Job Description

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT INSPECTOR
Category: Full Time
Status: Open
Hourly: Min $ 26.136 -Mid $ 32.671
Published: May 22, 2023
Closing: Open Until Filled

DEFINITION
To plan, organize, and conduct construction inspection and materials testing within the Public Works Capital Improvement Division; to coordinate construction activities with contractors, general public, and other City departments; to produce and manage all reports relative to capital improvement projects and other Public Works and City projects; to perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned area or responsibility. This position supports the city\xe2\x80\x99s Capital Improvement Program.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Director and Assistant Director of Public Works and other assigned management and supervisory staff.
Exercises direct supervision over assigned technical staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, prioritize, schedule, and inspect capital improvement projects assigned to the department; including new construction, reconstruction, and major maintenance of: City buildings, streets, water pump stations, sewer lift stations, water storage facilities, water and wastewater lines, culverts, bridges, parking lots, drives, and curbs, and gutters. Prepare daily inspection reports and review with the Capital Improvement Project Manager, City Engineer, Assistant Director of Public Works, as appropriate; and others as needed or directed.
• Review and interpret plan sheets, specifications, and other documents for accuracy and compliance with applicable standards and codes; perform all Public right-of-way and other related inspections where necessary.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of consultants in materials testing laboratory services; including soil compaction, concrete density testing, asphalt compaction and density testing, to determine conformance with contracts, specifications, and regulations.
• In the absence of, or as directed by the Capital Improvement Project Manager, serve as City liaison to all contractors, architects, and engineers on applicable city capital improvement projects; including administering consultant and contractor contract requests for payment; work conducted by other public agencies and coordinate their work with other City departments.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports of operations and activities.
• Attend pre-bid and pre-construction conferences and arrange for affected departments to attend.
• Coordinate work with other City departments, franchise utilities, contractors and other government entities.
• Management of project schedules.
• Confer with property owners regarding project schedule, hazards and inconveniences which might be encountered during the course of a construction project; schedule service interruptions with the least interference and least inconvenience to properties and property owners.
• Assist in the preparation of bid documents for various city projects.
• Assist with the negotiation of and processing of contracts with general contractors and professional services.
• Assist in the negotiation with property owners to secure various easements; preparing documents
• Assist in the selection of project designers, pre-qualification of contractors and evaluation of the lowest responsible qualified bidders.
• Assist in the finding a solution for difficult construction inspection problems;
• Assist in the capital improvement budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; monitor and control expenditures.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Coordinate activities with field survey crew; direct and coordinate survey staff in making a variety of surveys including land surveys to determine locations of property lines, boundaries, easements, and right-of-ways; topographic features; construction surveys for improvement projects; and surveys to establish and monument centerlines.
• Keep accurate field notes of work performed showing lines, angles, distance, benchmarks, mathematical calculations, and other data pertinent to the field survey.
• Catalog and file survey notes.
• Compute and adjust angles, distances, bearings, traverses, and elevations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
For indefinite periods of time - mobility within a office and field environment; writing; walking; twisting body; stooping; standing; squatting; sorting; sitting; seeing; lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds; climbing; reading; decision making; speaking; interfacing with the public; clarity of hearing; communicating clearly and effectively, in person and by telephone; fine finger manipulation; operation of a personal computer, calculator, and a motor vehicle through city traffic.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of design and construction of a variety of public works projects.
• Materials, equipment and safety hazards of construction inspection.
• Defects and faults in construction.
• Principles, practices, and procedures of land surveying.
• Basic mathematics including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Materials sampling and estimate procedures.
• Applicable laws, regulations, codes, and departmental policies governing public works construction projects.
• Record keeping and reporting procedures.
• Standard construction details and plan review procedures.
• Construction materials testing
• Inspection and compliance processes for public works projects

Ability to:

• Supervise and implement a comprehensive construction inspection, and materials testing program.
• Understand and interpret engineering and architectural plans and specifications and prepare accurate reporting records.
• Detect and locate faulty materials and workmanship and determine the stage of construction during which defects are most commonly found and remedied.
• Interpret and apply applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations and policies.
• Assist in preparing and administering a budget.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Understand and interpret legal descriptions and record survey maps.
• Use and care for survey instruments and equipment.
• Make accurate and legible field survey notes.
• Perform complex mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Plan, organize, and schedule work to achieve optimum efficiency.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Five years of responsible experience in a variety of construction projects including public infrastructure, Civil & Commercial buildings, construction inspection, survey, and materials testing. High School Diploma or GED is required, supplemented by specialized training in mathematics, surveying, civil engineering or a related field. An Associate\xe2\x80\x99s Degree in a related technical field is preferred.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Must have a valid Texas Driver\'s License. Possession of a Certification as a Public Works Inspector or a Certificate of Registration as a Public Surveyor from the State of Texas is desirable.



*Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

• Duties, responsibilities and actions may change at any time with or without notice.

The City of La Porte is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Qualified Individuals.