Temporary Construction Inspection Supervisor

Note: This position is temporary with an anticipated end date of 06/30/2027 with funding through 12/31/2026. Continuation of the assignment/project in 2027 is subject to funding.
The City of Kirkland's Public Works Department is seeking to hire a Temporary Construction Inspection Supervisor!

Why Kirkland?

• Supervises and trains Public Works staff including Senior Construction Inspectors and Construction Inspectors, as well as temporary and on-call inspection staff.
• Supervises subordinate personnel, including motivating, training, and delegating assignments; monitoring performance; conducting performance evaluations; taking disciplinary/corrective action; recommending salary increases and promotions; and recommending hirings and terminations.
• Performs complex inspections for the Public Works Department; assures safety, work quality, and compliance with approved plans, drawings, and specifications, permits, standards and codes.
• Monitors traffic control activities to ensure the contractor's traffic control set-up and management complies with the approved plan.
• Meets with contractors, owners, and developers to discuss agreements and contract requirements, specifications, and standards.
• Reviews employees' field inspection reports and provides guidance on how to properly document the contractor's daily activities.
• Prioritizes projects and schedules staff time to meet overall construction goals and administrative deadlines.
• Meets with inspection staff and other City departments to establish proper inspection sequencing and technical consistency.
• Writes correspondence regarding compliance on specific issues and completes other written reports and records. Ensures all inspections are properly documented by inspectors.
• Responds promptly to questions from the public, contractors, utility providers and other agencies.
• Establishes work rules, procedures and practices governing inspector conduct on the job.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.

• Reviews employees' field note records to ensure proper measurement and pay of field quantities for progress payments. Provides guidance to ensure accurate measurements are made and the correct quantities are submitted for payment.
• Reviews employees' records to confirm accurate documentation of contractor work that is tracked and paid by force account.

• Assists in performing residential, commercial, and industrial on-site inspections at various stages of construction to ensure compliance with Public Works' preapproved plans and policies, adopted codes, and ordinances as needed. Approved plans will be reviewed to see that they are being properly implemented. Re-inspects to ensure all noted violations have been corrected.

• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (General):

• Knowledge of City policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local construction and safety codes, regulations and standards.
• Ability to interpret PW preapproved plans & policies, the Kirkland Municipal Code, and Kirkland Zoning Code to formulate decisions and recommendations.
• Thorough knowledge of construction methods and materials and applicable inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of reading and comprehending engineering design plans and standards.
• Knowledge of testing requirements on construction materials.
• Knowledge of temporary Erosion Sedimentation Control (TESC) practices and inspection techniques of stormwater management facilities.
• Knowledge of general understanding of easement descriptions and locating property boundaries
• Knowledge of construction contract administration and construction management procedures.
• Ability to communicate technical information in a clear and accurate fashion.
• Ability to establish and enforce work standards for employees including standards for safe conduct on the job.
• Ability to make unpopular decisions independently and know when to request assistance.
• Ability to develop rapport with a wide variety of people, mediate conflict and elicit cooperation; ability to be assertive as the situation demands, deal with angry and upset people and resolve sensitive disputes which may have a considerable financial impact on developer/contractor or the City.
• Ability to plan, schedule, organize and delegate work in a manner which will optimize use of time and employee skills.
• Ability to coordinate workload and technical requirements with other staff.
• Ability to write clear narrative reports and to establish standards for documentation.
• Skill in mutual problem-solving and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Effective oral and written communications skills.
• Sensitivity to community interests and citizen concerns.

• Knowledge of specific codes, development standards, pre-approved plans and policies, the latest edition of the King County Surface Water Design Manual, and other local, state, and federal regulations governing construction or development practices
• Knowledge of specific codes, development standards, contract specifications and other local, state, and federal regulations governing construction or development practices.
• Knowledge of specific developer and contractor practices.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: 5 or more years of municipal construction inspection experience.
• Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's license and ability to remain insurable under the City's insurance to operate motor vehicles.
• Must be familiar with standard material testing practices (compaction, pressure testing of pipe, concrete strength).
• Must be familiar with construction and traffic control standards such as WSDOT, APWA, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Asphalt Institute, and AASHTO.
• Supervisory experience with a municipality or within the construction industry is preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be required to push, pull, lift and/or carry up to 40 pounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office or moderately loud when in the field. Work may routinely require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
A portion of the workday may be at construction sites, under all weather conditions. Hazards at construction sites include: falling objects, loose footing, construction equipment, and vehicular traffic. The incumbent may be required to climb ladders, work on scaffolding, in trenches, and other underground or confined spaces.

Selection Process

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 711.