Construction Technician

Summary: Under the general supervision of the Construction Manager – Public Works, or designee, the Construction Technician performs a variety of tasks in support of the Public Works Department.  The Construction Technician performs plan reviews, attends plan review meetings, couriers’ plans to and from Public Works, files construction plans and provides responsible and complex office and field technical support to the Public Works Department. This position will periodically work with the Public Works senior staff on special contracted work.

Essential Job Functions:

• Attends all plan review meetings required of the Public Works Department.
• Manages construction contracts for public works construction projects.
• Reviews plans for compli­ance with applicable standards and specifications.
• Attends meetings with building and construction professionals to address matters relating to inspections; provide technical guidance and interpreta­tion; ensure compli­ance with city and industry standards, procedures and regulations.
• Initiates/and or ac­cepts minor deviations from standards and/or construction documents.
• Observes work during progress and upon completion for conformance to plans and specifications; ensures compliance with building and construction standards, codes, ordinances and regulations.
• Assists senior staff and/or represents the City for public works construction projects.
• Manages and updates approved materials list in design standards based on staff recommendations.
• Manages and updates design standards based on public works maintenance needs and staff recommendations.
• Works with the Senior Staff in each division on budget items.  Will need to have Munis experience within six months of working at this position.
• Works with engineers and inspectors with recording and tracking field changes.
• Works closely with GIS to accurately document any project changes.
• Assists with the coordination of final acceptance of public improvements.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings.
• Provides permit approval information to developers, contractors, engineers, and City departments.
• Maintains, updates, and retrieves information from project database (Will need to learn Trakit data input within six months of hire).
• Responds to requests for assistance and information from walk-in and telephone inquiries.

Other Important Duties:

• Periodically attends final acceptance inspections.
• Travels to construction sites, meetings, conferences and training.
• Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work hours is essential.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of water, sewer, paving and drainage installation and procedures for repair.
• Knowledge of construction materials and supply specifications and standards.
• Knowledge of civil construction methods, practices and procedures.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and related equipment, hardware and software.
• Skill in inspecting, reviewing, evaluating, and modifying, construction plans.
• Skill in analyzing technical reports for compliance with material specifications.
• Skill in enforcing applicable Federal, State and City construction codes and ordinances.
• Skill in mediating differences among contractors, developers, and inspectors.
• Skill in effective oral and written communications.
• Skill in reviewing construction test results and preparing written reports.
• Skill in tracking and coordinating construction project status and inspections.

Education, Experience, and Certifications/Licenses:

• High school diploma or GED; and three (3) years of experience in public works construction inspection, field engineering, or plan review involving streets, drainage, and utilities, or equivalent combination of education and experience that support the ability to perform the essential functions and/or skills of the job.
• Preferred TEEX training in Work Zone Safety within 12 months.  
• Preferred construction inspection or materials testing certifications.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, criminal background check, MVR check and physical agility exam.
• Must possess valid State of Texas Driver’s License.

Environmental Factors and Conditions:

• Work is performed in office and occasionally construction site environments.
• May be subject to exposure to extreme weather conditions, hazardous materials and chemicals, heavy construction equipment, confined spaces, heights, air and water borne pathogens.

Physical Demands:

• Balancing – maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
• Climbing – ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility. 
• Crawling – moving about on hands, knees, or hands, feet.
• Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine. 
• Hearing 1 – perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information. 
• Kneeling – bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
• Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning. 
• Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely. 
• Standing – for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping – bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back. 
• Talking 1 – expressing ideas by spoken word.
• Visual Acuity 1 – prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 4 – operate motor vehicles/heavy equipment.
• Walking – on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.

• Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.