CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL/MUNICIPAL ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL

Code: 07658 Local Non-Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction has chief administrative responsibility for administering and enforcing the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code; does other related duties as required.

Under direction, supervises the field and office engineering work involved in municipal construction activities; does other related work.

Examples of work

• Directs, plans, organizes, and supervises staff and activities concerned with carrying out regulations of the NJ Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
• Develops the work program with effective/appropriate procedures, analyzes inspection problems, and establishes appropriate work methods.
• Executes plans for utilization of available funds, personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Prepares a budget and maintains balances.
• Establishes personnel rules/policies within the unit, and recommends policies or changes in policy and procedures to appropriate officials.
• Arranges for contractual inspections, and reviews reports submitted by contracted agency.
• Enforces regulations of the UCC.
• Provides applications for construction work and assists the public in preparing same when necessary; reviews applications for completeness as to form and for verification of prior approvals; requests additional documentation concerning prior approvals.
• On receipt of completed applications, determines proper fee for the work required, collects fees/penalties, and ensures that funds are properly accounted for.
• Ensures that subcode officials have an adequate time period to review applications, plans, and specifications.
• Ensures that requests for variation are properly prepared, documented, and referred to appropriate subcode officials.
• Issues construction permits, certificates of occupancy, and temporary certificates of occupancy on receipt of approval of all appropriate subcode officials.
• Records notices of violation on receiving notification of appropriate subcode official, and determines penalties for noncompliance with the penalty notices.
• Ensures that required inspections are scheduled and performed on time, and that reports on inspections are completed and filed.
• Records stop work orders as notified by the appropriate subcode official.
• Ensures that final inspections have been completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy and that inspections required for the purpose have been completed prior to issuance of the temporary certificate of occupancy.
• In the case of a change of use or on receipt for a certificate of continued occupancy, ensures that each subcode official gives approval based on inspection/review of submitted data before issuing such certificate.
• Prepares and obtains reports.
• Attends meetings and hearings.
• Coordinates activities of subcode officials in enforcement of provisions of the energy subcode.
• Files court complaints and makes court appearances in various courts of appeal.
• Makes field inspections when problems develop.
• May act as subcode official for any subcode for which qualified to act as such.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Analyzes municipal construction needs and provides recommendations and reports.
• Reviews public and private land development applications.
• Cooperates with municipal officials and civic groups in preparing specifications and plans for long range municipal improvements.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of specifications and construction plans.
• Supervises and reviews the preparation of maps and charts from field notes and observations.
• Maintains and directs the dissemination of the information from geographic information system mapping and maps such as tax maps and street maps.
• Supervises the drafting of drawings and provides specific instructions as to the type of information to be shown, scales, sizes, and manner of obtaining needed information.
• Supervises field parties making surveys for municipal improvements, lots, sewers, curbs, sidewalks, flood zones, drainage and lines and grades.
• Advises inspectors as to the quality and quantity of work desired.
• Performs and supervises the performance of construction inspections excluding buildings by inspectors and advises staff.
• Prepares designs for sewer extensions, pavements, and other structural work.
• Prepares reports of construction expense, time spent, and materials used.
• Consults with general contractors on construction projects.
• Develops effective work methods for staff.
• Establishes and maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of supervisory engineering experience in the design, maintenance, and construction of projects, including the preparation and review of construction plans and specifications.

License

Applicants must possess a valid Construction Official's License issued by the Department of Community Affairs.

Possession of a professional engineer's license, and if required, a land surveyors license issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of basic principles of management and supervision, and of the administration of a local enforcement agency including record keeping, preparation of reports, personnel procedures, and budget preparation.
• Knowledge of record keeping requirements under the UCC including permit and certificate of occupancy records, variation application records, and violation files and records.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures of establishing/maintaining review and approval procedures for permit applications to ensure compliance with the UCC and applicable laws/ordinances.
• Knowledge of legal methods of code enforcement; of purpose/fundamentals of stop orders and notices of penalty and court action; of powers and procedures to deal with hazardous conditions and emergencies; of procedures for processing, requiring, obtaining, and issuing search warrants; of legal responsibilities of inspection personnel; and of other related legislation.
• Knowledge of building subcode provisions including structural requirements; durability and weatherability requirements; of electrical subcode provisions including minimum service and appliances and basic circuits; of elevator subcode provisions; of fire prevention code provisions including special permits required, storage and handling of goods/materials, maintenance of exit facilities and of fire protection equipment; of fire protection subcode provisions including height/area requirements; and of plumbing subcode provisions including sanitary waste disposal, water supply, venting, and required facilities.
• Knowledge and abilities for the appropriate subcode official's license that are commensurate with the level (HHS, RCS) which has been established by the jurisdiction for the enforcing agency.
• Ability to establish/maintain cooperative working relationships with local/state government officials, staff members, and the public.
• Ability to evaluate programs and procedures.
• Ability to plan, organize, supervise, and coordinate activities of diversified units.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in evaluating situations and in making determinations.
• Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to prepare and supervise preparation of clear, concise, accurate, and informative reports.
• Ability to analyze and interpret the New Jersey UCC.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: LG - DJ 2/24/00
• This job specification is for local government use only.
• MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
• Knowledge of engineering mathematics.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the form, content, and preparation of construction plans, of the techniques used in drafting and in preparing detailed maps and charts, and of inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered and procedures used in the design, maintenance and construction of projects, including the preparation and review of municipal or other construction plans and specifications.
• Knowledge of the purpose and methods of performing field surveys.
• Ability to apply basic engineering principles and techniques in plan designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates.
• Ability to inspect construction projects for the purpose of determining conformance with designs, plans, and specifications.
• Ability to organize assigned technical field and office engineering work, analyze engineering problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to prepare topographic maps, profiles, and plans and to use such instruments as required to obtain the necessary data.
• Ability to oversee field survey parties.
• Ability to read, prepare, analyze, develop, and interpret construction plans and specifications.
• Ability to solve complex engineering and design problems.
• Ability to prepare preliminary estimates of the cost of new construction or installations and to check drawings submitted by contractors for these projects.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective liaison with general contractors, associates, subordinates, and others having an interest in municipal engineering work.
• Ability to take a leading part in the development of municipal construction projects by providing advice and assistance.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: LG - MCK 8/7/02
• This job specification is for local government use only.
• TITLE CODE FOR DUAL TITLE:
• This job specification is for local government use only.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Where the construction official also serves as one or more subcode officials, possession of the appropriate subcode official license (s) will be required.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

The examples of work are for illustrative purposes only. A particular title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all the duties performed on the job may not be listed.