Chief Building Official

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $136,555.88 – $165,983.63

The Chief Building Official plans, organizes, and supervises the activities of the Building and Community Improvement Divisions within the Community Development Department; including building inspection, fire prevention and code enforcement and compliance activities, participates in code interpretation, plan checking, issuance of permits, and field inspections and performs the most technically complex tasks within the Divisions.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Chief Building Official has managerial responsibility for the Building and Community Improvement Divisions and is distinguished from lower level positions by this responsibility. The Chief Building Official has legal responsibility and powers in the enforcement of codes, ordinances, and State laws.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives administrative direction from the Community Development Director.

Responsibilities include direct and indirect supervision over professional, technical and clerical personnel within the Divisions.

Examples of Duties:

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Plans, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of within the Building and Community Improvement Divisions;

Develops and implements the division goals, objectives, policies and priorities; establishes performance standards and methods for building inspection, code compliance and plan review;

Assumes major responsibility for policy and program development of the Building and Community Improvement Divisions, including budget development and administration;

Assumes significant responsibility for a variety of personnel activities including the selection of staff, conducting performance evaluations, coordination of training, recommending disciplinary actions; implementation of discipline procedures as directed;

Enforces the provisions of the California and Uniform Codes adopted by the City of Lodi, including the Building, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Housing and Dangerous Building Codes, Zoning Ordinances, and State laws. Issues building permits, Stop Work Orders, demolition orders, and citations pursuant to this enforcement responsibility;

Supervises and participates in code compliance activities; review and sign Notice and Orders related to code enforcement cases; monitors the activity and progress of code enforcement cases;

Responsible for compliance and enforcement of nuisance violations;

Reviews construction plans with plan checkers and other City departments;

Interprets California and Uniform Codes adopted by the City of Lodi;

Conducts field inspection of residential, commercial, and industrial structures;

Identifies unsafe buildings and recommends condemnation procedures;

Reviews and inspects housing and sanitation complaints;

Coordinates activities of the Building Inspection and Community Improvement Divisions with other City departments and outside agencies;

Responds to complaints or technically complex questions raised by the public; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues; recommends corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints;

Prepares reports, maintains records, approves vouchers and purchase orders, and otherwise administers the activities of the Division; and

Provides responsible staff assistance to the Community Development Director;

Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of building inspection and code compliance including legislation, court rulings, and professional practices and techniques; incorporates new developments as appropriate;

Performs other duties related to the operation of the department and the City including additional duties that enable the department and City to meet the diverse needs of its community.

Typical Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

Building construction principles and practices, including detailed familiarity with carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and other building trades;

Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of code enforcement, including some familiarity with criminal law and enforcement; Principles and methods of investigation utilized in code enforcement inspections; regulations and requirements for court evidence documentation;

Safety and construction standards of the building construction industry; hazardous materials and fire prevention techniques and requirements;

Practices and procedures of contracting in the building construction industry;

Uniform Building, Plumbing and Mechanical, National Electrical, and Health and Safety Codes;

City of Lodi Codes, ordinances, and laws pertaining to buildings, construction, health, safety; zoning, signs, and dangerous building codes. Knowledge in preparing and/or amending codes;

Basic terminology used in code enforcement and zones, including legal descriptions;

Principles and practices of personnel administration, supervision and training including selection, planning, performance evaluation and discipline; Principles of organization, administration, and budgeting.

Ability to:

Interpret and explain codes, regulations, and ordinances;

Detect through inspection deviations from plans, codes, regulations, and ordinances;

Read and understand building construction plans and drawings; Plan and organize daily work;

Supervise, train, and evaluate the work of others by assigning, overseeing, and reviewing work;

Communicate clearly, orally and in writing;

Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work; Exercise interpersonal sensitivity while working effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations, or backgrounds; Successfully motivate and interact with direct reports; Respond and resolve customer complaints and questions with tact and diplomacy;

Analyze division policies and procedures; identify, recommend and implement improvements.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the qualifying knowledge and ability. A typical combination is:
Experience:

Seven (7) years of experience as a Building Official, Plans Examiner or Building Inspector including two years that includes supervisory experience.
Education:

Equivalent to an Associates of Arts Degree with emphasis in pre-engineering, construction technology or closely related field. A Bachelor’s degree is highly desirable.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:
Possession of a valid Driver’s License issued from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Possession of a Building Official certificate issued by the International Code Council (ICC) at time of appointment. Continuing education pursuant to Chapter 7, part 2.5 of Division 13 of the California Health and Safety Code (45 hours of continuing education for every three-year period, with at least eight hours regarding disability access requirements).

Possession of a California Access Specialist (CASP) certificate is highly desirable.

Possession of or ability to obtain Penal Code 832 Arrest and Firearms certification within one year of hire.

Possession of or ability to obtain California State Fire Marshal 1A through 1D certification within two years of hire.