STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Building Construction Specialist 1 (40 Hour)

Recruitment #240418-2116FT-001

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Housing (DOH), is recruiting for a Building Construction Specialist 1 position. The Department of Housing, as the lead agency for housing matters for the State of Connecticut, is responsible for monitoring the production and preservation of housing and community development related activities.  As such, the Department is seeking a Building Construction Specialist 1.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
  • Competitive salary
  • NEW: A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings 
  • Paid time off including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Learn more about what sets us apart as an employer with our Employer Value Proposition
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Work for a Forbes top company: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
THE ROLE: 
The Building Construction Specialist 1 is a staff-level position and is intended to support the Department’s housing and community development activities through on-site monitoring of active construction sites across the State.  Intradepartmental coordination and collaboration are critical to the success of this position. 

Candidates will be expected to be flexible with regard to scheduling and travel due to changes in construction activities, and contractor availability. 

This position will report to the Architectural and Technical Services Manager for the Department of Housing, located at 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT. This position is (40) hours per week, with some opportunity for telework depending upon specific activities.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS: 
  • Monday-Friday
  • Full-time 
  • Location:  505 Hudson Street, in Hartford, CT 

ABOUT US: 
The Department of Housing (DOH) strengthens and revitalizes communities by promoting affordable housing opportunities.  DOH seeks to eliminate homelessness and to catalyze the creation and preservation of quality, affordable housing to meet the needs of all individuals and families statewide to ensure that Connecticut continues to be a great place to live and work.

DOH works in concert with municipal leaders, public agencies, community groups, local housing authorities, and other housing developers in the planning and development of affordable homeownership and rental housing units, the preservation of existing multi-family housing developments, community revitalization and financial and other support for our most vulnerable residents through our funding and technical support programs. As the State's lead agency for all matters relating to housing, DOH provides leadership for all aspects of policy and planning relating to the development, redevelopment, preservation, maintenance and improvement of housing serving very low, low, and moderate income individuals and families. DOH is also responsible for overseeing compliance with applicable statutes, regulations and financial assistance agreements for funded activities through long-term program compliance monitoring.

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Selection Plan

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the individual listed on this job posting. 
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.  
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
  • Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
Important Information After You Apply:
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class in the next twelve (12) months.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sharon McIntosh, at Sharon.McIntosh@ct.gov.

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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently conducting field inspections of building construction and building rehabilitation or renovation and/or improvement projects in order to assure completion of projects in conformance with contract requirements and all applicable building codes, standards and regulations.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Inspects all phases of construction and building rehabilitation or improvements for compliance with building codes, departmental regulations and/or statutory requirements; 
  • Reviews shop drawings and proposed changes to approved building plans; 
  • Evaluates field work for adherence to contract documents and/or codes and national standards; 
  • Determines necessity for specification and design changes and makes recommendations; 
  • Evaluates site conditions for construction safety including observation of soil, rock, ledge, water and other local conditions; 
  • Inspects methods and quality of workmanship including performance and observation of testing of construction materials; 
  • Consults with in-house staff, other agencies, architects, engineers, construction personnel and local building code enforcement officials on problems encountered; 
  • Prepares technical reports of field conditions; 
  • Reviews and evaluates schedules of values and payments to contractors; 
  • Provides technical advice to in-house staff and public or private organizations regarding building projects as required; 
  • Prepares specifications and construction costs; 
  • Serves as liaison with state and local housing officials; 
  • Reviews plans and specifications for compliance with agency and industry requirements; 
  • Reviews bids and quotes; 
  • Conducts field visits of proposed projects with applicants; 
  • Assists with technical feasibility determination; 
  • Assists and coordinates with receipt of state permits and certifications related to construction projects; 
  • Reviews payment applications for consistency with project budget and project progress; 
  • Assists in preparation of proposals for professional services; 
  • Assists in consultant and construction management duties for agency; 
  • May testify at administrative hearings or in state and federal courts of law; 
  • May assist in preparation and presentation of education programs mandated by statute to local code enforcement officials, state agencies and professional organizations; 
  • May perform limited code compliance plan review; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of principles, methods, materials and equipment used in building design and construction; 
  • Knowledge of
    • and ability to interpret contracting, zoning and building codes and related regulations; 
    • major trades areas relative to building construction and maintenance (e.g., plumbing, heating, electrical, structural); 
    • fire protection practices and procedures; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to inspect and supervise construction work for compliance with plans and specifications; 
  • Ability to
    • read and interpret building plans and specifications; 
    • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of experience with construction projects involving all building trades (e.g., plumbing, heating, electrical) OR as a Municipal Building Official.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have included the review and inspection of large scale building projects for building code compliance.

NOTE: Large scale building projects are interpreted as buildings exceeding 12,000 square feet in size and more than one story in height not including apartment buildings and single family residences.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in architecture, civil, mechanical or electrical engineering or a related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's Degree

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in field observations and monitoring of residential construction projects
  • Experience with site construction and building systems, such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection
  • Experience with the principles, methods, materials, and equipment utilized in building design and construction

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess or obtain a license as a construction inspector or a higher license category within six (6) months of appointment.
  • Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as be able to perform the duties.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury or physical harm from exposure to building construction sites, fire scene or structural failure environments and a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.