Senior Construction Inspector

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Senior Construction Inspector

Salary

$38.36 Hourly

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

25-Sr Construction Inspector

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

07/25/2025

Closing Date

8/11/2025 8:30 AM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Local 1937

Description

Benefits

Questions

Nature of Work

Ready to bring your construction inspection experience to the public sector? Join the City as we take on exciting new public works projects-your expertise is exactly what we need!

At the City of Bellingham, the Senior Construction Inspector performs complete field inspections of major capital construction including WSDOT and Federal Aid projects and subdivisions to ensure compliance with specifications and standards; initiates field engineering changes; serves as lead worker on major inspection projects.

Salary Information and Benefits:

This position will start at Step 1 ($38.36/hr). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $38.36 - $46.99. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page (https://cob.org/about/employment/benefits) and labor agreements page. (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule)

10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time

12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year

8 hours sick leave accrued monthly

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families

Life insurance and long-term disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program

Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security

Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon, August 11,2025 at 8:30 AM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Observes work in progress on major construction projects and ensures procedures and materials used are within specified standards; interprets plans and specifications for contractors; recommends and/or approves field design changes; advises contractor if work performed or materials used do not meet applicable codes and/or contract; orders suspension of work and removal of defective material, as needed.

Records daily progress of capital improvement projects and subdivisions, and photographs project to maintain pictorial evidence. Measures project to facilitate making "as built" drawings for permanent records; provides information and resolves problems with the contractor, City staff, and citizens. Provides all field engineering data to the construction engineers.

Develops and implements engineered field solutions where project designs are not compatible with existing field conditions; in consultation the Project Engineers, coordinates change orders and controls and authorizes additional costs to the project.

Records quantities received and used during specific project phases; measures distances, thicknesses, and widths; verifies grades, alignments and elevations on construction project; prepares documents, records and pictures for possible legal use; prepares pay estimates for completion of project phases. Maintains Records of Material (ROM) and associated paperwork for Federal Funding audits.

Organizes tests on wet and cured concrete, asphalt materials, bank run gravel, crushed rock and other embankment materials. Collects water samples and conducts preliminary testing; performs pressure testing for water, sewer and storm lines. Inspects sewer and water pump stations, steel structures, bridges, street light systems, and traffic control systems during construction and for final acceptance.

Informs supervisor and project engineer(s) of progress and details of construction projects, necessary field adjustments, or design changes; maintains communications with contractor, citizens and City staff regarding complaints, construction activities, and concerns. Acts as main point of contact in the event of emergencies that arise after hours related to construction.

Assists Project Engineers with design, special provisions (Specs), research, and constructability. Corrects errors, identifies omissions, makes known additions to plans and design changes as needed. Prepares estimates for materials. Participates in the development of departmental engineering standards and guidelines.

Coordinates with the operations division of the public works department to schedule work to be performed by water, sewer, street or traffic personnel to ensure project timelines are met.

Inspects traffic control and personnel for compliance with local guidelines and current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

Occasionally acts in responsible charge in the absence of the Construction Manager.

Performs related duties and assists in other areas of engineering as assigned.

May assist with design and plan review of capital projects.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office setting and field environments while conducting inspections, exposing the employee to inclement weather, traffic and construction site hazards, noise, toxic fumes, and infrequent lifting. Employees are required to use appropriate safety equipment and follow standard safety practices. Inspectors should expect to enter and exit their vehicle many times each day. Must be available for on-call problem resolution and troubleshooting of emergencies and issues that arise after hours as a result of construction.

Physical ability to perform essential functions of the job, including:

Frequently communicate verbally.

Mobility necessary to safely move about construction sites and stand, sit or bend in awkward positions.

Operate a computer and read a computer screen or @typewritten page.

Infrequently lift heavy objects of approximately 50 lbs.

Mobility necessary to safely move about construction sites and stand, sit or bend in awkward positions.

Experience and Training

A minimum of three years of construction inspection experience for a variety of construction projects required. Must include inspection on public works projects, civil engineering construction or closely related area.

Associates degree or equivalent education in engineering technology or related field.

An equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire.

Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check and child and adult abuse records check. (See Fair Hiring Practices)

Must secure and maintain the following certifications within 1 year of hire:

Water distribution Manager 1 (WDM1)

Cross Contamination Certification/Cross Connection Control Specialist (CCS)

Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL)

Pervious Concrete Installer Certification

CPR and First Aid Certification

Flagger Certification

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process:

Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 12, 2025.

Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating Applicant status will be updated on or around August 21, 2025 . All candidates who achieve a passing score of 60% or greater on the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in the Oral Board Interview.

Oral Board Interview: All applicants who achieve the passing score from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 2, 2025. Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.

Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: Experience and Training Rating (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%).

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works. This position is represented by a union.

If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.

The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.

The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.

The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information.

This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/1937-2022-2023-CBA.pdf) .

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on PERS.

Civil Service Information

This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.

Veteran's Scoring Criteria

Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

Yes

Do you have a minimum of three years of construction inspection experience for a variety of construction projects required? (Must include inspection on public works projects, civil engineering construction or closely related area).

How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we'll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

Yes

Do you have an associates degree or equivalent education in engineering technology or related field?

Yes

Or In place of the above requirements, do you have a combination of relevant education and experience that provides you with the required knowledge, skill and ability to be considered? If yes, please describe.

Do you have a valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one by time of hire and a good driving record? The successful candidate must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.

Yes

Do you have or have the ability to obtain and maintain the following certifications within one (1) year of hire?

Water distribution Manager 1 (WDM1)

Cross Contamination Certification (CCS)

Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL)

Pervious Concrete Installer Certification

CPR and First Aid Certification

Flagger Certification

I currently have the required certifications and agree to maintain them.

I have some of the required certifications and am able to obtain and maintain the remaining certifications within one year of hire.

I am unable to obtain and retain the remaining certifications within one year of hire. I understand that my application will not be considered.

I currently do not have any of the required certifications, but I am able to obtain and maintain the certifications within one year of hire.

Please describe in detail particular skills, experience or training which qualifies you for the Senior Construction Inspector position.

Include inspection experience on public works projects, civil engineering construction and/or closely related areas.

Describe how you communicate and manage situations when you need to enforce standards or correct issues with contractors or team members.

If you are requesting Veteran's Preference points, a completed Veterans Scoring Criteria Status Declaration is required along with a copy of your DD214. The required form is in the Selections Process section of the Job Posting. Check "YES" here if you are attaching a Veteran's Declaration form and DD214.

Yes

Required Question

Employer

City of Bellingham

Address

104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone

360-778-8228

Website

http://www.cob.org/employment

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