Chief Building Official

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a Chief Building Official to join the Community Development Department.


The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a highly skilled Chief Building Official who combines strong technical expertise with exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative leadership style. The successful candidate brings broad knowledge of adopted codes and state and local regulations, along with prior relevant experience, plan check experience, and a commitment to consistent, high-quality building safety services.

This individual is a strategic and adaptable leader who monitors development and economic trends, effectively manages budgets, and embraces continual improvement. They navigate complex issues with competing interests professionally and constructively, bringing fresh perspectives and practical solutions.

The successful candidate is a team builder who fosters a respectful, customer-focused culture, supports staff development, and builds trust through clear communication and accountability. They are an effective communicator and educator, able to clearly explain technical and regulatory matters to staff, the public, and City Council. The successful candidate values working in a highly engaged community and leverages collaboration, transparency, and professionalism to deliver responsive and reliable public service.

Please note: Hiring incentives are not guaranteed but may be valued up to $5,000 for positions deemed hard to fill by the Director of Human Resources. For those candidates who live 50 or more miles from San Luis Obispo County, relocation assistance may be available.

to learn more about the Community Development Department

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Thursday, March 5, 2026, so please hold that date.

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.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

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.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

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.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• 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,…