Job Details

Salary: $56,459.26 - $72,684.37 Annually
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01277
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 02/13/2026
Closing Date: 3/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
Under general supervision, this position conducts routine to complex inspections of public works projects to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, codes and related regulations. Report to the Assistant Director of Public Works Operations.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Performs inspection projects related to general improvements to public right-of-ways, earthwork, surfacing, surface restoration, water and sewer lines, manholes, storm drains, curb and gutter; tests materials for compliance to specifications and follows uniform testing procedures related to earthwork, aggregate production, asphalt and concrete.

Monitors test equipment and ensures proper working conditions and accuracy; performs drafting on contract plans as necessary to complete various records; reads and interprets plans and determines conformity to standards; compiles statistical information; checks computations, structures lay-outs, and grades; and disseminates and prepares correspondences as necessary.

Exercise professional judgment and problem-solving skills in discussions about construction problems with contractors or appropriate staff; evaluates scope of problems and determines alternate courses of action.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Work: Has general knowledge of the principles, regulations/codes, and methodologies of inspecting public works projects. Ability to inspect projects in progress and determine compliance with specifications, codes, and plans. Ability to understand and interpret oral and written instructions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions".
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, supervisor, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Ensures standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or the equivalent with additional specialized training related to civil engineering construction inspection and 2-3 years of experience in construction work or a related field, or an equivalent combination or training and experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
This position is classified as "essential personnel" and will be required to work during and/or following emergencies or natural disasters.
Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be able to demonstrate the physical flexibility needed to inspect project work-in-progress. Requires the ability to exert up to 50 lbs of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 lbs of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are those for Medium Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read and interpret blueprints, construction drawings, city code, contracts, and specifications. Requires the ability to prepare reports documenting project progress, problems encountered and compliance to code and specifications using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using Standard English and inspection terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to determine percentages and calculate interest, profit and loss and proportions, etc.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a vehicle and materials testing equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment, inspection tools and a vehicle. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under high levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situations).

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing, perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit
01

Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

02

Please select the highest level of education completed.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates/Vocational/Technical
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher

03

Do you have any relatives working for the City of Portsmouth? If yes, please provide their name, their relationship to you and their department .
04

Do you have 2-3 years of construction or inspection experience?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have any additional specialized training related to civil engineering construction inspection?

• Yes
• No

Required Question