Building Official - City of Saratoga Springs

Job Description

This is a managerial position for a highly developed, seasoned professional. This position performs as the City's Building Official as described in various codes, regulations, and ordinances. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating activities of the Building division. Work involves developing and implementing major departmental policies, planning and executing both short- and long-range programs and coordinating departmental activities with other Community Development divisions and other City Departments. Work requires a broad knowledge in Construction and Code Compliance fields.

This position has general responsibility for the Building division, they directly work with the Assistant Building Official, Senior Permit Technician, Plans Examiner, and similar positions, to generally oversee the lower-level employees in the Building division. In the absence of the Community Development Director, this position may assume the duties of the department director when assigned.

Job Responsibilities

• Reviews or oversees the review of plan services, drawings, and specification for code compliance; approve building projects and coordinate issuance of building permits for new construction as well as repair or remodeling of existing structures.
• Calculate and assess applicable building and plan review fees.
• Must be able to coordinate portions of work with 3rd parties when necessary
• Oversee the division's budget proposals and implementation.
• Make staffing decisions within the Building Department functions including training, performance, evaluations and scheduling of work hours.
• Make recommendations regarding hiring and retention of assigned personnel.
• Responsible for supervising and coordinating field operations and providing technical guidance to building inspectors.
• Investigate complaints and problems concerning new construction or work involving permits. Advise developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners on matters relevant to building codes, construction processes, methods, materials, and types of construction and occupancies.
• Serve as a resource and a compliance problem solver for the City and contractors on matters relating to code requirements and construction techniques and practices; discuss, explain, and resolve ordinances and codes questions to concerned homeowners and contractors.
• Review current zoning codes and make recommendations for revision to the codes to facilitate better enforcement of the codes.
• Establish, evaluate, and revise building inspection procedures, practices, and rules to concur with departmental and city policies
• Review and interpret codes and ordinances, recommending changes and additions as needed; review and study adopted codes to stay abreast of changes
• Visit building sites or existing buildings to perform inspections such as zoning, yard location, footing, foundation, frame, wiring, plumbing, and heating to assure compliance to approved plans, building codes and ordinances.
• Follow up on all conditional, partial, and temporary approvals.
• Work with other city departments to coordinate plan approval and building, zoning, or other related code issues.
• Investigate alleged code violations; determine whether a violation exists; inform building owner/worker of violations in building construction; serve correction notices; prepare certification of the inspection; assist supervisor on abatement of unsafe buildings; examine damaged buildings upon request to determine structural safety for occupancy or reuse. Serve as a liaison with building inspectors and contractors in resolving any conflicts.
• Coordinate final inspections and Certificate of Occupancy process.
• Maintain files on buildings under construction, such as inspection reports, soil and concrete tests, etc.; research into particular problems; suggest solutions; follow up on written agreements between the city and building owners, developers, contractors, etc.
• Discuss and coordinate code compliance issues with supervisor; give input and receive official interpretation and passes the same onto building inspectors, contractors, and the public as the occasion arises; provide solicited input regarding code changes; review and study building codes to stay abreast of changes.
• May assist building plans examiners' review of building permit applications as to compliance with building codes for building type, occupancy, fire protection and location of lot; verify plans to conform to city ordinances; make corrections for errors on blueprints; discuss and explain ordinances and codes to concerned home owners and contractors.
• Prepare and maintain comprehensive records of plans, inspections, letters, and reports prepared or used in connection with all building inspections; follow up on written agreements between the city and property owners, developers, contractors, etc.
• Act as the Department Head in the absence of the Community Development Director
• Assist Legal department in preparation and presentation of city ordinances to city administration related to building codes, and when necessary work with attorney, planning and code enforcement to prepare building code violation related cases
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• A High School Diploma or GED equivalent, plus two (2) years of training in building methods and practices related to commercial, industrial, and residential structures provided through technical college, professional workshops, or university studies
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the construction industry and/or municipal building inspections department, at least eight (8) years of which are in the building code enforcement side of the industry and at least four (4) years in a supervisory position

Certifications:

• Must possess a valid Utah Driver's License with a driving record free of serious or frequent violations
• Certification as a Master Code Official by the ICC
• Certification as a Certified Building Official by the ICC
• Certification as a Plans Examiner by the ICC
• Certified as a 4-way Residential and Commercial Inspector by the ICC, holds, and maintains a current license with the State of Utah

