Deputy Code Official

City of Charlottesville•Charlottesville (22902), VA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City's Deputy Code Official performs responsible administrative and complex technical work to enforce the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) as assigned by the Building Code Official. This includes residential and light commercial plan review, performing field inspections, and assisting the Code Official in the oversight, direction, planning, training, and coaching of building inspectors, permit issuance, plan reviewers, and enforcement activities. The role may directly supervise assigned staff. Work is performed under the supervision of and reports to the Building Code Official.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 3 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
OR Associate degree, technical/vocational degree, or some college-level coursework in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 4 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
OR High School diploma or GED AND at least 6 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.
OR An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability.
Within one year of start date, must obtain certification as a Building Official.
Within one year of start date, must obtain Combination Residential Inspector, Combination Commercial Inspector, and Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner in accordance with the VUSBC.
Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Thorough knowledge of building construction materials and methods.
Thorough knowledge of Virginia building codes, Charlottesville building and zoning codes, and related laws and ordinances.
Thorough knowledge of stages of construction, when violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected.
Thorough knowledge of poor workmanship, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and structurally unstable buildings.
Thorough knowledge of plan reading, performing inspections, electrical safety, elevators, fire protection, mechanical, plumbing, gas, and/or property maintenance.
Intermediate Reading: ability to read and understand building plans and written materials such as newspapers, magazines, multi-step instruction manuals, and building code materials.
Intermediate Writing: ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, prepare materials such as business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Writes inspection reports.
Intermediate Math: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurements. Applies systematic multi-factor analysis, trend analysis, and other forms of data analysis.
Advanced Communication Skill: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, officials, agencies, businesses, and the public. Prepares and presents technical written and oral reports. Examples include making recommendations regarding policy development and implementation. May involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction.
Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.
Advanced Technical Skill: high level skills and extensive knowledge of federal, state and local code; and approaches which affect the design and implementation of major projects and processes. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively. Reviews documents for professional, technical, and content errors, and may be called on to review and revise more complex documents, interpret, and analyze technical and statistical information.
Organizational and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
Frequent change of tasks.
Working closely with others as part of a team.
Tedious or exacting work.
Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Constant interruptions and requests for service.
May work a non-traditional work schedule.
May require additional hours outside of normal schedule.
May require emergency response.
May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individual.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Assists the Building Code Official in the administration, operations, and enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), including coordinating, planning, staffing, and ensuring quality control.
Reviews residential building plans (and some commercial plans), permit applications, and inspects buildings in the process of construction, alteration or repair for compliance with current building code requirements and for application of safe construction practices.
Reviews code modification requests.
Inspects existing buildings for hazardous conditions and structural failures after emergencies or accidents.
Issues warnings and stop-work orders when construction projects are found to be non-code complying.
Investigates building complaints regarding inspection activities and takes appropriate action, seeking conferral of the Building Code Official depending on the extent of the complaint.
Checks quality of materials and methods of construction per the city approved plans.
Issues certificates of occupancy and occupant loads as required.
Assists the Building Code Official in assigning and reviewing work, coaching, training, and motivating of staff.
Participates in and provides significant input and recommendation related to hiring, evaluating performance, and disciplinary action in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures.
May directly supervise assigned staff.
Ensures that subordinate staff have the proper resources needed to complete assigned work and provides technical expertise to staff.
Effectively responds to questions from citizens, contractors, and builders regarding code enforcement, construction complaints, violations, and future updates to the building codes.
Conducts housing code inspections as required.
Assists in the coordination and information dissemination for construction projects with interdepartmental or intergovernmental implications.
Provides recommendation to the Building Code Official on proposed changes to code and other regulatory items, assisting with implementation of any such changes.
Prepares a variety of reports, correspondence, and presentation for City Council, community meetings, City management, and others; and maintains proper records.
When necessary, attends and/or present information at meetings.
Testifies in court on code violation cases, when needed.
Operates a city vehicle in the performance of job duties.
Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
Serves as Acting Building Code Official during their absence.
Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Benefits

Health insurance with employer contribution
Employer-paid life insurance
Gym membership reimbursement
Tuition assistance
Professional development opportunities
Vacation Leave: 3.09 hours accrued bi-weekly (increases with YOS).
Sick Leave: 4.62 hours accrued bi-weekly, approx. 120 hours per year with no limit on accumulation.
13 Paid Observed City Holidays
1 Floating Holiday which must be taken during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30)
Choice of retirement plan: Defined Benefit Pension Plan or Defined Contribution 401a Plan
Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan