Building Inspector

The Building Inspector I position is an advanced skilled position performing technical work tasks and projects related to field inspections and re-inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial facilities for compliance with building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Building Official.

  The Town of Blacksburg is an EEO Employer M/F/D/V

• Inspects new and existing residential structures, out-buildings, and commercial buildings for code compliance and safety
• Researches products and procedures to determine code compliance
• Enters necessary reports and records regarding daily inspections into computer system
• Organizes and maintains daily inspection schedules
• Assists and advises contractors and others regarding building codes
• Reviews plans for code compliance in order to issue building permits
• Attends training to maintain required certifications and tracks certification status
• Available for after hours emergencies in rotation with other Division staff
• Performs other work as apparent or assigned

• Thorough knowledge of all types of building construction materials, methods, and stages of construction
• Thorough knowledge of state building and related codes, laws and ordinances
• Ability to foresee possible violations or defects
• Ability to detect poor workmanship, inferior materials and hazards of fire and collapse
• Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, and blueprints accurately and to compare them with construction in process
• Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility
• Ability to contact and effectively communicate with property owners, contractors, and the public maintaining satisfactory working relationships

• High school diploma or GED required 
• Considerable experience in the construction industry, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Combination Residential Inspector
• Combination Building Inspector
• Fire Protection, Erosion, and Sediment Control and Property Maintenance Certifications required within two years of hire
• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record

• This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and repetitive motions and frequently standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling and lifting
• Work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm's length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities
• Work frequently requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to vibration
• Includes work in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Salary : $50,935 - $52,992