THIS IS A CITYWIDE EXAM

Application Opening: April 22, 2024
Application Deadline: May 12, 2024
Recruitment ID: CBT-6334-X00068

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Under general direction, the Chief Building Inspector manages and administers the assigned division(s), establishes inspection and operational procedures, interprets and explains codes, represents the department in front of boards and commissions, reviews and resolves complaints, performs building and structural inspections as necessary, and coordinates with other departments as a response team in the event of emergencies and disasters.

MAJOR, IMPORTANT, AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Manages/administers assigned division(s) by planning, directing, and evaluating the work of subordinate staff who provide information regarding inspection services to the public, review plans and permits, and perform inspections in connection with the construction and modification of buildings or other structures, and of buildings under investigation for code violations in order to ensure that department policies and procedures are adhered to and the applicable codes, ordinances, and laws are properly enforced. At the Department of Building Inspection, this includes the supervision of Senior Building Inspectors who supervise the daily operations of the Building Inspectors. Prepares the division's budget by analyzing operational data and determining the needs of the division(s).

2. Interprets and explains codes, related laws and ordinances which govern building construction in the City & County of San Francisco such as the building code, housing code, mechanical code, state building standards, Title 24 accessibility requirements and energy conservation standards, appeal procedures, abatement process and permit processing to staff and others including architects, engineers, contractors, and the general public to ensure that the information concerning the department is disseminated accurately. At the Port, this includes marine terminal construction standards.

3. Represents the department at meetings, hearings, and in court by preparing evidence and/or appearing before such bodies as the Board of Supervisors, Building Inspection Commission, judicial committees, Access Appeals Commission, Unreinforced Masonry Building Appeals Board, Board of Permit Appeals, Abatement Appeals Board, and Board of Examiners in order to testify or present information regarding code violation cases and other matters concerning their respective division(s). This includes acting as the hearing officer on behalf of the Director.

4. Directs the preparation and maintenance of records and reports on abatement appeals board cases, statistical analyses, inspection activities, work orders, contracts, specifications, plans, cost estimates, emergency orders, and operational activities of the respective division(s) by assigning, reviewing, and revising when necessary, to ensure that such work is correct, complete, and in conformance with departmental policies and procedures.

5. Reviews complaints regarding inspection services, plan reviews, code interpretations, and/or code violations from property owners, port tenants, general public, other city departments, and various civic groups by researching pertinent codes, ordinances, laws and conducting investigations, taking appropriate actions, and informing complainant of findings in order to clarify and resolve problems.

6. Establishes inspection and operational procedures for the assigned division by reviewing existing policies and procedures and when necessary, revising or creating new procedures in order to effectively maximize staff and resources and/or conform to current laws, regulations, ordinances and codes regulating the construction and modification of buildings and other structures.

7. Reviews current codes, administrative bulletins and code rulings in order to inform staff of revisions and/or additions, and to provide management with input regarding the feasibility of such revisions or additions on current work processes and, if necessary, prepares recommendations for revisions or additions.

8. Oversees and performs building and other structural inspections as required by making field visits and checking for conformance to approved plans and specifications, and compliance with applicable codes, ordinances and laws. This includes coordinating with other departments as a response team in the event of emergencies and disasters such as fire, earthquake, explosions, and landslides. The Chief Building Inspector at the Port also performs pier inspections in a boat; and performs inspections in areas where there is known hazardous waste.

EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of verifiable experience as a building inspector with a public agency in a jurisdiction with a population of approximately *700,000. At least two (2) years of this experience must be at a level equivalent to class 6333 Senior Building Inspector with the City and County of San Francisco, which includes supervision of building inspectors.

* Candidates with questions about whether their jurisdiction qualifies are encouraged to contact the exam analyst.

LICENSE & CERTIFICATION

Possession of a valid Class C California driver license.

Possession of the Commercial and Residential Building Inspector certifications or the Building Plans Examiner certification, issued by the International Code Council (ICC), is required. Inspectors must maintain the certification as a condition of continued employment.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

These positions require the ability to work in inclement weather; and possible exposure to hazardous conditions found in and around damaged buildings, structures or construction sites. Also required is the ability to move into and out of vehicles frequently, buildings, tunnels, ditches, and other related areas; to climb or crawl into and out of spaces which must be inspected; and to use ladders, scaffolds and other special equipment. These positions require the operation of a motor vehicle in order to visit inspection sites and to respond to emergencies and disasters. The nature of work includes customer service, responding to difficult situations, and performing plan review that requires sitting for prolonged periods of time under normal office conditions.

In order to perform the essential functions of the class, Chief Building Inspectors with the Port must be able to lift and install an outboard motor onto a boat to navigate to piers and wharves in order to perform inspections.

VERIFICATION

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Job-Seekers/How-to-Verify-Education-Requirements.pdf

Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ):

Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Oral/Performance Examination (Weight: 100%):

Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to participate in the Oral/Performance Examination designed to measure knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: knowledge of and ability to manage a division; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; knowledge of training and ability to develop and deliver; ability to identify, analyze and report upon activities, issues, and problems and recommend appropriate solutions; written communication ability; knowledge of building codes, laws and ordinances.

A passing score must be achieved on the Oral/Performance Examination in order to continue in the selection process.

The above test component is considered standardized and, therefore, in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111.11.4, inspection privileges do not apply to the questions and answers in this examination.

Eligible List/Score Report: 

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: 

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement.  Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.