Chief Housing Inspector

City of Raleigh North Carolina•Raleigh, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Raleigh’s Chief Housing Inspector provides strategic leadership for the Code Enforcement Division, directing a team of professionals responsible for enforcing housing, building, public nuisance, vehicle, electrical, and related codes across the City. This role combines technical expertise, people leadership, regulatory interpretation, and community impact. Working directly with property owners, tenants, developers, government agencies, and community stakeholders, the Chief helps resolve complex compliance issues and guides parties toward practical solutions that protect public health, safety, and welfare. The position also plays a critical role in high-impact enforcement actions, reviewing cases for legal sufficiency and coordinating civil citations, legal referrals, abatements, administrative warrants, and matters requiring City Council action. Through on-site plan reviews, interpretation of engineered drawings, and collaboration with internal and external partners, this employee ensures that Raleigh’s buildings and properties meet established standards while supporting a safe, vibrant, and thriving community.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D.; 7 to 9 years’ experience in code enforcement, building inspection, or related work; OR Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted
Level I NC Certification in all four of the following: Plumbing Inspection, Mechanical Inspection, Electrical Inspection, Building Inspector
Valid NC Driver's License (Class C) or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
Knowledge Of: Standard practices, methods and materials of assigned work
Knowledge Of: Principles and practices of conflict resolution
Knowledge Of: Filing and record-keeping principles
Knowledge Of: Occupational hazards and applicable safety principles and practices
Knowledge Of: Uses and properties of supplies and equipment
Knowledge Of: Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment)
Knowledge Of: Customer service principles
Knowledge Of: Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment
Knowledge Of: Modern office technology
Knowledge Of: Business math concepts
Skill In: Performing inspections to review compliance with applicable codes, ordinances and requirements
Skill In: Providing training and technical advice related to multi-trade code issues
Skill In: Preparing basic reports and documents
Skill In: Performing basic research, compiling and assembling data
Skill In: Providing directions to others in order to meet standards
Skill In: Providing attention to detail in assignments
Skill In: Proofreading and error correction
Skill In: Business math computations
Skill In: Organizing and maintaining records and files
Skill In: Organizing tasks, meeting deadlines and prioritizing competing demands
Skill In: Maintaining and updating data and documentation
Skill In: Comprehending reference books and manuals
Skill In: Operating assigned tools and equipment
Skill In: Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment)
Skill In: Providing customer service
Skill In: Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications
Skill In: Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Responsibilities

Supervises, manages, and evaluates assigned employees and makes decisions about hiring, discipline and/or termination of employees
Prioritizes and assigns work, develops and oversees employee work schedules and approves time away from work
Provides and/or facilitates employee training and development
Addresses employee concerns or problems and counsels and disciplines as appropriate
Completes employee performance appraisals, determines or makes recommendations regarding new hire salaries and salary changes, and acts as liaison between employees and management
Performs a wide variety of code compliance, inspection and research functions
Provides guidance and interpretation relative to the City’s Housing Code, Nonresidential Building or Structure Code, Public Nuisance and Vehicle Codes
Provides interpretation of the North Carolina State Building Codes (Building Plumbing and Mechanical) and National Electrical Code (NEC)
Provides assistance with the review and interpretation of site plans and engineered drawings
Assists homeowners and contractors to achieve code compliance with expired permits through research and site inspections
Confers with property owners, tenants, property managers and other public officials in regard to specific code violations, possible remedies and time limitations, along with providing information relative to code compliance and standards
Coordinates meetings with contractors and matrix groups for demolition permits around the City
Investigates Council and citizen complaints related to code compliance and routes to the appropriate division if necessary
Issues "Stop Work" orders when needed and follows up with inspections
Assists in solving code related problems, during both plan review and construction stages
Collaborates with IT on identifying broken automations and testing fixes from the software developer
Creates software module to track "Stop Work" orders
Serves as liaison between field staff and IT on permit related issues
Performs related work as required