Technical Office Manager/Deputy Fire Marshal

Salary: $90,000.00 - $105,000.00 Annually
Location : North Charleston, SC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: BI208889
Department: Building Inspect
Opening Date: 10/13/2023
Description
Charleston County Building Inspections Department is looking for a Technical Office Manager/Deputy Fire Marshal. This position oversees the Plan Review and Permitting Divisions
Pay Range - $90,000 to $105,000 (Estimated Annual Salary)
OPEN UNTIL FILLED - APPLICATION REVIEW BEGINS IMMEDIATELY, 12/31/2023
Duties and Responsibilities

• Reports directly to Director of Building Services Department.
• Oversees Plan Review and Permitting Divisions. Primarily responsible for providing divisional administrative analysis, development and review of projects, and management of permitting staff and plan review staff. Duties as assigned by the director.
• Plans, organizes, and coordinates the daily activities, including customer service, routing of plan review and permit applications to appropriate points of responsibility, and interdepartmental coordination as necessary to ensure an efficient, high-quality, and accurate review and approval of departmental plan reviews and coordination with Planning/Zoning, and Stormwater plan review requirements.
• Manages and conducts fire inspections, fire plan reviews, Special Inspection program and fire investigations. Point of contact for all County's fire districts/ marshals.
• Assists with the management and administrative support efforts related to IAS (International Accreditation Services) and BCEGS (Building Codes Effectiveness Grading Schedule). Participate in site visits and assist in permit fee calculations.
• Supervises the plan review process and provide commercial and residential plan review and technical guidance to ensure compliance with the technical codes and adopted ordinances for inspectors, design professionals, contractors, and owners. Selects, supervises, counsels, trains, and evaluates assigned staff; reviews work; provides work direction and guidance to assigned staff; establishes work performance standards; conducts performance evaluations; initiates and implements disciplinary actions as appropriate; rewards employees and approves and schedules sick leave and vacation time. Develops and maintains reports on plan reviews, activities, hours, and other data that track plan reviews statistics and performance. Plans and evaluates the activities of the plan review and permitting processes.
• Proactively recommends changes to processes that increase efficiency, effectiveness or aid in improved customer services and satisfaction. Develops, adjusts, and maintains policies, procedures, and standards and maintains required laws, regulations, and policies. Ensures the flow of work is in accordance with established procedures. Resolves procedural and technical conflicts among assigned staff. Mediates and resolves disputes, misunderstandings, miscommunications, etc., between customers and design professionals. Coordinates staff; assigns and distributes work to department representatives. Manages the day-to-day operation of the digital plan review and related permit management system and ensures staff meets department and County goals. Will also conduct Inspections as needed. Represents the Department at various construction related associations, boards, and committees.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Public Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture or Construction Management Degree or related field; Licensed Professional Engineer or Register Architect preferred,
• supplemented with seven (7) or more years' experience with at least five (5) years' work experience in construction field and 2 years' experience in plan review, inspections, and/or in an architectural or engineering environment with the remaining years in code enforcement or related experience.
• Must have knowledge of building code and be certified as a Fire Marshall OR obtain Fire certifications (Fire I, Fire II, Fire Plans Examiner), Combination Plans Examiner OR Combination Inspector, and Floodplain Manager within one year of hire date.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work may be acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge:
* International Code Council Family of Codes and State required codes
* National Fire Protection Association Standards
South Carolina laws/regulations regarding construction- related codes and licensing/ State Fire Marshal regulations, and environmental permit application procedures/requirements* Federal laws/regulations regarding floodplain management
* Insurance Services Organization Community Rating System (CRS) insurance rating schedule and Building Code Effectiveness Grading System guidelines (BCEGS), International Accreditation Service (IAS)
* Federal and State Grant application guidelines and procedures
* State and Federal Damage Assessment reporting guidelines
* Building Department Legal and Management procedures (e.g., legal interpretation, budgeting, supervising, inspection record keeping, certificate of occupancy issuance, ordinance summons issuance, legal notice issuance, rights of entry, etc.)
* Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
* Office computer software and applications (Microsoft Office, Corel, GroupWise, Internet, etc.)
Skills:
* Effective verbal and written communication
* Mathematical (plan review, data analysis)
* Problem solving
* Management skills
* Map and plan reading
* Detecting and documenting defects and deviations from permitting of construction activities and applicable codes and standards
* Computer skills for data entry, word processing, spread sheet development
* Specifying appropriate corrective actions to remedy discrepancies and in resolving operational, technical, and public relation problems
* Represent the Building Department at court and public meetings
Abilities:
* Ability to provide leadership, manage, and supervise staff adequately
* Ability to lead, guide, and direct a diverse workforce and communicate effectively
* Ability to work with council members and the general public
* Ability to direct and train others in complex issues
* Ability to defuse confrontational situations and resolve disputes in a professional manner
* Ability to relay complex information to novices and experts in a clear and professional manner
* Ability to apply complex codes and regulations to plans and buildings under construction
Certifications: Current or under a plan to obtain these certifications within a specified amount of time.
In addition to required certifications listed above in minimum qualification, the following will be required:
* SC Registered State Fire Marshal
* Valid South Carolina Driver's License
* Completion of Supervisory training
* National Incident Management System (NIMS) Certification 100, 200, 300, 700 & 800
* Annual review will include satisfactory continual education and certification requirements
Charleston County offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package to its employees, including but not limited to:

• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Optional Life and Disability Insurance
• Optional Medical and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
• Annual and Sick Leave
• Fourteen (14) recognized Holidays
• South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) State Retirement Plan
• Police Officers Retirement System (PORS - as applicable)
• Optional Deferred Compensation Program
• Longevity and Merit Pay Increases
• Optional Federal Credit Union Membership
• Leadership, Professional and Skill Development Training
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Well-being Program

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