This is a provisional appointment.

Brief Job Description (essential functions of the job):

Under the direct supervision of the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, performs floodplain management work for the City of Boston.

• Submit to FEMA, or require applicants to submit to FEMA, data and information necessary to maintain FIRMs, including hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analyses prepared by or for the City of Boston, within six months after such data and information becomes available if the analyses indicate changes in base flood elevations or boundaries.
• Upon the request of FEMA, complete and submit a report concerning participation in the NFIP which may request information regarding the number of buildings in the SFHA, number of permits issued for development in the SFHA, and number of variances issued for development in the SFHA.
• Review and approve applications that are reasonably safe from flooding and require new construction and substantial improvements to meet the requirements of these regulations.
• Issue permits to develop in flood hazard areas if the provisions of these regulations have been met, or disapprove applications if the provisions of these regulations have not been met.
• Review applications for permits to determine whether proposed activities will be located in flood hazard areas.
• Interpret floodplain boundaries and provide available base flood elevation and flood hazard information.
• Review Elevation Certificates and require incomplete or deficient certificates to be corrected.
• Maintain and permanently keep records that are necessary for the administration of these regulations, including:

(1) Flood Insurance Studies, Flood Insurance Rate Maps ( including historic studies and maps and current effective studies and maps) and Letters of Map Change; and

(2) Documentation supporting issuance and denial of permits, Elevation Certificates, documentation of the elevation (in relation to the datum on the FIRM) to which structures have been flood-proofed, other required design certifications, variances, and records of enforcement actions taken to correct violations of these regulations.

• Enforce the provisions of these regulations, investigate violations, issue notices of violations or stop work orders, and require permit holders to take corrective action.
• Advise the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal and/or BBRS regarding the intent of these regulations and, for each application for a variance, prepare a staff report and recommendation.
• Administer the requirements related to proposed work on existing buildings:

(1) Make determinations as to whether buildings and structures that are located in flood hazard areas and that are damaged by any cause have been substantially damaged.

(2) Make reasonable efforts to notify owners of substantially damaged structures of the need to obtain a permit to repair, rehabilitate, or reconstruct, and prohibit the non-compliant repair of substantially damaged buildings except for temporary emergency protective measures necessary to secure a property or stabilize a building or structure to prevent additional damage.

• Undertake, other actions which may include but are not limited to coordinating with other Federal, State, and local agencies to assist with substantial damage determinations; providing owners of damaged structures information related to the proper repair of damaged structures in special flood hazard areas; and assisting property owners with documentation necessary to file claims for Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)coverage under NFIP flood insurance policies.

• Performs other work as requested.

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, engineering, planning, hydrology and water resources science, or a related field is strongly preferred. Education may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Four (4) years of related experience required. 
• Knowledge of the NFIP, including the CRS.
• Familiarity with City of Boston Zoning Laws and State Building Code as well as familiarity with plan review examination.
• Knowledge of Geographical Information System (GIS) software.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of surveying, building construction, hydrology, and hydraulics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications, and Google Suite.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
• Excellent oral and written communications and organizational skills.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese and Vietnamese).
• Must have and maintain a valid Massachusetts driver's license .
• Applicant must be certified as a Floodplain Manager by the Association of State Floodplain Managers within one (1) year of hire date and maintain the certification.
• Applicants must be a Certified Building Official or attain certification by the State within 12 months of hiring date. If/once certified the inspector must acquire the required CEU units to maintain status of Certified Building Official.

City of Boston Residency Required