Senior Plans Examiner

Are you a master of building codes ready to step into a pivotal leadership role?

We are looking for a dynamic professional to plan, coordinate, and supercharge the day-to-day operations of our Plan Examination Section. In this role, you won't just look at blueprints—you will masterfully coordinate complex technical reviews that transform community blueprints into reality. You will collaborate daily with field inspectors, administrative support, external agencies, and the construction community to keep projects moving forward.

Bring your deep legal and structural code expertise to the table, and serve as a trusted technical advisor to the Chief Building Official.

40% Time

Essential

Tasks:

• Examine residential and commercial building design proposals and submitted documents for completeness
• Review and evaluate minor to complex building project plans, details, specifications, and related documents to ensure construction as proposed complies with all building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, environmental, flood hazard, energy, barrier-free design requirements (accessibility), and grading or filling code requirements and related codes, standards, rule, s and laws.
• Perform electronic markup of plans for new commercial and residential buildings, interior remodels of both commercial and residential structures, communication towers, garages, decks, re-roofs, and miscellaneous outbuildings to ensure compliance with all City and State adopted building codes and administrative rules, City of Helena ordinances and accessibilities laws.
• Develop comprehensive written code summary of all deficiencies in submitted documents and provide summary to the client with approved or disapproved plan reviews comments.
• Review client plan review responses to determine if acceptable and incorporated into the resubmitted plan set or sent back for additional information.
• Oversee the complete building plan review process and monitor reviews of other City departments, ensure the client has received a copy of all comments and incorporate other department comments into the plans.
• Ensure and monitor all correspondence both written and verbal, resubmittals, addendums and all other documents relating to the project are entered into the permitting software system for permanent record.
• Act as the point of contact for all resubmitted changes for review and approval, answer questions from designers and contractors during the construction and assist in providing an acceptable resolution to field inspection issues.
• Position involves reviewing multiple projects simultaneously so multi-tasking is an essential requirement.
• Time management is imperative to ensure timely review and response to designers, owners and contractors.
• Review applications for city business licenses regarding changes in use of the building and inquire about proposed alterations requiring permits.
  • Research address file, contact applicant for intended use of the space.
  • Meet with the applicant to perform a walk-through to determine if there are any deficiencies
  • Determine if permits are required in order to obtain a business license
  • Work with the owner and/or business applicant to assist with the building permit submittal process.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on acceptability of new building products and technologies to the Chief Building Official.

30% Time

Essential

Tasks:

• Explains, interprets, answer questions and provides guidance regarding applicable building codes, and regulations to architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners and other interested parties
• Accurately interpret building code requirements and laws related to changes-of-use for existing structures encountered during plans examination
• Meet with designers, contractors, developers, and owners to perform preliminary review of proposed project prior to submittal to identify potential building code issues. Applicable for both new and existing building construction and remodel.
• Perform on-site walk-throughs of existing buildings to determine code requirements involving change and nonchange of use in the spaces.
• Respond to phone calls and e-mails from homeowners, contractors, architectural & engineering companies, insurance, and real estate firms concerning building code questions, what information is required on plans for submittal and the process of how to submit projects for review.
• Conducts on-site inspections related to plan examination of…