Public Works Inspector

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: 2615A NW INDUSTRIAL ST, PORTLAND OR 97210
Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of the benefits for this position.
Union Representation: AFSCME 189 -- City Wide
To view current labor agreements, please visit https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements.

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 cover letter.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Public Works Inspector responsible for on-site inspection to enforce regulations and codes relating to public works construction projects and municipal specifications and contract requirements, ensuring quality of construction, monitoring safety on project sites. Specific public works projects may include underground utility installations, sewer or water pipeline construction, pumpstation and wastewater treatment plant construction, water quality facility construction, stream restoration, trench and street paving, concrete curbs and driveways, sidewalk and ADA ramps. Work is performed within a project team. Must be willing to work long hours in a noisy construction environment under potentially hazardous conditions and possess sufficient physical mobility, vision, hearing and speaking abilities related to the construction work requirements. All work performed must adhere to established safety procedures and utilize compliant PPE to mitigate workplace hazards within the construction environments. 

What you’ll get to do: 

• Provide reviews of engineering plans, specifications and contract documents related to a wide variety of civil construction projects. 
• Observe and verify contractor compliance with accuracy and consistency with plans and drawings. 
• Inspect and prepare daily reports on public works projects for methods of construction utilized by contractors, quality of work and material, for proper line, grade, slope, placement, and for adherence to stipulations and specifications, including to ensure contractor, personnel, and public safety. 
• Coordinate and monitor testing of materials for quality of work. 
• Prepare and provide final walk-through and measurement of work performed for project documentation including progress payments and As-builts.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).   Together we are reimagining 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 that 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)

Have a question?
Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
[email protected]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. Experience with the characteristics and capabilities of construction equipment and practices. 
2.Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diversity of others, interacting effectively, problem solving and partnering with citizens, community groups, designers, project/contract managers, and/or contractors. 
3. Experience understanding and retaining oral and written construction related information such as progress, dimensions, quantities, and instructions.
4. Experience reading and comprehending technical documents such as survey notes, standard drawings, construction plans, specifications, codes, laws, contracts, procedure manuals, and inspection reports. 
5. Experience applying safety practices to be followed during construction. 
6. Experience using math calculations associated with the computation or estimation of construction progress such as area, volume, and percentages.

Applicants must also possess:

• A valid state driver's license

STEP 1: Apply online between October 19, 2026, and November 2, 2026

• 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:

• Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

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. 

BOLI: Equal Pay for Workers: State of Oregon
Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

• 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.

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

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 

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes once per month.  If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement.