corrective measures.
• Ability to interpret and apply plans, specifications, drawings, diagrams, and blueprints to work in process.
• Ability to maintain required work records and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to enforce applicable codes with firmness, tact and impartiality.

Must possess the required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

High school diploma or equivalent required. A Bachelor's degree with course work in building trades is preferred. Three (3) to Five (5) years' experience in fire prevention and suppression, building, electrical or plumbing trades at the full-skilled crafts level.

A valid Mississippi Driver's License.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 20+ pounds; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are both indoors and outdoors.