Building Code Plans Reviewer

Jefferson County, West Virginia, Department of Engineering, Planning, and Zoning is seeking a Building
Code Plans Reviewer/Building Inspector. The primary responsibility is to review building plans for
compliance with the International Code Council (ICC) residential and commercial building codes. The
plans reviewer must also have the ability and willingness to fill in as a building inspector during times
when other inspectors are on vacation or workload deems it necessary.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: High school diploma is required, or hold a G.E.D. certificate, with minimum
of 5 years’ experience in building codes plan review and/or inspections. ICC certification as a plan
reviewer is a plus. Will consider applicants with experience in the building trades and ability to become
certified as an ICC building codes plan reviewer within 12 months. Applicants shall have working
knowledge of building construction including site grading, foundations, framing, plumbing, mechanical,
electrical and structural components. Shall also have the ability to read building plans and be familiar
with plan notation and terminology.

Special Requirements: A valid driver’s license is required for this position. Candidate must pass a
background check. Must have good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact
with the public, architects, engineers and building contractors. Must have strong computer skills. CAD
experience a plus.

Why Work for Jefferson County?

• Meaningful Work: Serve your community and contribute to projects that
  make a difference.
• Career Growth: We invest in your success with training and development opportunities.
• Extensive Benefits Package: We offer health/prescription, vision, dental,
  and life insurance coverage, as well as enrollment in the West Virginia
  Public Retirement System.
• Education Assistance: Take advantage of tuition reduction programs with
  Shepherd University and American Public University.
• Diverse Opportunities: Whether you’re skilled in administration,
  planning and development, public safety or maintenance, we have a
  place for you!

Strong employee benefits package includes West Virginia Public Employee Retirement System; heath,
vision, and dental insurance plans; paid vacation leave; paid sick leave; thirteen to fifteen paid holidays
per calendar year; Employee Assistance Program; and reduced tuition rates with American Public
University and Shepherd University.

Deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Position to remain open until
filled. Please email resumes to [email protected] and note “Building Code Plans Reviewer” in
the subject line or send via US Mail to:

Ms. Jessica James, Chief Human Resource Officer
Jefferson County Commission
PO Box 250
Charles Town, WV 25414

Grade V, 80-hour position

Starting Salary: $55,000-$60,000

Job Location:
116 E Washington St., Charles Town, WV 25443
Hours of Work
8:00am – 4:00pm

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
Statement of Duties: Employee is responsible for reviewing plans and specifications as submitted for
permitting construction projects to ensure conformance with applicable building codes, ordinances
and laws. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Supervision Required: Under the general supervision of the Chief County Engineer/Building Code
Official, the employee is familiar with the work routine and uses initiative in carrying out recurring
assignments independently in accordance with specific instructions. The supervisor provides
additional, specific instruction for new, difficult, or unusual assignments including suggested work
methods as necessary. The employee is expected to recognize instances which are out of the ordinary
and which do not fall within existing instructions; the employee is then expected to seek advice and
further instructions. Reviews and checks of the employee’s work are applied to an extent sufficient to
keep the supervisor aware of progress, and to insure that completed work and methods used are
technically accurate and that instructions are being followed. In many cases, the work is self-checking,
for example, requiring accounts to balance before proceeding.

Supervisory Responsibility: Employee is not regularly required to supervise employees.

Confidentiality: Employee has access to confidential information such as department files.

Accountability: Consequences of errors or poor judgment may include adverse public relations,
monetary loss, legal repercussions, personal injury, and/or injury to self or others.

Judgment: Numerous standardized practices, procedures, or general instructions govern the work
and in some cases,may require additional interpretation. Judgmentis needed to locate, select, and
apply the most pertinent practice, procedure, regulation or guideline.

Complexity: The work consists of a variety of duties which generally follow standardized practices,
procedures, regulations or guidelines. The sequence of work and/or the procedures followed vary
according to the nature of the transaction and/or the information involved, or sought, in a particular
situation.

Work Environment: Work requires some agility and physical strength to move in and about construction
work sites, over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period.

Employee is exposed to outdoor work, confined spaces and high places, toxins or fumes, equipment and
machinery, traffic, electricity, radiation, biohazards, loud noises, emotional stress, and risk of personal
injury.

