MightyRecruiterBuilding inspectors are extremely important when it comes to ensuring construction projects are up to code. The inspectors are well-versed in the regulations put forth by national and local authorities, making their assessments very valuable when it comes to adhering to standards and avoiding any red tape that could delay your project.
Your building inspector job description should make clear that this position requires workers to be fairly active. They will often need to climb ladders and assess wires and piping located underneath the structure.
It’s important to pay attention to the skills section of your building inspector job description. Inspectors need to have a qualified understanding of electrical, structural and plumbing codes, as well as the sciences that influence engineering and design. You can get a better understanding of these factors by reading the sample below.
Building Inspector Job Summary
If you have an interest in architecture and knowledge of building codes, this building inspector position could be right up your alley. Our construction and consulting firm needs a qualified inspector to assume a number of responsibilities within our growing company. Put your skills to use by assessing commercial building projects from various decades and helping to ensure that all stages of building and repairs are being implemented correctly. You will work as part of a building team and produce information and reports that are vital to a structure’s completion. Earn competitive pay and work on projects that directly impact your local community and economy.
Job Requirements
- Produce detailed measurements showing a project meets given specifications and applicable building codes
- Notify supervisors of any anomalies or discrepancies that relate to the building, equipment and anything else with predetermined guidelines
- Record and organize all findings and include a detailed description of the methods and instruments used to collect data
- Create detailed comparisons of the conditions of the different building sections, including discrepancies in color, weight, size and grades of the materials used
- Mark or remove components that are not in accordance with project standards and guidelines, provided the removal does not jeopardize building integrity
- Thoroughly inspect all blueprints, data and manuals to educate yourself and confirm that no planning errors exist in written form
- Maintain records of all test results to be presented to managers or future inspectors
- Write reports as necessary to offer corrective actions when certain materials or fixtures do not meet building standards
Job Skills & Requirements
Reqiured:
- Strong grasp of construction and materials science
- Attention to detail
- Good communicative skills
- Problem-solving skills
Preferred:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Physically active and able
- Trained on a variety of computer programs, including spreadsheets and CAD software
Building Inspector Job Responsibilities
The list of job responsibilities is the most important part of your building inspector job description. Even so, you’ll want to keep it short. Avoid long, dense paragraphs that might bog down jobseekers. Aim for bullet points, and make each one count. Put the most important tasks, and the ones that your new hire will spend the most time on, at the top of the list. Many candidates will be looking on mobile devices, too, so keep that in mind when writing.
If you find that you’ve compiled more than eight items on your list, consider breaking it up into two shorter lists. The primary responsibilities should come first. A short additional list of secondary building inspector job responsibilities is a great place to mention any exciting projects or opportunities that might catch the attention of high quality candidates.
A well-tailored building inspector job description can help decrease the time spent searching—which decreases the cost to you—and increase retention rates. Here are some examples to give you a head start:
- Examine building plans for completeness and conformation to code
- Inspect sites during and after construction
- Stay updated on all local building codes and safety standards
- Maintain records of inspections
- Report all instances of noncompliance
- Travel to building sites for field inspections
Building Inspector Job Specifications
Before adding specifications to your building inspector job description, confer with the hiring manager or direct supervisor for the position. Do candidates need to be licensed already before they are hired, or can that be earned on the job? Are communication, leadership or computer skills needed? Separate the building inspector job specifications into two shorter lists: one of the minimum required skills, and another including preferred/desired skills. Some preferred qualifications might include higher education, a second language or even familiarity with software they’d otherwise have to be trained on.
Be careful when choosing the amount of experience required versus preferred. Setting the experience higher than it needs to be can discourage enthusiastic, trainable candidates and attract overqualified candidates who aren’t likely to stay in the position long. Careful calibration of all specifications in your building inspector job description is likely to improve hiring outcomes. Check out the example specifications below, and then write your own that will attract candidates tailored to your needs:
- Current building inspector certification by the North Carolina Department of Insurance
- Thorough familiarity with local building codes
- Associate of Arts degree or higher
- Minimum three years’ experience in building inspection
- Excellent communication skills to liaise with construction leads, architects and homeowners
- Current driver license for travel to sites
