Chief Building Official

Job Summary

Plans, organizes, oversees and reviews programs and activities of the Building and Safety Division of the City’s Community Development Department and administers City, state and federal codes and ordinances relating to private construction projects; serves as a departmental and City liaison for City projects and provides effective customer service to the community and project applicants regarding building and zoning codes; functions as a key member of the departmental management team.

This single-position class is responsible for the overall administration and direction for the City’s building plan review, permit issuance, and building inspection functions. May also provide direction for code enforcement, and related functions. The incumbent is accountable for formulating policy, developing goals and objectives, supervising staff, administering the budget, and directing day-to-day operations. Assignments allow for a high degree of administrative discretion and require a high level of technical expertise in their execution.

This class is distinguished from the Director of Community Development by the latter’s overall managerial accountability for a comprehensive municipal department comprised of Long-Range Planning, Development Review and Building and Safety Services and Administrative Support.

The Chief Building Official receives administrative direction from the Director of Community Development within a framework of broad policies and established organizational values and processes. Supervision is provided to supervisory, professional, technical and clerical staff. May act as the Director of Community Development in their absence.

• Directs and administers activities and programs for compliance with federal, state and municipal codes and regulations governing building construction, housing, zoning, rehabilitation, alteration, use and occupancy of structures within the City.
• Assists in the development and administration of department and division goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Plans, organizes, administers, reviews and evaluates the work of professional, technical and office support staff; provides training and policy guidance and interpretation to staff.
• Ensures that staff provides a high degree of service to both internal and external customers that supports achieving the department and the City’s mission, objectives and values.
• Contributes to the overall quality of the department’s service by developing, reviewing and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and City needs.
• Prepares program budget and monitors work to ensure that funds and staff time are used effectively and efficiently; analyzes work flow, assignments, priorities and staffing levels and makes adjustments when required.
• Advises and provides staff expertise to the Director of Community Development, the City Council, committees, commissions, contractors, developers, property owners and public regarding building codes, zoning, housing and other regulations and ordinances.
• Conducts and oversees field inspections of buildings during construction and reviews or oversees the review of construction plans, specifications, and engineering calculations to determine compliance with legal requirements of codes, ordinances, and accepted engineering practices.
• May serve as a principal facilitator or manager of City code enforcement activities.
• Analyzes, reviews, and prepares code amendments or supplements.
• Monitors changes in codes and legislation, new building materials and construction methods and provides updated interpretations of codes and regulations to other City staff.
• Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, ordinances and other materials.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental automated and manual files.
• May complete complex building plan reviews.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

• Federal, state and local codes and regulations governing housing and building construction, rehabilitation,…