Code Specialist Ii

Job Announcement

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 Code Specialist III, Technical Services Branch, Building Division, evaluates plans and associated documentation and performs related inspections for new construction and alterations to existing construction to ensure compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), County Code and related policies. Specific duties include:

• Analyzes building systems and/or components using engineering principles and calculations to determine compliance with related design standards, manufacturers' specifications and regulations.
• Serves as a subject matter expert regarding the application, interpretation and development of the USBC.
• Provides mentoring and technical training on applicable codes and policies related to areas of expertise.
• Complies with LDS's safety program and guidelines.
• Continually seeks to expand knowledge through training, mentoring, self-study or other methods of continuous learning.
• Participates in meetings, conferences, classes and seminars to maintain technical proficiency.
• Complies with department's safety program and guidelines.
• Complies with county, agency and job specific training requirements, including but not limited to emergency management and safety-related courses.
• Operates a motor vehicle to drive to/from construction sites, offsite meetings, training and/or conferences.
• Performs other duties as assigned to further the goals and objectives of the department.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field of study directly related to the industry being regulated such as engineering, architecture, urban planning, biological or environmental science, public administration, law enforcement, legal studies or a related field; plus two years of progressively more responsible complaint resolution and/or code enforcement experience in the industry being regulated.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license.
• The following certifications must be obtained within 18 months of hire:
  • Residential Building Inspector
  • Residential Electrical Inspector
  • Residential Mechanical Inspector
  • Residential Plumbing Inspector
  • Commercial Building Inspector
  • Commercial Electrical Inspector
  • Commercial Mechanical Inspector
  • Commercial Plumbing Inspector
• Any two (2) of the following certifications must be obtained within 18 months of hire:
  • Residential Building Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Building Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Mechanical Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Electrical Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Plumbing Plans Examiner

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.
• This position is considered "essential personnel" and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
• The appointee to the position will be required to satisfactorily complete a criminal background investigation, driving record check, and pre-employment medical evaluation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive experience in the application of the VA Uniform Statewide Building Code in at least one of the following areas of the code: Building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing.
• At least five years of practical commercial and/or residential code enforcement experience.
• At least two years of experience reviewing plans and/or inspections.
• At least five years of experience providing advanced technical assistance to customers in the interpretation and proper application of the code.
• All eight of the following inspector certifications from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development:
  • Residential Building Inspector
  • Residential Electrical Inspector
  • Residential Mechanical Inspector
  • Residential Plumbing Inspector
  • Commercial Building Inspector
  • Commercial Electrical Inspector
  • Commercial Mechanical Inspector
  • Commercial Plumbing Inspector
• Two or more of the following plan review certifications from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development:
  • Commercial Mechanical Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Plumbing Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Building Plans Examiner
  • Commercial Electrical Plans Examiner
  • Residential Building Plans Examiner
• Experience in code development at the State (Virginia) and National (ICC) levels.
• History serving with one of the statewide code development organizations below:
  • The Virginia Plumbing & Mechanical Inspectors Association
  • The Virginia Building and Code Officials Association
  • The International Association of Electrical Inspectors
  • Women in Code Enforcement and Development

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and use large platform monitors to review plans. Ability to distinguish colors of wiring. Ability to work in adverse weather ability to perform sedentary tasks. Ability to bend, crawl, crouch, stoop and work in tiring and uncomfortable conditions. Ability to climb step ladders and ladders up to 40 feet with required safety equipment ability to lift/slide up to 50 pounds with assistance. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include apractical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.