Building Plans Engineer (5214) – Department of Building Inspection – 164533

The Technical Services Division Manager oversees a team of engineers building inspectors and permit technicians and is responsible for coordination and management of department and inter-departmental special programs. The TSD Manager oversees the authoring and maintenance of information sheets and administrative bulletins provides public assistance on code interpretation and permitting. The Technical Services Division Manager works collaboratively with the Permit Services Plan Review Services and Specialty Review Managers to engage in staff educational development code development and adoption public outreach and streamlining department workflows. This position requires departmental representation for program development and in Code Advisory Committee and Building Inspection Commission meetings. The TSD Manager will have a strong customer service focus and will be able to take decisive action as a manager utilizing critical thinking skills.

Definition: Under general administrative direction manages the activities of the professional plan check personnel engaged in the review of the building construction and modification plans. The Building Plans Engineer directs supervises and monitors the work of plan checkers and engineers who are involved with the review of plans specifications and calculations prepared by architects engineers and contractors and others in order to assure fire safety energy conservation disabled access and mechanical design (HVAC smoke control) in conformance with applicable city state and federal codes. The incumbent is also responsible for interpreting building code requirements; reviewing applications for materials substitutions; making field inspections advising inspection personnel on acceptable engineering/construction practices structural details uses of materials and related building construction problems; and performing related duties as required.

Distinguishing Features: The Building Plans Engineer functions at the advanced - journey -level. Incumbents in this job code confer with engineers architects and applicants on building code requirements and review and report on applications for complex alterations and new construction for permits for buildings and structures.

Supervision Exercised: Job code 5214 may be assigned supervisory responsibilities over plan check personnel and engineers.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties: According to Civil Service Commission Rule 9 the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code and are not intended to be an inclusive list:

• Manage and coordinate staffing for public information counters and TechQ customer service emails.
• Oversee implementation or modification of department programs such as the Soft-Story program Building Façade Inspection program and Building Occupancy Resumption Program and the Concrete and RWFD Screening program.
• Oversee DBI Addressing personnel (part of TSD Team).  Attend monthly standing Addressing Working Group meetings to stay abreast of complex addressing issues and continue ongoing inter-departmental problem solving.
• Propose and author building code and legislative language including departmental information bulletin updates.
• Presentation development and Public speaking at intra- and inter-departmental meetings community events Code Advisory Committee Building Inspection Commission and the Board of Supervisors meetings. Perform public outreach on department programs and code requirements.
• Develop administrative and technical requirements for structural and life safety retrofit programs.
• Facilitate code interpretation meetings and lead updates to department information sheets for internal and external customers.
• Support Plan Review Services through training interagency coordination and process improvements.
• Oversee special projects like the adaptive re-use manual and the Façade Inspection Program Update for Glazing.
• Implement technologies to streamline workflows maximize efficiency of staff resources and improve the professionalism of the Permit Services Division.
• Develop procedures as needed to facilitate new process improvements.
• Create and coordinate plan review checklists to increase consistency in plan check.
• Review existing departmental practice such as the structural observation and special inspection.
• Resolve technical issues and render interpretations related to plan review and permitting.
• Serve as a liaison with the City Attorney to review and respond to subdivision referrals. Review and manage routing of declarations of restrictions.
• Through regular use of data and team engagement manage evaluate and mentor a group of staff engineers building inspectors and administrative personnel.  Address Human Resources related issues when/if needed.

Qualifications :

Job Related and Essential Qualifications:

• Knowledge of: principles and practices of architectural design and civil engineering as applied to the alteration and construction of buildings and structures; modern engineering building methods; strength and uses of building construction materials; architectural safety; engineering features of building construction problems and applications of architectural and engineering techniques to practical building design and construction problems.
• Ability to: plan prioritize assign coordinate direct train and evaluate the activities of subordinate personnel engaged in plan checking activities including the design and preparation of building construction plans with the review of such plans for conformance with applicable laws; direct subordinates performance to maximize and maintain a positive and productive workflow; structure the work environment; delegate work assignments; interact tactfully and courteously with engineers architects plan checkers contractors building owners; speak in a clear concise organized relevant and understandable manner; write effectively.
• Skill to: apply structural engineering techniques to practical building construction problems.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

• Six (6) years of verifiable professional experience as an engineer or architect including at least two (2) years of which are equivalent to a 5241 Civil Engineer or Class 5268 Architect with the City and County of San Francisco and including a minimum of two (2) years building construction experience in the areas of construction design inspection or plan checking; AND
• Possession of a valid California License as a Civil Engineer and/or Architect (submit copy with application); AND
• Possession of a valid California Driver License (to be presented at the time of appointment).

License: Possession of a valid California License as a Civil Engineer and/or Architect.

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications. 

Verification of Education and Experience:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at:  work experience education training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Note: Falsifying ones education training or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) (Weight: Qualifying): Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicants experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Oral Interview (Weight: 100%): Candidates will be invited to an interview to measure their relative knowledge skills and abilities to determine their possession of the knowledge skills and abilities required for the 5214 Building Plans Engineer.

A passing score must be achieved on the oral interview in order to be ranked on the eligible list. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

NOTE: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles when directed by the Human Resources Director.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established so applicants can view the ranks final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information including names of applicants on the eligible list shall not be made public unless required by law. However an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection upon request once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g. as a result of appeals) as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be six (6) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification please see

  Rule: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of Three (3) Scores. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Additional Information :

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement including requirements time periods and other particulars except when superseded by federal state or local laws rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at  terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is abuse of discretion or no rational basis for establishing the position description the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams 
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit  begin your application process. No other methods of application will be accepted.

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address not a shared or work email to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and therefore it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and @).

Upon successful submission applicants will receive a confirmation email from . Keep this email for your records. If you do not receive it your application was not submitted successfully.

Information about the Hiring Process: Click here

Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process please contact the exam analyst Jason Hammack by email at 

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex race age religion color national origin ancestry physical disability mental disability medical condition (associated with cancer a history of cancer or genetic characteristics) HIV/AIDS status genetic information marital status sexual orientation gender gender identity gender expression military and veteran status or other protected category under the law.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time