Building Official (Engineer IV)

King County•Seattle, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Local Services, Permitting Division, is recruiting a Building Official (Engineer IV) to provide supervision, technical leadership, and operational guidance. The position oversees specialized examination of building plans and supporting documentation, as well as field inspections of residential, commercial, and other structures to ensure compliance with applicable structural, life-safety, energy, mechanical, accessibility, and other county, state, and federal codes and regulations. The Building Official applies codes to complex, real-world situations, including ambiguous circumstances, and helps customers identify safe, compliant solutions. The role requires emotional intelligence, clear communication, and the ability to work effectively with a diverse customer base. The successful candidate will bring broad knowledge of the permitting process and combine technical expertise, operational judgment, customer service, and collaborative relationship-building to improve processes and resolve complex issues. The position supervises and supports inspection staff, provides technical leadership to plan review staff, makes field determinations on complex projects, and reviews discretionary permitting determinations. It also develops policies and training materials, represents King County in professional and interagency forums, and supports emergency and disaster response activities. The role is hybrid, with at least three days per week in the office. Employees must reside in Washington State within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite.

Requirements

Education or experience in building construction, architecture, engineering, construction management, or a closely related field.
Ability to supervise, coach, and support field-based building inspection staff while providing technical leadership to plan review staff.
Extensive experience interpreting and applying building codes, including structural, life-safety, energy, mechanical, accessibility, and related requirements, in complex real-world situations.
Broad, end-to-end knowledge of permitting processes, including plan review, inspections, discretionary determinations, and regulatory coordination.
Experience evaluating construction methods, materials, sequencing, and field conditions and determining compliance in varying or ambiguous circumstances.
Knowledge of site development and land use regulations, including earthwork, soils, erosion control, site infrastructure, and engineering fundamentals.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines and build strong working relationships.
Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts clearly to customers, colleagues, and stakeholders with varying levels of expertise.
Demonstrated experience working directly with customers to solve complex permitting challenges while maintaining compliance and life-safety standards.
Ability to prioritize a high volume of work, manage competing deadlines, and remain steady and solutions-oriented under pressure.
Experience presenting technical information to diverse audiences in multiple formats and settings.
Proficiency with standard business applications such as Microsoft Office and familiarity with electronic plan review and permitting systems.
International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Official (CBO) and WABO Accredited Code Official credentials; candidates who do not hold both must obtain them within 18 months of their start date.
Ability to work outside normal business hours and/or on weekends at times.
Must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of the King County worksite.

Nice To Haves

Additional ICC certifications, such as Building Inspector, Plans Examiner, or related specialties.
Experience as a jurisdiction building inspector and/or plans examiner.
Experience with electronic plan review systems, digital permitting systems, and technology-supported inspection workflows.
Demonstrated success leading teams through complex or ambiguous situations, including resolving multidisciplinary issues or coordinating across divisions.
Experience building strong customer relationships through collaborative problem-solving with builders, designers, engineers, and property owners.

Responsibilities

Supervise and support building inspection staff through day-to-day guidance, coaching, and performance oversight.
Provide technical leadership to plan review staff and promote consistent interpretation and application of building codes.
Interpret and apply building codes in complex or ambiguous real-world scenarios.
Resolve complex permitting and construction challenges by identifying safe, compliant solutions.
Respond to customer questions about code interpretation, construction feasibility, and permitting requirements with clear, accurate, and empathetic guidance.
Conduct site visits and make field determinations on complex or sensitive projects, identify unsafe conditions, determine next steps, and post properties when necessary.
Review and decide discretionary determinations, including permit extensions, temporary occupancy, sequential permitting, grading coordination, and Pre-Issuance Construction Authorizations.
Collaborate with engineering, fire, critical areas, planning, customer service, and other teams, divisions, and departments.
Develop and maintain policies, standard operating procedures, guidance documents, and training materials for building codes and permitting workflows.
Represent King County in interagency, regional, and statewide forums, including MyBuildingPermit.com partnerships and WABO committees.
Support emergency and disaster response, including rapid damage assessment, field deployment, and interdepartmental coordination.
Deliver and model exceptional customer service by helping customers navigate permitting processes and understand expectations.
Identify and champion process improvements that reduce confusion, increase consistency, and improve predictability for customers and staff.
Perform other duties as necessary.