Building Official

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Building Official to lead the Building Safety Program within the Department of Planning, Building & Development. The Building Official performs complex technical, legal and administrative work overseeing the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as interpreted by the State Building Code Technical Review Board, as well as related laws and city ordinances.The Building Official shall have at least 5 years of building experience as a licensed professional engineer or architect, building, fire or trade inspector, contractor, housing inspector or superintendent of building, fire or trade construction or at least 5 years of building experience after obtaining a degree in architecture or engineering, with at least 3 years in responsible charge of work. Any combination of education and experience that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement. The Building Official shall have general knowledge of sound engineering practice in respect to the design and construction of structures, the basic principles of fire prevention, the accepted requirements for means of egress and the installation of elevators and other service equipment necessary for the health, safety and general welfare of the occupants and the public. The successful candidate maintains the certification(s) mandated by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in accordance with the Virginia Certification Standards (VCS) to enforce and administer the statewide building code as the Building Official within one year of appointment.
The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer. To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.
This is an exempt position.Examples of Duties
SUMMARY
Leads the Building Safety Program within the Department of Planning, Building & Development. The Building Official performs complex technical, legal and administrative work overseeing the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as interpreted by the State Building Code Technical Review Board, as well as related laws and city ordinances.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Supervises building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire protection inspection activities with responsibility for enforcement of laws, ordinances and codes relating to the construction of buildings within the city.
• Reviews building plans for compliance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC).
• Maintains the Quality Assurance Program of inspections and plan reviews for compliance and consistent application of adopted codes and standards, including professional accreditation standards.
• Performs quality assurance checks of inspections and plan reviews for compliance and consistent application of adopted codes and standards, including professional accreditation standards.
• Ensures proper maintenance of official records of applications, permits, fees collected, inspection reports, notices and orders.
• Oversees issuance of permits for building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical work and supervises inspections of such work.
• Provides technical assistance to architects, engineers, builders and general public and department staff
• Grants modifications to any provisions of the USBC, provided the spirit and intent of the USBC are observed.
• Hears complaints and investigates for non conformance to USBC and related City codes.
• Coordinates preparation of a variety of reports and correspondence on inspection, code compliance matters and condemnation/demolition of unsafe buildings.
• Provides technical assistance and develops guidelines and procedures for the local Board of Building Code Appeals in accordance with the USBC.
• Institutes the appropriate law proceedings when a notice of violation has not been complied with in set time constraints according to the USBC.
• Recommends ordinances and fee schedules pertinent to the enforcement of the USBC.
• Coordinates delegation of authority and provision of services according to the USBC with the Office of the Fire Marshal.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives in service delivery.
• Contributes to the implementation of the Departmental Equity Action Plan.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises a team consisting of deputy Building Official(s), plans examiners and building inspection staff. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, evaluation and continuous improvement of the Building Safety Program and personnel. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
The Building Official shall have at least 5 years of building experience as a licensed professional engineer or architect, building, fire or trade inspector, contractor, housing inspector or superintendent of building, fire or trade construction or at least 5 years of building experience after obtaining a degree in architecture or engineering, with at least 3 years in responsible charge of work. Any combination of education and experience that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement.

Supplemental Information
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from citizens, property owners, contractors, or members of the business community, orally and in writing. Ability to effectively present information to public groups. Ability to enforce ordinances and regulations with firmness, tact and impartiality.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of information and deal with several abstract concrete variables.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
The successful candidate maintains the certification(s) mandated by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in accordance with the Virginia Certification Standards (VCS) to enforce and administer the statewide building code as the Building Official within one year of appointment. Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia also required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
Employment Type: Full-Time