Job Details
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The mission of Yakima County Governmentis to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.
Our Values:
- Integrity
- Common Sense
- Innovation
- Accountability
Position Data:Inspector I-J23-U30-H
Regular
Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)
Overview:Pay Range: $28.67 - $36.36 per hour (CTP Pay Band, B25 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $28.67 - $30.43 per hour (CTP Pay Band, B25 Step 1-4 DOQ)
Job Closing Date: July 25, 2024
Applications will be reviewed each week: 7/3/24, 7/10/24, 7/17/24, and 7/26/24.
*If a qualified candidate is selected, the posting will be closed prior to July 25, 2024*
There are two Fire Inspector I openings with the Yakima County Public Services, Building & Fire Safety Division. This position is responsible for providing building fire inspection, code enforcement, and public education regarding fire protection and programs requiring public compliance with governing regulations and completing low-level reviews for Fire Apparatus Access Roads and Multidisciplinary Team projects.
There will be a knowledge assessment as part of the interview.
Benefits included in position:
-Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
-Retirement Benefits
-Paid Vacation
-Paid Holidays
-Paid Sick Leave
Note: This position is a Yakima County Public Services Department Clerical, Technical & Professional Employees Group Bargaining Unit Position.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)
Responsibilities:Essential Duties:Inspects and approves building and environmental systems for construction and alteration of structures, including commercial, industrial, educational, and agricultural construction; reads and interprets complex drawings, blueprints, maps, manuals, and engineering documents to compare structures, procedures, and materials to the various state and local codes to ensure public safety; determines if construction materials and methods are in compliance with approved plans, building, and fire code standards and determine if corrections are required, providing the customer a written and/or electronic correction notice for non-compliant items.
Conduct field inspections and follow-up inspections of commercial, industrial, educational, and agricultural construction to determine whether construction materials and methods comply with approved plans and codes.
Records inspections conducted, and correction notices issued; prepares correspondence, documents, and detailed reports of inspections and investigations; enters data into the computer.
Investigates violations of building, fire, zoning, and other applicable regulations for which enforcement authority has been granted upon complaint or by their own initiative by verifying whether site conditions or usages comply with County building, fire, zoning, and public nuisance ordinances; determines if proper permits have been obtained; recommends abatement where public health, safety, and welfare may be in jeopardy; notifies property owners of violations, deficiencies, and safety hazards; issues stop work orders, notices of violation and notices of non-compliance, sets forth time limitations, writes follow-up letters, and prepares and issues civil infractions and narratives for violation of building and fire codes.
Ensures that the project is in compliance with conditions imposed by other agencies and divisions prior to final approval of the project and issuance of a certificate of inspection.
Organizes and presents community outreach programs and events to the public, agencies, and businesses; develops, conducts, and evaluates presentations to target groups and communities within Yakima County jurisdiction.
Interprets and applies construction and fire and life safety codes and advises property owners about alternative methods in order to satisfy the codes.
Monitors and evaluates inspection reports for compliance with required submittals of reports, for adherence to specified standards and methods of inspection, for any problems identified by inspection; directs the resolution of any problems identified by inspections and validates that the inspection function has been done in compliance with established regulations and practices.
Other duties as required. Assist with building inspections as needed; draft ordinances, programs, procedures, website creation, and maintenance; respond to questions, public inquiries, and public disclosure requests; attend code training; order maintenance and office supplies; ensure proper vehicle maintenance. assist with fire investigations as time allows or as approved by the Fire Marshal.
Education & Experience:High School or (G.E.D.)
AND six (6) years of technical education or inspection experience or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
*Associate degree or two-year technical certificate in Fire Science, Construction, Construction Management, Building Code Technology, Engineering, or Architecture or any other fire/building construction related industry
AND four (4) years of applicable work experience is preferred.*
Required:- valid Washington State Driver's License and proof of insurance;
- successful completion of a criminal background investigation and general employment verification;
- ability to obtain Yakima County Sheriff's Office deputation as Special Deputy with limited commission with 3 months of employment; and,
- ICC Certification Fire Inspector I (within one year of appointment).
Preferred:- experience in inspection and investigation, public education, fire prevention, and disaster mitigation;
- ability to speak and understand Spanish;
- ability to read and interpret construction drawings;
- work experience as a Fire Inspector, Building Inspector, Fire Plans Examiner, Building Plans Examiner, Fire Fighter, or other Fire/Building construction-related industry;
- experience working with integrated permit management systems such as (Accela);
- experience working with International Codes and Standards;
- basic understanding of fire protection systems; and,
- ICC Certified Fire Inspector I or II, IFSAC Certified Fire Investigator, or other National Board Certification for fire investigation, IAAI Fire Investigation Technician designation.
Equipment Used: county vehicle for travel in conducting inspections and investigations, camera for recording visual data, cell phone for communicating with staff, computer for keeping records in the county permit management database, calculator, tape measure, staple gun, hammer, shovel, wheel measurer, flashlight, road maps, GPS navigator, GIS system, emergency light tester, commissioned sheriff badge, stakes, ladder, fire extinguisher, copier, fax, and small hand tools.
Working Conditions: This position is rated as
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Environment: exposure to weather, extreme temperatures, travel, multiple work locations, field work, may be exposed to hostile / angry individuals, and may work outside of standard business hours and locations.
Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, kneeling, reclining, hearing, smelling, talking, and visual acuity.
Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.
Knowledge:- knowledge of inspection practices and construction techniques for building, fire, and mechanical codes;
- applicable local, state, and federal building, fire, mechanical codes, ordinances, laws and regulations;
- construction terminology and practices and basic building design and construction methods;
- construction-based mathematical calculations;
- legal processes involved in the enforcement of applicable codes and ordinances;
- customer service techniques; and,
- being cognizant of construction site dangers such as moving construction equipment, over-head construction activities, hazardous materials, loose scrap materials, and unsecured construction elements.
Skills (and abilities):- ability to make decisions based on legal guidelines;
- read and understand building and construction plans, blueprints, maps, plats, and charts;
- apply customer service techniques;
- work as a member of a team;
- make and communicate recommendations for improvements and compliance;
- interpret and apply codes, standards, and ordinances;
- preparing and presenting oral and written reports and written correspondence;
- locating and diagnosing existing and potentially hazardous conditions;
- establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with County and other officials and with the general public;
- communicating both verbally and in writing;
- maintaining records and performing mathematical calculations;
- using personal computers and related software applications, measuring devices, and basic office equipment; and,
- operating a motor vehicle.
"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.
PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONThe contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.
Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.
Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to or contact your federal loan servicer.In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.