Senior Construction Inspector - Public Works and Environmental Services Department

Job Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Celebration. The City's Department of Public Works (DPW) and Department of Environmental Services (ESD) is seeking two individuals, one for each department, whose values align with the values of the City's employees.

The Department of Public Works (PW) is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating and regulating development activities. The Department is committed to high-quality service, partnering with the community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work.

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in SanJose. The department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career, and offers an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility. To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on X, Facebook, and Instagram, and San José Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

Position Duties

Public Works Department - Facilities Management Division

The Department of Public Works is currently seeking to fill one full-time (1) Senior Construction Inspector vacancy in the Facilities Management Division.

The salary range for this classification is $110,488.56 - $134,403.36 annually. This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The Facilities Management Division of Public Works Department supports maintenance, operations, oversight, and capital improvements at over 400 City buildings and structures, comprising more than 5 million square feet. The Senior Construction Inspector serves as the Facilities Management Division's Janitorial Services Program operational frontline, handling hands-on vendor oversight, site coordination, and Infor EAM custodial work order queues across more than 100 citywide buildings. While focused on the Janitorial Services Program, duties may expand to support other facilities maintenance and repair work. This role combines field-level execution, inspections, quality assurance, invoice approvals, and day-to-day coordination and communication among multiple City departmental groups and vendor teams. Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the candidate will perform the key responsibilities listed below.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Handles Janitorial Services Program day-to-day operations, work orders, and execution tasks.
• Performs inspections to evaluate the vendor’s quality of work performance, deliverables, and adherence to contract specifications.
• Utilizes Infor EAM software to manage custodial and floor care work order queues, assigns tasks to supporting staff, and directly handles Priority 1 (urgent) items.
• Supervises, schedules, and directs activities for supporting staff.
• Reviews Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and tracks their deficiencies logs.
• Reviews and approves monthly and supplemental vendor invoices before final processing.
• Oversees, reviews, and organizes the Custodial email inbox daily to ensure prompt communication and response handling.
• Validates complaints by performing on-site verifications.
• Communicates and coordinates janitorial and floor care work scheduling and issues.
• Assists in resolving disputes between site operations staff and vendor staff.
• Sends out email notifications to department clients, vendors, and staff.
• Maintains accurate logs of inspections, contractor performance, and service issues to support the Program Manager’s evaluations.
• Reviews plan layouts, takes measurements, and estimates areas.
• Prepares cost estimates and written reports.
• Performs project management tasks.
• Handles procurement for facilities resources (services and materials) when needed.
• Performs general building condition assessments when needed.
• Provides support to the division for facilities maintenance, repair work tasks, and facility-level concerns as needed.
• Performs Public Works emergency duties, such as flood watch when required.

This position will sit in our Central Service Yard (1661 Senter Rd. San Jose, CA 95112).

Environmental Services Department - Water Resources Division

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill one full-time (1) Senior Construction Inspector vacancy in the Water Resources Division.

The salary range for this classification is $110,488.56 - $134,403.36 annually. This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The Water Resources Division is comprised of three sections: Municipal Water System, South Bay Water Recycling, and Operations and Maintenance. The Water Resources Division provides potable water service through the Municipal Water System to the communities of Evergreen, North San José/Alviso, Edenvale, and Coyote. The Water Resources Division also provides recycled water supplies through the South Bay Water Recycling system within the cities of San José, Santa Clara, and Milpitas. South Bay Water Recycling includes 165 miles of pipeline and facilities, including four pumpstations, three reservoirs, and Retail Agency Operations and Maintenance activities for over 1,100 individual customer connections. In addition, the Water Resources Division also implements water conservation efforts.

Under the supervision of a Principal Construction Inspector, the Senior Construction Inspector performs work of moderate difficulty in contract administration and technical inspection of the construction of water utility and other general public works related infrastructure, and may supervise related staff. This position will conduct inspection of potable and recycled water system construction projects both within the City limits and in other jurisdictions, including reviewing plans and specifications for conformance to established engineering standards and regulatory requirements, and consulting with public and private engineers, architects, community groups, contractors and developers relative to the construction of potable and recycled water system improvements.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts simultaneous inspections of development, capital, and water system construction projects while coordinating with the project engineers, contractor and the public;
• Reviews and interprets construction plans and specifications;
• Provides input and suggestions on utility design plans;
• Reviews project submittals for materials and equipment and ensures compliance with City Specifications and project plans/specifications;
• Keeps current on relative rules and regulations, and ensures that construction practices comply as required;
• Directs construction contractors and enforces corrective actions where needed;
• May supervise and/or lead staff within the inspection team; trains and guides work of team members; reviews completed work and prepares required records and reports;
• Meets with representatives from engineering, police, public, and other jurisdictions on traffic control problems and other construction related issues and performs related work as required;
• Provides support for implementation of the utility’s cross connection control program where needed.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate)

Experience: Six (6) years of increasingly responsible sub-professional engineering/construction inspection work, including two (2) years preparing engineering drawings, contract specifications, and cost estimates; or drafting and structural detailing for plans; or construction or infrastructure inspection; or field surveying.

Acceptable Substitutions: Completion of a terminal curriculum in engineering technology or equivalent to that given in an accredited California junior college or two (2) years of college engineering courses may be substituted for two (2) years of the remaining four (4) years of required experience.

Required Licensing: Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license.

For the Environmental Services Department position only - Desired possession of:

• State Water Resources Control Board Water Distribution Operator Level D1
• AWWA Cross Connection Specialist certification
• Incumbent will be required to obtain D1 and CCS certifications within one year of appointment

Form 700 Requirement: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel.

Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions or the selection and hiring process, please contact Britney Mesa at britney.mesa@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 11/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific