Senior Public Works Inspector - Lab Services presso City of Portland, OR

About the Department

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7 am – 3:30 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: 1405 N RIVER ST, PORTLAND, OR 97227
Benefits: For an overview of the benefits for this position, you can visit our benefits tab.
Union Representation: AFSCME 189 -- City Wide. View the agreement at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bhr/27840


Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and a cover letter.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking candidates for a specialty Senior Public Works Inspector to work in the Materials Testing Lab of the Engineering Services Group. The position is responsible for on-site inspection during construction to ensure structural components comply with contract plans and specifications for public works construction projects. Types of inspection work include structural special inspection for steel, concrete, masonry, wood, anchors, and welding. Typical projects include water or wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, and structures. Work is performed within a project team environment. 

Candidates must be willing to work at construction sites that include heavy equipment, excavations, noise, and other construction-related site conditions. They should possess sufficient physical mobility, vision, hearing, and speaking abilities related to the construction work requirements. The position works independently on a large number of varied construction projects, under the general direction of a Supervising Engineer. The position works closely with other public works inspectors on assigned projects, as well as construction managers, technicians, and design staff. 

What you’ll get to do: 

• Inspect materials, installation, fabrication, erection, or placement of components and connections requiring expertise to ensure compliance with approved construction documents and referenced standards
• Attend project preparation, design reviews, and pre-construction conferences
• Review engineering plans, specifications, and contract documents for complex public works projects
• Maintain working relationships and coordinate with a large group of project stakeholders

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).  Together, we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions. 

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities, and who desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

Position Duties

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of provisions of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (International Building Code with Oregon amendments); ASTM Standards; ACI Standards; and AWS Standards, practices, and materials used in construction and inspection of components, including structural steel and bolting, reinforced concrete, structural masonry, and steel welding.
2. Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex construction plans, specifications, detail maps, codes, and applicable laws and regulations, including the Portland standard specifications.
3. Knowledge of laboratory testing standards for the evaluation of construction materials and methods.
4. Skills to communicate effectively with a diverse workgroup, both verbal and written, preparing clear, concise, and accurate technical reports and other documents.
5. Skill in operating a computer and utilizing job-related software.

Licenses; certificates; special requirements:

• A valid State driver’s license
• International Code Council (ICC) certified Special Inspector of the following required at the time of hire:
  1. Reinforced concrete 
     1. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 1 is a prerequisite 
  2. Structural steel and bolting
  3. Structural masonry
  4. Structural steel welding
• Ability to obtain a special inspection license for the following:
  1. Proprietary anchors (required within 6 months of hire)
  2. Spray-applied fireproofing (required within 12 months of hire)
  3. Structural Wood (required within 12 months of hire)

Desired Qualification:

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

Minimum Qualifications

STEP 1: Apply online between September 15, 2025, and September 29, 2025

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
• Optional Application Materials:
• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
• Application Tips:
• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.
• Please note, that the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Other Qualifications

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations