Building Code Specialist

City of New York•New York City, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Building Code Specialist interprets building code and zoning issues and conducts comprehensive plan examinations and technical analyses for New Building and major alteration applications across citywide borough offices. The role resolves complex code and zoning issues to facilitate project approvals and coordinates with specialists across NYC boroughs to ensure consistent technical decisions and policy interpretation. Under direction, the specialist leads team-based plan examination mentorship and on-the-job training, establishes quality-control programs and audit protocols, and provides technical quality-control support and ongoing guidance to examiners and ACPEs. The position consults with project stakeholders, leads dispute resolution and technical objection meetings, advises the Borough Commissioner’s office, and addresses complex determinations and official correspondence. It also analyzes performance metrics and workflow bottlenecks, represents the Department of Buildings at inter-agency and industry meetings, evaluates construction activities at high-profile developments through strategic site assessments, and documents meetings, decisions, and determinations. The position may be eligible for remote work up to two days per week under the Remote Work Pilot Program. Candidates must meet one of the stated experience or experience-and-license pathways, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. All candidates must have at least two years of qualifying experience, including at least 18 months in a managerial or administrative capacity, subject to the stated education and experience credits.

Requirements

Seven years of full-time satisfactory experience in a construction trade or as an inspector of construction, hoists and rigging, plumbing, boilers, or elevators, including at least 18 months in a managerial or administrative capacity; or
At least two years of qualifying construction-trade or inspection experience, including at least 18 months in a managerial or administrative capacity, and a professional engineer license or registered architect license issued pursuant to the education law; or
Education and/or experience equivalent to the stated experience pathway. All candidates must have at least two years of qualifying experience, including at least 18 months in a managerial or administrative capacity.
Apprenticeship in the construction trades or building inspection may be credited at one year of experience per year of apprenticeship, up to three years of general experience.
Education toward a degree in architecture, architectural technology, construction management, engineering, engineering technology, or a related field from an accredited college or university may be credited at 30 credits per year of experience, up to four years of general experience.
Formal training or education in a field relevant to the construction trades may be credited at one year of experience per year of training or education, up to two years of general experience.

Responsibilities

Interpret building code and zoning issues.
Lead an advanced, team-based plan examination mentorship and on-the-job training program to improve technical competence and workload management.
Develop and lead plan examination quality-control programs and special audit protocols to track compliance, standardize technical accuracy, mitigate risk, and improve correctness and consistency.
Provide quality-control support to ACPEs on objection reviews, second zoning/ZD1, schedules of occupancy, and interpretations, including ongoing face-to-face guidance for examiners and ACPEs.
Consult with developers, property owners, design professionals, contractors, and other project stakeholders to anticipate and resolve technical, scheduling, and sequencing issues.
Lead internal and external dispute resolution and technical objection meetings, including for large-scale developments and MPP initiatives.
Advise the Borough Commissioner’s office on technical matters, translate regulatory frameworks into actionable policy, and draft high-level determinations.
Work with the CPE and BC office to analyze performance metrics, identify workflow bottlenecks, and develop process improvements.
Address complex determinations and official correspondence from applicants, industry builders, and the public.
Represent the Department of Buildings at inter-agency panels, industry forums, and executive meetings.
Conduct plan examinations and technical analyses for New Building and major alteration (ALT-CO) applications across citywide borough offices, resolving complex code and zoning issues.
Coordinate with code and zoning specialists across NYC boroughs to promote uniform technical decisions and policy interpretation.
Evaluate and track construction activities for complex, high-profile developments and conduct strategic site assessments at critical milestones and high-risk operations, including demolition and excavation.
Maintain technical documentation of meeting proceedings, executive decisions, and official regulatory determinations.