Pay Range: $30.80/hr. - $38.50/hr. | $64,059 - $80,074 annual compensation 

Job Posting Closing on: Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Workdays & Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm

Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities, and much more.

The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of nearly 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.  The Development Services Department seeks to make Fort Worth the most livable city in Texas by promoting orderly growth and development, safe construction and neighborhood vitality.  We are looking for individuals that reflect our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

The Zoning and Design Review Division of the Development Services Department is seeking a Sr. Plans Examiner to join our team. The Zoning and Design Review Division oversees the following functions for the city: assessment and recommendations for zoning, site plans, plats, annexations, street and alley vacations; tree removal; variances, special exceptions, and waivers; historic preservation; urban design; code amendments to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances; Council-initiated zoning and special reports; zoning determinations including legal nonconformity; reasonable accommodations; and collaboration with other city departments on the production of small area and corridor plans.

The Division manages the following boards and commissions comprised of City Council-appointed citizens: City Plan Commission; Zoning Commission; Board of Adjustments; Urban Design Commission; Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission; and Downtown Design Review Board. Additionally, the Division is responsible for leading the Development Review and Annexation Review Committees, which are comprised of city staff.

The Sr. Plans Examiner reports to the Plans Examiner Supervisor. This position is responsible for reviewing complex applications for signs and site development plans involving attached single family, multifamily, commercial, industrial and mixed-use projects to determine compliance with city ordinances. Additionally, the senior plans examiner coordinates with applicants on viable options to attain compliance with the city ordinances. While the position has no formal supervisory duties, the position may be tasked to assist with providing guidance and oversight of subordinate staff in the Supervisor’s absence.

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Associates Degree.
  • Four (4) years of experience in any of the following categories: preservation, urban design, form-based codes, city building inspection, plans examination, construction, landscape architecture, forestry or related field.
  • Must obtain an ICC certification in at least three plans examining areas including Building Plans Examiner certification (for Building Plans Examiner).  

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Prior experience reviewing site plans for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
  • Prior experience reviewing sign applications for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
  • Prior experience working for a municipality.

The Sr. Plans Examiner job responsibilities include: 

  • Reviewing large complex and high-profile projects.
  • Interpreting and applying the Zoning and Sign Ordinances for purposes of plans examination within established departmental guidelines.
  • Providing assistance and advisement on the Zoning and Sign Ordinances to contractors, engineers, architects, and the general public.
  • Providing exceptional customer service.
  • Managing time effectively to meet or exceed departmental expectations.
  • Creating processes and timelines for getting tasks done to ensure completion of all assigned tasks.
  • Making independent decisions utilizing industry best practices and departmental policies.
  • Resolving issues with projects while working together to find workable solutions.
  • Communicating with the owner or contact person regarding necessary corrections.
  • Assisting Plans Examiners with complex reviews.
  • Entering all plans examination and application data into computer system. Updating and retrieving data to determine status of applications.
  • Finding strategies for continuous customer service improvement including collaboration with other divisions within the department and implementing process and software enhancements.
  • Providing guidance and oversight of subordinate staff in the Supervisor’s absence.
  • Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • Performing other related duties as required.

Working Conditions

Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, repetitive motions, climbing, balancing, pushing, pulling and lifting.

Physical Demand

Light Work – Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly having to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for the Sedentary Work category and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated Light Work, may also include lifting and carrying large plan rolls/sets.

Conditions of Employment

The City of Fort Worth is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  It is the policy and practice of the City to recruit, hire, train and promote a diverse workforce without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or another non-merit factor.

The City of Fort Worth is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.

Candidates who do not meet the Education requirement, may be considered if they have more relevant work experience than the position requires. Those selected for employment will be required to pass Pre-Employment checks depending on the position requirements. Those could include, but are not limited to: criminal background check, drug screen, education verification, etc. criminal convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Employees are paid by direct deposit only.

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