Principal Engineering Construction Inspector - City of Birmingham

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

06/13/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 22

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Principal Engineering Construction Inspectors working within the City of Birmingham are responsible for examining and reviewing the plans of construction and maintenance projects to determine compliance with existing laws, regulations, and professional standards. Incumbents conduct and oversee the inspection of construction and maintenance projects involving public infrastructure such as drainage structures, sanitary sewers, roads, bridges, subdivisions, utilities, etc. Incumbents oversee and approve contractors’ work on public infrastructure projects (e.g., subdivisions, sewer lines, bridges, roads) by reviewing inspectors' reports, approving payment to contractors, and ensuring the appropriate quality and quantity of materials are used or removed according to specifications. Work involves planning and reviewing the work of employees who apply engineering practices and principles to a variety of public works assignments.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The City of Birmingham provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is presented below:

Birmingham $49,254 - $76,419

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Driver's license.
• Experience inspecting the work performed in the construction of civil or public works projects (e.g., roads, bridges, sewers, utilities) to ensure adherence to contract specifications.              
• Experience calculating data (e.g., quantities, areas, volumes, and grades) for construction projects using advanced mathematical calculations, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Supervisory work experience to include assigning and reviewing work, guiding and directing staff, and training.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by the City of Birmingham. These qualifications may be considered by Birmingham when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Work experience using a GIS system that utilizes service requests, work orders and inspections to track and record daily actives, preferably Cityworks.
• Experience using project management software (e.g. APPIA, Procore)

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Communicates with a variety of individuals orally and/or electronically by providing appropriate information to project engineers, contractors, attorneys, and the general public in order to inform them on the status of construction projects and utility issues.
• Oversees and participates in the inspection of construction and maintenance work on public infrastructure by inspecting drainage structures, sanitary sewers, wastewater treatment plants, roads, bridges, subdivisions, and utilities using accepted civil engineering practices, national, state, and local engineering codes, standards, or regulations to ensure that projects are completed according to job specifications.
• Oversees contractors’ work on public infrastructure projects (e.g., subdivisions, sewer lines, bridges, roads) by monitoring the progress of work, approving payment to contractors and ensuring the appropriate quality and quantity of materials (e.g., steel, concrete, asphalt, soil) are used or removed in order to ensure projects are completed according to specifications.
• Examines and reviews plans of assigned projects by attending pre-construction meetings, examining utilities at construction sites, and reading maps and drawings in order to prepare for on-site inspections during construction and maintenance projects on public infrastructure (e.g., roads, bridges, sewer lines).
• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.
• Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job involves moderate physical exertion required for occasional prolonged periods of lifting, carrying, climbing, stooping, kneeling, or crouching. May involve occasional lifting of items or objects weighing up to 75 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is conducted both indoors in an office setting as well as during regular field visits to external construction worksites