Director of Inspectional Services

About the role

The Director of the Inspectional Services Division (the ‘Division’) manages a multi-disciplinary inspector and administration staff responsible for enforcement, permitting, and inspections of the State Building Code (780 CMR), and other referenced codes and standards and specialized codes including but not limited to the State Energy Code (including Stretch Code and Specialized Opt-in Code (225 CMR 22 & 23)), Architectural Access Board (521 CMR), International Mechanical Code, State Sheet Metal Code (271 CMR), State Plumbing and Gas Codes (248 CMR), Electrical Code (527 CMR 12), as well as the Somerville Zoning Ordinance (SZO), applicable sections of the Somerville Code of Ordinances (SCO), and Weights and Measures (MGL c. 98 & 99).

Responsibilities

• Directly supervises senior managers and senior staff within the Division for efficient, consistent, and compliant operation of the Division
• Establishes short and long-range plans and objectives, performance standards and assumes direct accountability for Division results
• Primary responsibility for creating and implementing strategies, policies, and procedures for consistent and efficient code enforcement, permitting, inspections, and records responses for the Division
• Primary responsibility for the Division adhering to personnel, workplace, and Division policies and practices, and proper adherence to, and taking necessary corrective or resolution measures where needed, in conjunction with People Operations and the City Attorney
• Prepares, administers, and manages the Division budget, including revenues and expenditures
• Ensures staff have proper equipment and tools for administration of the Division
• Primary respondent for formal requests for enforcement or interpretation regarding SCO that are enforced by the Division
• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality
• Reports to Chief of Infrastructure and the Mayor on all high-priority code enforcement, permitting, inspection, and/or other issues related to the Division
• Coordinates with cross-departmental senior leadership to proactively address problem properties
• Works with senior managers and senior staff to ensure all staff remain current with required continuing education and certifications, as well as providing and fostering other staff development opportunities related to core functions of the Division
• Optimizes the Division’s use of, the City’s permitting, licensing and code enforcement software

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, public administration, business administration or related field, with 10+ years of related work experience of management in municipal government or inspectional services/code enforcement; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Special Requirements: Construction Supervisor’s License

Qualifications

• Knowledge, Abilities And Skill: Working knowledge of Division practices and services and specifically the State Building Code (780 CMR), and other referenced codes and standards and specialized codes including but not limited to the State Energy Code (including Stretch Code and Specialized Opt-in Code (225 CMR 22 & 23)), Architectural Access Board (521 CMR), International Mechanical Code, State Sheet Metal Code (271 CMR), State Plumbing and Gas Codes (248 CMR), Electrical Code (527 CMR 12), as well as the Somerville Zoning Ordinance (SZO), applicable sections of the Somerville Code of Ordinances (SCO), and Weights and Measures (MGL c. 98 & 99).
• Physical And Mental Requirements: Physical demands 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 position’s essential functions. Physical Skills: Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.). Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting. Visual Skills: Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

Benefits

• Overview of Total Rewards: 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract.