Building Codes Administrator

Town of North Topsail Beach•Town of North Topsail Beach, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Performs difficult technical inspections work of Town buildings and property to ensure compliance with State and local building codes and ordinances. An employee in this class inspects construction and installation work in progress to enforce State codes for building construction including the four trades areas of building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical, and for any provisions required by Town regulations. Work also includes working with the Fire Marshal for life safety and fire code compliance in commercial projects. Work involves enforcement of local ordinances, issuance of permits, and frequent field checks to inspect construction work in various stages of completion. Work also involves assuming charge of damage assessments after catastrophic events, to include evaluating all properties within the jurisdiction to determine the significance of damage and safety hazards, especially the need to disconnect utilities to reduce fire hazards. The employee supervises a Permitting Specialist, responsible for processing and issuing approved permits for the Building and Planning departments. Technical judgment is required to interpret provisions of the codes as applied to practical construction projects and circumstances. Tact, courtesy, and firmness must be exercised in dealing with contractors and the general public. Work subjects the employees to inside and outside environmental conditions, extremes in temperature, hazards associated with construction work, and may require one to work in close quarters, crawl spaces, and similar enclosed areas. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Town Manager and is evaluated through observation, periodic conferences, review of reports and records, enforcement activities, and through contractor and citizen reactions.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of State building codes and local ordinances as applied to buildings and construction projects for inspection.
Considerable knowledge of construction trades and installation in the areas of building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical; some knowledge of State Fire Safety codes.
Considerable knowledge of building permitting and zoning and land development regulations.
Knowledge of office technology and the application of information technology to the work.
Skill in the interpretation of codes and ordinances and their application to specific situations.
Skill in reading and interpreting plans and specifications.
Skill in customer service excellence and collaborative conflict resolution.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with building contractors, engineers, home and business owners, other Town departments and the public.
Ability to enforce regulations tactfully, firmly and consistently.
Ability to effectively relay information to explain the rationale behind building regulations.
Ability to establish and maintain accurate and thorough records of work activities.
North Carolina Code Officials Qualifications Board certification at Level 3 in each of the trade areas (Building, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical).
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in building inspection, code enforcement, or construction.

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory experience or experience serving as a lead inspector.

Responsibilities

Examines site plans, blue prints, and other specifications to become familiar with specs for new construction or major repairs and to ensure construction plans are compliant with state building codes and local ordinances.
Inspects new and renovated building construction for compliance with building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes and for Town regulations; inspections may include both residential and larger commercial and/or industrial and multi-story buildings.
Provides guidance, interprets and makes final decisions with regards to code/compliance interpretations; consults with and advises contractors in interpreting and applying code regulations.
Supervises a permitting technician, oversees the permitting process and ensures the maintenance of records of inspections, plans, and other related documents; prepares necessary reports for the department.
Leads damage assessment after catastrophic events and evaluates properties for amount of damage and safety hazards; directs the disconnection of utilities at dwellings with hazards.
Handles citizen complaints about contractors, construction quality and other issues.
Participates in budget development and oversees purchasing for the inspections function; ensures proper maintenance and repair of vehicle and equipment.
Coordinates activities with other Town departments to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal ordinances and regulations pertaining to construction.
Notifies responsible parties of defects and re-inspects to determine if corrective actions have been taken; issues warnings and stop work orders if necessary; testifies in court, as needed.
Recommends judicial actions and may be required to testify in court against violators.
Keeps current on all code regulation revisions; maintains set of code books and code related material; reviews revisions and new codes regularly; and attends training to keep up-to-date on code changes and modern building methods.
Performs related duties as required.