Supervising Engineering Inspector

Fairfax County boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. County government sits at the heart of this dynamic community of almost 1.2 million residents and seeks employees eager to bring their energy, enthusiasm and skills to serve Fairfax residents and to shape the county's future. Land Development Services (LDS) is the steward of the county's land development and building construction codes and regulations, and its staff members embrace their essential role as "first preventers." Every day, through careful review, permitting and inspection of site and building construction, our staff protect the health, safety, welfare, and environment for those who live in, work in, and visit Fairfax County. Our department also serves as the gateway to much of the county's economic development, reviewing over 30,000 building and site plan submissions, issuing nearly 70,000 building permits, and conducting over 220,000 building and site inspections each year. If you would like to join a creative, collaborative, innovative team doing meaningful work, then LDS is the place for you.

Under the supervision of the Site Inspections Branch Chief, this position manages the daily operations of a site inspections team. Leads a team of Senior Engineering Inspectors and Technical Specialist(s) in the oversight of land development construction activities to ensure compliance with approved site development plans and all applicable state and county regulations. The primary focus is managing the proper installation and maintenance of Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S), managing the stormwater pollution protection plan (SWPPP) for compliance on behalf of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), review documentation and certification of the installation of stormwater management facilities for water quantity, liaise with VDOT in their management of the secondary street acceptance program, witness and approve sanitary sewer installation, confirm and track proffer compliance, coordinate occupancy requirements with owner and developers, and coordinate phased occupancy with other county agencies, project contractors, and owners. This supervisory role involves frequent coordination with developers, contractors, county staff, elected officials, and the public to resolve complex land development issues, provide technical expertise, and ensure construction projects progress in accordance with applicable codes.

Provides exceptional customer support for services performed by the Department of Land Development Services and ensures compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and standards related to various activities within the agency's scope. A key responsibility is delivering timely and effective customer service through in-person, phone, and virtual channels, with staff offering expertise to address real-time inquiries. Additionally, this position proactively collaborates with colleagues both within and outside the business unit to ensure efficient service delivery and timely resolution of customer needs.

Position requires incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to drive to/from construction sites, offsite meetings, training, and/or conferences. Continually seeks to expand safety knowledge through training, mentoring, self-study, or other methods of continuous learning. Clearly communicates safety expectations to employees within the work unit. Resolves safety-related matters in a timely manner. Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding. Complies with county, agency, and job-specific training, including but not limited to Emergency Management and Safety-related courses.

NOTE: This position is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

Position may be underfilled as a Engineering Inspector Technical Specialist; the Underfill Requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Supervises subordinates and participates in the inspection of County construction projects involving underground drains, metal and concrete pipe drains, culverts, bridges, sanitary sewer lines, storm drainage, catch basins, sanitary dams, and laying of water lines;
• Inspects and supervises the inspection of street and secondary road construction or improvement projects, including final surfacing, the building of trails, laying of sidewalks, and the demolition of buildings;
• Instructs and trains engineering inspectors in the enforcement of state and County construction codes, specifications and procedures to ensure uniform enforcement by inspectors and compliance by developers, builders, and contractors;
• Coordinates work schedules of the section/unit to ensure that an even flow of work is distributed to individual inspectors;
• Reviews daily reports and other work output from subordinates for conformance with standard operating procedures and sets priority of projects to ensure the section/unit meets the inspection workload demands;
• Performs supervisory duties, such as completing performance evaluations, approving leave, and providing counseling as necessary to improve performance;
• Reviews new construction plans, specifications and sites for construction projects with inspectors to identify any potential problems;
• Supervises maintenance of area records, project files, and availability and assignment of equipment and supplies so that inspectors can perform their duties;
• Inspects special and/or unique projects as necessary;
• Keys in data and transmits inspection information using a hand-held computer terminal;
• Evaluates all reported code violations according to applicable codes to determine that an actual violation has occurred, and verifies that all violation notices cite the applicable code sections, approves issuance of violations, and authorizes corrective measures when a time limit on a violation has expired;
• Provides legal testimony in court, when subpoenaed;
• Informs supervisors and subordinates of significant events and activities, and reports problems to a supervising engineer;
• Verifies inspector's proposed release of bonded and non-bonded projects;
• Writes reports and correspondence in response to request by management and other agencies;
• Prepares changes to the Public Facilities Manual (PFM) and the agency inspector's handbook;
• Meets with supervisors, developers, builders, contractors, engineers, home/property owners and staff from the Virginia Department of Transportation and other County agencies to answer questions, exchange information, and provide assistance in resolving land development and construction project issues.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of civil engineering;
• Knowledge of the materials and methods used in construction of land development and public works projects:
• Knowledge of the equipment and methods used in the demolition of buildings and the safety measures needed to ensure safety of employees and nearby property;
• Knowledge of state and County construction code and regulations;
• Ability to inspect a construction project and ensure that it meets applicable code requirements and built in accordance with approved plans, specifications, and permits;
• Ability to manage the work of a group of subordinate engineering inspectors;
• Ability to teach subordinates technical knowledge, procedures, and methods needed to perform duties of an engineering inspector;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with contractors and the general public;
• Ability to read blueprints and specifications;
• Ability to keep records, and to use a hand-held computer;
• Ability to write reports, letters, and ordinances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to: graduation from high school or possession of a GED issued by a state department of education; plus four years of experience inspecting public improvement projects.

UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This vacancy may be underfilled at the level of Engineering Inspector Technical Specialist (Grade S22, $62,482 - $104,137.). The employment standards for the Engineering Inspector Technical Specialist are: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Graduation from high school; plus four years of construction experience, including two years of inspection work. Click here to view the complete details and KSAs for the Engineering Inspector Technical Specialist. Upon completion of an underfill agreement (which will require that the employee meet the employment standards stated above in addition to obtaining competencies defined by the hiring agency) the employee will be elevated to the level of Supervising Engineering Inspector.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license.
• DEQ Stormwater Management Inspector certification.
• DEQ Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Reviewer certification.
• DEQ Erosion & Sediment Control Inspector certification.

• Experience leading, training, and mentoring front-line staff, especially in inspection roles.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively regarding technical subjects at appropriate levels for any audience. Demonstrated ability to balance competing demands from multiple stakeholders and respond appropriately verbally and in writing.
• Experience regulating site construction, including issuing violations, pursuing corrective action, and assisting other staff to do the same.
• Detailed knowledge of land development processes and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience managing electronic records to effectively organize simultaneous projects.