Nature and Purpose of Public Contacts: Relationships are primarily with co-workers and the public
involving frequent explanation, discussion or interpretation of practices, procedures, regulations or
guidelines in order to render service, plan or coordinate work efforts, or resolve operating problems.
Other regular contacts are with service recipients and employees of outside organizations such as
vendors, banks and/or developers/ contractors. More than ordinary courtesy, tact and diplomacy
may be required to resolve complaints or deal with hostile, uncooperative or uninformed persons.
Employee may furnish news media with routine information such as meeting agendas or
departmental procedures.

Occupational Risks: Essential functions regularly present potential risk of injuries from improper
exposure which could result in loss of time from work. Examples of injury include burns from
chemicals, steam or fire, severe muscular strains from working with extremely heavy material, falls
from heights in excess of three feet and illness from exposure to communicable diseases. Special
safety precautions, training, or protective clothing such as gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hats or
boots may be required.

Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of
work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them
from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

1. Review building plans for one and two family dwellings and commercial/industrial buildings
   to ensure that building plans and specifications comply with applicable standards of
   construction, use appropriatematerials andmethods, are safe for people and property,
   comply with code requirements and utilize the properstructure design.
2. Provide quality customerservice overthe telephone and in person to architects, engineers,
   builders, contractors, owners and other citizens andmembers ofthe public to answer
   questions and provide information aboutthe permit application and inspection processes
   and building code requirements.
3. Utilize, maintain and advance the use of the content management system (CMS) to
   efficiently process permit applications, to communicate with permit applicants, and
   digitally manage records and information.
4. Provide advice and assistance to field inspectors regarding code interpretations as
   requested.
5. Fulfill responsibilities of building inspectors in their absence or as workload demands
   require.
6. Coordinates efforts with State Fire Marshal and/or third-party certifications.
7. Authorizes commercial building permit Use and Occupancy Certificates.
8. Attends training courses to remain aware of industry regulations, obtains building code
   certifications and continuing education requirements as required by state law. Obtain and
   maintain certifications required under West Virginia state code.
9. Performs duties of Building Inspector, Permits Technician, or other related work as
   assigned by the Chief County Engineer/Building Code Official.
10. Participates in building code round-table discussions held by Engineering, Planning & Zoning
    for the building industry.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Certification as an ICC building plans reviewer, or Associates Degree in
Architecture, or work experience in Building Code Enforcement with five to seven (5- 7) yearsrelated
work experience in the area ofbuilding design or construction; or any equivalent combination of
education, training and experience which providesthe required knowledge, skills and abilitiesto
performthe essential functions ofthejob. In addition, successful completion of the training and
examinations required to be certified as an Inspector and Plans Examiner by the International Code
Council and the West Virginia State Fire Marshal (WV State Code, Title 87- 7-3).

Special Requirements:
Valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Building Code Inspector and Plans Examiner Certifications
(W.V. State Fire Marshal, W.V. State Code, Title 87-7).

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: and understanding of building construction trades and terminology, International
Building Codes, and building construction processes and methods.

Abilities: Ability to work independently; ability to deal with public tactfully and effectively. Ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, contractors doing
business for the town as well as state regulatory authorities. Ability to carry out essential functions
under hazardous orinclement weather conditionsin a safemanner.
Ability to establish andmaintain a work reporting system and otherrelated records. Ability to deal
effectively with disgruntledmembers ofthe public. Ability to read and interpret construction
drawings and blue prints.

Skill: Basic math skills, computer skills, proficient with AutoCAD type software, proficient written and oral
communications skills.

Physical and Mental Requirements
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 position’s essential functions

Physical Skills: Work requires moderate intermittent physical strength and effort daily, such as, lifting
heavy objects, carrying the object(s) and stacking them or placing them in a vehicle or storage area. In
addition, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for the full work day may also be involved. A great deal of
physical effort must be exerted at this level. Travel, particularly during adverse weather conditions
and troublesome road conditions and at times during the evening, is required.

Motor Skills: Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with
finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples may include operating a personal computer, using
hand tools, or climbing a ladder.

Visual Skills: Visual demands require the employee to constantly read and interpret documents for
general understanding and analytical purposes; employee also routinely reviews non-written materials
(e.g. maps and blueprints). Employee isrequired to distinguish colors.