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Demonstrate the ability to follow City policies and procedures
• Considerable knowledge of building construction materials and design which includes wood frame, concrete, structural steel, and masonry design
• Considerable knowledge of building construction codes and techniques, including the International Code Council (ICC) code
• Working knowledge of federal, state and local laws, regulations, standards, and ordinances related to planning, zoning and urban development;
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, applying knowledge of framing systems and construction detailing in relation to codes and ordinances
• Ability to analyze and solve problems and organize work within limited time constraints
• Ability to apply knowledge of design techniques to design and plan for City needs and requirements
• Ability to establish and enforce minimum standards for permit applications, drawing and documents with fairness, tact, and impartiality
• Ability to analyze permanent structures to determine conformity of established code
• Ability to provide explanations of complex and legally important governmental codes and regulations to the general public, professionals, and other agencies
• Ability to use computerized systems for plan review and permit management
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise written reports, correspondence and informational bulletins
• Ability to detect hazards, violations and related details regarding what the codes and approved plans require during field inspection work;
• General PC computer operations with an emphasis on word processing and spreadsheets and ability to use Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word and Excel and specialized software such as CityWorks
• Interact with the public, contractors, developers and others in all situations while maintaining a professional, pleasant and courteous demeanor
• Communicate in a concise and effective manner
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with division supervisors, department heads, construction personnel, equipment operators, supervisors and crews, contractors, private citizens and other members of the public
• Exercise sound and good judgment at all times
• Ability to read and interpret complex construction drawings, plans and specifications
• Organize, delegate, and establish meaningful goals; prepare and present highly complex reports in verbal and written form; coordinate and direct a variety of major construction and maintenance programs related to public works projects; prioritize tasks; establish effective working relationships with employees and the public; apply complex concepts to the solution of problems and performance of assigned duties; work independently with little supervision.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to professionally furnish and obtain information from other departments; contact with other departments, requiring tact and judgment to avoid friction; constant contact with the public presenting data that may influence important decisions; requires a well-developed sense of strategy and timing; ability to deal well with upset and irate people; regular and frequent contact with persons of high rank, requiring tact and judgment to deal with and influence people
• Ability to prioritize workload and in consultation with supervisor sets deadlines and develop projects
• Exercise initiative, independent judgment, and to act resourcefully under varying conditions.

Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions-including but not limited to the job functions, qualifications, and competencies listed herein-of this job in the working conditions below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The physical demands and work environment include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 80 pounds or more
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field.
• Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
• Common and complex eye, hand, finger dexterity exist. Mental application utilized memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, discriminating thinking and creative problem solving.
• Daily travel required in normal course of job performance
• The employee may be required to work in outside weather conditions, in wet and/or humid conditions, in high, precarious places, near moving mechanical parts, near fumes, airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals, or near risk of electrical shock and/or vibration.
• Stress associated with deadlines and working with the general public.

Compensation and Benefits

Wage Range:

The full salary range is as follows, please note hiring will normally occur at the Minimum of the range and will not exceed the Midpoint of the range:

Minimum - $86,161/yr. Midpoint - $103,394/yr. Maximum - $120,626/yr.

Benefits:

The City offers a competitive benefits package including several health insurance options (one of which has a $0.00 employee premium payroll deduction with Wellness program participation), dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurances, an EAP (including mental health short-term counseling services) for the whole family, a free Teledoc program for the whole family, monetary incentives for wellness program participation, and a HSA (health savings account) with an Employer match. The City also offers the employee the option to elect to add on Vision, Accident, Hospital, Critical Illness, additional Life Insurance coverage, and FSAs (flexible spending accounts).

The City participates in the Utah Public Retirement System (pension). In addition, the City does not participate in Social Security so no Social Security taxes are deducted from your paycheck. In lieu of the City's Social Security contributions, the City contributes 6.2% of salary into a 401(k) retirement plan.

Leave time benefits include 120 hours of paid time off (PTO) accrued annually, 40 hours of short-term medical accrued annually, and 11 holidays annually. The City also offers flexible workweek schedules (all schedules must be approved by the department head).

Closing Date:

Open until filled.

Disclaimer

SUSPENSION OF PROCESS, ETC.:
The City reserves the right to reject any and all applicants, to waive any requirement set forth in this announcement, and to hire anyone as the City Manager or designee deems to be in the City's best interest, all subject to legal requirements. Any application in response to this Announcement is at the applicant's sole risk and expense. Although the City anticipates hiring one of the applicants responding to this announcement, there is no guaranty that any responding applicant will be hired.

Saratoga Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• The City will provide reasonable accommodations as needed.

Pre-employment drug testing, proof of employment eligibility, and background check required.