Deputy Code Official

Performs responsible administrative and complex technical work to enforce the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), including residential and light commercial plan review, field inspections, and assisting the Code Official in oversight, direction, planning, training, and coaching of building inspectors, permit issuance, plan reviewers, and enforcement activities. May directly supervise assigned staff.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Building Code Official in the administration, operations, and enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), including coordinating, planning, staffing, and ensuring quality control.
• Reviews residential building plans (and some commercial plans), permit applications, and inspects buildings in the process of construction, alteration, or repair for compliance with current building code requirements and safe construction practices.
• Reviews code modification requests.
• Inspects existing buildings for hazardous conditions and structural failures after emergencies or accidents.
• Issues warnings and stop-work orders when construction projects are found to be non-code complying.
• Investigates building complaints regarding inspection activities and takes appropriate action, seeking conferral of the Building Code Official depending on the extent of the complaint.
• Checks quality of materials and methods of construction per the city-approved plans.
• Issues certificates of occupancy and occupant loads as required.
• Assists the Building Code Official in assigning and reviewing work, coaching, training, and motivating staff. Participates in and provides significant input and recommendation related to hiring, evaluating performance, and disciplinary action in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures. May directly supervise assigned staff.
• Ensures that subordinate staff have the proper resources needed to complete assigned work and provides technical expertise to staff.
• Effectively responds to questions from citizens, contractors, and builders regarding code enforcement, construction complaints, violations, and future updates to the building codes.
• Conducts housing code inspections as required.
• Assists in the coordination and information dissemination for construction projects with interdepartmental or intergovernmental implications.
• Provides recommendations to the Building Code Official on proposed changes to code and other regulatory items, assisting with implementation of any such changes.
• Prepares a variety of reports, correspondence, and presentations for City Council, community meetings, City management, and others; maintains proper records. Attends and/or presents information at meetings when necessary.
• Testifies in court on code violation cases, when needed.
• Operates a city vehicle in the performance of job duties.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
• Serves as Acting Building Code Official during their absence.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 3 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
• OR Associate degree, technical/vocational degree, or some college-level coursework in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 4 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
• OR High School diploma or GED AND at least 6 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
• OR An equivalent combination of education and experience that confers equivalent knowledge and ability.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in a related field and supervisory experience.
• Within one year of start date, must obtain certification as a Building Official.
• Within one year of start date, must obtain Combination Residential Inspector, Combination Commercial Inspector, and Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner in accordance with the VUSBC.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of building construction materials and methods.
• Thorough knowledge of Virginia building codes, Charlottesville building and zoning codes, and related laws and ordinances.
• Thorough knowledge of stages of construction, when violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected.
• Thorough knowledge of poor workmanship, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and structurally unstable buildings.
• Thorough knowledge of plan reading, performing inspections, electrical safety, elevators, fire protection, mechanical, plumbing, gas, and/or property maintenance.
• Intermediate reading ability: ability to read and understand building plans and written materials such as newspapers, magazines, multi-step instruction manuals, and building code materials.
• Intermediate writing ability: ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, prepare materials such as business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Intermediate math ability: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions, and measurements. Applies systematic multi-factor analysis, trend analysis, and other forms of data analysis.
• Advanced communication skills: establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, officials, agencies, businesses, and the public. Prepares and presents technical written and oral reports.
• Requires limited direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Performance reviewed periodically.
• Advanced technical skills: high-level skills and extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local code; independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.
• Organizational and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Ability to work closely with others as part of a team, handle frequent changes of tasks, perform tedious or exacting work, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously with constant interruptions.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance with employer contribution and employer-paid life insurance.
• Gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities.
• Vacation Leave: 3.09 hours accrued bi-weekly (increases with years of service).
• Sick Leave: 4.62 hours accrued bi-weekly, approximately 120 hours per year with no limit on accumulation.
• 13 Paid Observed City Holidays.
• 1 Floating Holiday which must be taken during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).
• Choice of retirement plan:
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. Includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  • Defined Contribution 457 Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan.

Pay

Preferred hiring range: $80,556.13 - $100,908.38 annually, with starting pay based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity.

Schedule

• Full-time, exempt position.
• May work a non-traditional work schedule and require additional hours outside of normal schedule.
• May require emergency response.

Physical Conditions

• Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
• Field work requires traversing interior and exterior of buildings and structures including uneven terrain and obstructions. May include climbing, reaching, stooping, crawling, crouching, and balancing.
• Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Occasionally moves about inside the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.