Building Assessor - Field Inspector -… at SB Thomas &… · Pittsburgh

Join the Small Business Award Winner in Pennsylvania for 2025! We are SB Thomas & Associates, a certified small business enterprise providing construction management, government contracting, technical assistance, and grant writing and grant administration services to its clients.

Established in 2009, we have built a company culture that embraces innovation, new ways of doing things, and better ways to service clients. We understand the impact of how small parts of a process affect the bigger picture. We take action. We have passion and purpose for our jobs and our roles in the company.

The individual may live anywhere in the United States and must be willing and able to travel nationwide for project assignments. This is an independent contractor opportunity and not a full-time employment position.

Position Summary

SB Thomas & Associates, Inc. is seeking independent property and facility inspection professionals to support ongoing Facility Condition Assessment, Property Condition Assessment, Property Needs Assessment, and capital-planning projects throughout the United States (1099)

This opportunity is intended for individuals who currently operate an inspection, consulting, or related business, as well as qualified inspectors who are newer to independent contracting and are interested in developing additional project-based work.

The ideal candidate will have relevant building inspection experience, the ability to work independently in the field, and the availability to accept additional assignments as project needs arise.

The contractor must be willing to travel up to 100% of the time while assigned. Assignments may require air travel, rental vehicles, overnight stays, and consecutive days, or short term weeks away from home. This is a project-based independent contractor opportunity. The amount, duration, and frequency of work may vary by project and are not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Conduct visual assessments of multifamily housing, schools, commercial buildings, public facilities, and other real property.
• Evaluate observable conditions involving sites, structures, roofing, building envelopes, interiors, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, accessibility, and life-safety systems.
• Identify deficiencies, deferred maintenance, repair needs, and anticipated capital-replacement requirements.
• Record building components, quantities, age, condition, and remaining useful life.
• Take clear, organized, and accurately labeled photographs.
• Enter field observations into tablet-based, mobile, spreadsheet, or web-based assessment systems.
• Support Facility Condition Assessments, Property Condition Assessments, Property Needs Assessments, PCNAs, CNAs, and capital-planning assignments.
• Complete assigned fieldwork and submit required documentation within established deadlines.
• Respond promptly to quality-control questions and requests for clarification.
• Communicate access, safety, scheduling, or field-condition concerns as they arise.
• Maintain professional communication with clients, property managers, residents, school personnel, and project representatives.

Minimum Qualifications Applicants must have paid experience or completed professional training in at least one of the following areas:

• Residential home inspection
• Commercial property inspection
• Property Condition Assessments
• Facility Condition Assessments
• Property Needs Assessments, PCNAs, or CNAs
• Capital-needs assessments
• Construction inspection
• Building-system inspection
• Facilities maintenance or building operations
• Construction, renovation, architecture, engineering technology, building science, or a skilled building trade

Applicants must also have:

• The ability to identify and document observable building deficiencies.
• Strong organizational, field-note, photography, and written-communication skills.
• Experience using or the ability to learn tablet-based and mobile inspection systems.
• The ability to work independently and meet project deadlines.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Reliable transportation to and from airports or project locations when required.
• The ability and willingness to travel nationwide up to 100% of the time while assigned.
• The ability to remain away from home for consecutive weeks when required by a project.
• The ability to provide a completed Form W-9.
• Commercial general liability or business insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000.
• Automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000.
• The ability to provide current certificates of insurance before receiving an assignment.
• The ability to satisfy any project-specific background, site-access, or security requirements.

Applicants may be experienced independent contractors or individuals who are newer to contracting but already possess the technical inspection experience, training, business structure, insurance, and availability required to perform the work successfully.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience completing FCAs, PCAs, PNAs, PCNAs, CNAs, or capital-planning assessments.
• Experience inspecting multifamily housing, schools, institutional buildings, commercial properties, or public facilities.
• Experience performing contract work for property-assessment, engineering, inspection, real-estate consulting, or facility-management companies.
• Familiarity with ASTM E2018.
• Familiarity with RSMeans or another recognized construction-cost database.
• Experience estimating component age, remaining useful life, quantities, and anticipated replacement needs.
• Home inspector license, commercial inspector certification, ICC certification, OSHA training, construction-management credential, engineering or architectural background, or another relevant credential.
• Ability to mobilize for assignments with limited notice.
• Current availability for nationwide project work.

Compensation

Compensation will be established by project and may be structured as an hourly rate, daily rate, per-site amount, or other mutually agreed project-based fee.

Specific compensation, travel arrangements, reimbursable expenses, deliverables, and schedules will be communicated before the contractor accepts an assignment.

Independent Contractor Relationship

Contractors may be offered individual assignments based on qualifications, availability, location, project needs, and performance. Contractors will be provided the scope, schedule, compensation, and travel requirements for each assignment and may accept or decline assignments. No minimum amount or continuity of work is guaranteed.