Building & Safety Manager/Chief Building Official

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Building & Safety Manager in the Planning Department! This position is designated as the City’s Chief Building Official and has division level responsibilities for the overall administration and direction of the City’s building, zoning, housing, fire, and related codes and regulations.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience providing administrative and technical oversight for building construction activities, building code enforcement, rental housing safety enforcement and grant funded programs. The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to manage high performing teams; communicate effectively and tactfully, in writing, verbally, and in presentations to boards, commissions, and elected officials; leverage expert knowledge of state and municipal building and housing codes and ordinances and other relevant codes; provide excellent customer service to a variety of clients; develop, maintain and improve operational procedures related to plan checks, inspections, permit issuances, and other relevant functions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of collaborators; and balance competing priorities within a fast-paced environment.

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill a temporary vacancy not to exceed 1 year.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is:
Equivalent to graduation from a college or university with a major in civil engineering, architecture, urban planning or a closely related field; and five (5) years of experience in building services and enforcement functions (including standards development), which includes at least five (5) years of professional level experience in the enforcement of building codes and ordinances. At least two (2) years of the experience noted above must have included responsibility for the supervision of a sizable enforcement staff. Experience in dealing with citizen boards is desirable.

Substitutions:

• Progressively responsible related experience may be substituted for the college course work on a year-for-year basis.
• Possession of an International Code Council (ICC) Building Official certification and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience at a senior level in building and safety services equivalent to the Senior Building Plans Examiner may be substituted for the supervisory experience.

Other requirements:
Possession of a valid International Code Council (ICC) Plans Examiner or Building Inspector certification is required. A California license as a Structural or Civil Engineer is desirable. Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet the program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver’s license as well as a satisfactory driving record. Must be able to attend evening meetings.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications must be received by 5:00 PM Pacific on September 7, 2026 and must include a completed application and answers to the supplemental questions. Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to ada@berkeleyca.gov. Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.