Construction Inspector I/II (Open & Promotional)

The County of San Mateo's Department of Public Works is now accepting applications for the position of Construction Inspector I/II. There is currently one vacancy in the department.

Under general supervision, Construction Inspectors inspect a variety of construction projects associated with the repair and alteration of roads and streets and associated curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and drainage structures being carried out by private contractors to ensure conformance to County specifications. Construction Inspectors investigate and report on complaints of illegal encroachment on roads or associated structures in need of repair or posing a hazard to the public.

The ideal candidate for this position will have

• Experience with concrete/asphalt driveways, drainage ditches, trench backfill, and asphalt paving.
• Technical experience using computers and smartphones in the field or the ability to quickly learn to use this equipment.
• The ability to prioritize and organize work efficiently in order to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks and assignments at one time.

Construction Inspector I is the trainee level and/or entry level class in the construction inspection series, performing inspections on projects of a smaller size and lower dollar valuation requiring a lower level of technical skills and more direct supervision, and performing complaint investigation work. Employees in this class most often serve as an assistant to a Construction Inspector II or to a professional engineer who is designated as the resident engineer on a project. This class is flexibly staffed with Construction Inspector II and incumbents are expected to advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating the required proficiency.

Construction Inspector II is the journey level class in this series serving as resident engineers on smaller projects or acting as assistants to the resident engineer on large or complex projects. Construction Inspectors II also perform complaint investigation work, acting independently, determining corrective steps to be taken.

Examples Of Duties

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

• Review plans and specifications and sites for construction projects.
• Inspect and/or supervise others in the inspection and construction of engineering projects such as roads and streets or improvements thereto, sanitary sewers, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, etc., including the work of grading, preparing subgrade, and paving.
• Inspect work on pipes, culverts, concrete structures, water systems, and other incidental construction work.
• Issue notices of work stoppage as necessary.
• Interpret slope stakes and grade stakes, specifications and plans; keep records and prepare reports.
• Monitor contractor work and issues notices of work stoppage as necessary.
• Assign work to and instruct other inspectors and supervise their work.
• Investigate and resolve citizen complaints and make records of findings.
• Issue encroachment permits.
• Investigate requests for permits in right of way.
• Prepare special reports and other written correspondence; perform soils and materials testing and compaction tests.
• Locate County drainage systems via Underground Service Alert (USA).
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Approved practices and methods and materials used in construction of and improvement of roads, streets, sanitary sewers, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, and other related projects.
• County specifications covering construction of such items.
• Principles of surveying as related to such construction work.
• Principles relating to right-of-way.
• Methods and materials used in the construction and improvement of roads, streets, sanitary sewers, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters.

Skill/Ability to:

• Compute grades and quantities of materials.
• Make computations incidental to such construction work.
• Check apparent discrepancies between survey stakes and the project plan.
• Read and interpret plans and specifications.
• Keep accurate records and write correspondence and reports.
• Enforce County standards and ensure compliance.
• Use personal initiative to analyze and solve problems.
• Work effectively and courteously with the public and with co-workers.
• Check survey stakes and plans on projects.
• Read and interpret plans and specifications.
• Bend, sit, climb and walk for extended periods of time; lift and carrying equipment and supplies used in the course of the work, such as test cement cylinders and measuring wheels.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Construction Inspector I: Three years experience which has provided a knowledge of standard construction methods, basic engineering techniques used in construction of roads, streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and sewers.

Construction Inspector II: Two years experience in inspection of construction projects associated with the construction of roads, streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and related drainage structures.

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent.

Recruitment Timeline

Application Deadline: Monday, August 26, 2024

Application Screening (tentative): Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Panel Interviews (tentative): Tuesday, September 10, 2024 and/or Wednesday, September 11, 2024