Deputy Chief Building Official

Deputy Chief Building Official

Employment Type: 0 - Full-time Regular

Pay Range: $94,704.00 - 145,607.00

Location: Castle Rock, CO

Overtime Exempt: Y

Elected Office / Department: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

This is a management position which oversees extremely complex and technical sections in the Building Services Division of the Public Works Department. Under the direction of the Chief Building Official, this position is jointly responsible for planning, organizing, and administering a comprehensive program to ensure that buildings, structures and construction within unincorporated areas of Douglas County comply with adopted codes, resolutions and applicable statutes. Incumbent must perform a full range of highly responsible and demanding technical, administrative and professional work in executing County, State and Federal requirements.

Due to the focus on achieving regulatory compliance, the Deputy Chief Building Official position demands superior judgment, expert technical knowledge, and analytical, negotiation, organizational, teaching and communication skills.

Generally, the hiring range is $94,704-$118,380 annually. Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

Douglas County offers an excellent comprehensive benefit package including but not limited to: Medical/Dental/Vision. For a more detailed overview please view the full Employee Benefit Guide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)

Although charged with managing the enforcement of Douglas County's adopted Codes and regulations, the incumbent must do so in accordance with the County's policy that emphasizes compliance assistance over punitive enforcement, using the latter as a last resort. Therefore, the incumbent must use all his/her knowledge, tact, resources and ingenuity to coach, educate and assist customers to achieve compliance with applicable County codes, resolutions, ordinances, policies, and State and Federal regulations. Further, the incumbent:

• Manages and directs technically skilled staff in the fields of Residential Access Permitting, Building Code administration, and Wildfire Mitigation.

• Coordinates and authorizes building permit issuance with plans examiners, site development administrators, zoning compliance officers and other departments, divisions and sections within the County.

• Analyzes and gives project specific recommendations at design review and pre-construction meetings with builders and developers to clarify the Building Services Division's processes and procedures.

• Manages, coordinates and facilitates public education and outreach efforts for the entire Building Services Division.

• Manages complaint resolution through direct customer contact. Oversees and effectively negotiates solutions for issues arising from customer complaints, building code administration, occupancy certificate process relative to access, wildfire mitigation; analyzes impacts and effectively negotiates final resolution.

• Manages oversees and conducts extremely complex and technical field inspections.

• Performs emergency investigations as requested by Fire Districts, and or D.C. Sheriff's Department.

• Assists in preparing and administering the Building Services Division budgets. Prepares reports and memos regarding divisional operations as requested. Compiles materials and assists in the preparation of reports, materials and publications.

• Collaborates with outside organizations on matters of joint interest.

• Acts as the Department liaison for the County with fire districts, Colorado State Forest Service, citizen groups and builders for the development and implementation of codes and regulations.

• Co-supervises inspection functions of all Douglas County construction projects with the Building Inspection Supervisors.

• Assists Chief Building Official with daily divisional functions.

• Assumes all responsibilities of the Chief Building Official in his/her absence.

• Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the plan review, building inspection, wildfire mitigation and administrative functions of the Division.

• Schedules and prepares material for and conducts regular staff meetings for the building inspection sections within the Building Services Division.

• Performs varying degrees of computer work utilizing software such as MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, POSSE and other proprietary programs.

• Authorizes issuance of Certificates of Occupancy, Notices of Violation and Stop Work orders.

• Oversees the use and maintenance of county vehicle fleet assigned to the Building Services Division.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general supervision of the Chief Building Official.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Manages, directs, and coordinates all aspects of field inspection staff, including Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Driveway Residential Access Permitting, Building Code Administration and Wildfire Mitigation inspections. Conducts regular full and trade-specific staff meetings. Conducts/monitors inspector education and cross-training. Mentors individual inspectors in the field to develop proper inspection procedures and maintain consistency among inspection staff. Exercises discretion over staff in regard to hiring, performance evaluations, performance issues, and separations.

INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT: Work is performed independently. Incumbent is given the responsibility to properly interpret and enforce County regulations and model codes through field inspection staff. These Codes are written to require a great deal of interpretation and individual judgment. Effective written and oral presentations must be tactful, prudent and ethical, which displays a professional discretion regarding the ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds of our constituents.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR: This is highly accountable work involving a variety of managerial duties. Improper judgment may result in death or injury to the public. Financial consequence of error can vary due to the size and complexity of the project; it may result in loss of time and a greater expenditure of County resources. Other consequences may include public outcry, negative media attention and significant problems for upper management and/or The Board of County Commissioners.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Generally, a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, public or public administration or a natural resource management related field. (Ten years field experience in construction, with a minimum of three years at a supervisory level, may be substituted for a bachelor's degree.)
• Five-years of building code enforcement including at least two years of supervisory experience
• A combination of education and experience may be considered for a well-qualified candidate.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Exceptional working knowledge of building and fire code administration, land-use planning, road construction and development theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies.

• Knowledge of terminology and practices of residential, commercial and industrial site construction, field civil engineering practices and survey methods.

• Knowledge of current and proposed future construction techniques.

• Knowledge of state and local laws and regulations effecting building and zoning code administration.

• Knowledge and skill to effectively manage the coordination of resources of the department to respond successfully to crisis and critical incidents.

• Knowledge of County and Departmental policies and procedures and the ability to develop new or adapt policies to meet the changing needs of the County and provide a high level of service delivery.

Skills:

• Communication skills, both verbal and written, in order to effectively communicate with and establish good working relationships with subordinates, coworkers, developers, consultants, contractors, public officials, citizens and other governmental or quasi-public entities.

• Ability to effectively present information to elected officials, department heads, developers, builders and the public. Superior technical writing and presentation skills.

• Ability to direct and manage multiple tasks. Ability to develop programs to carry out strategies that accomplish identified objectives.

Abilities:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret plans, maps, permits, plats, scientific and technical journals, governmental regulation, and legal documents.

• Ability to respond to inquiries, regulatory agencies, or citizens.

• Ability to apply mathematical formulas, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations, and utilize concepts such as probability and statistical inference.

• Ability to read legal descriptions and grading plans. Ability to read and interpret commercial and residential construction blueprints and specifications.

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data from diverse sources, establish facts, synthesize multiple, variable, and often conflicting interests, and draw valid conclusions; interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and deal with abstract and concrete variables.

• Ability to manage as well as delegate multiple tasks with strict deadlines, prioritize tasks, provide information and evaluate proposed solutions in a rational, logical, and timely manner.

• Ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing calmly and competently under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

• Ability to reduce complex planning and engineering theories, concepts, principles and methodologies to layman's terms and provide accurate information in a comprehensive, concise, and effective manner often under tense circumstances.

• Ability to effectively manage complex and controversial projects.

• Ability to effectively utilize technical and conceptual knowledge and skills to plan for the short and long-range goals of the County and implement techniques that will achieve those goals.

• Ability to make unrehearsed presentations in a variety of situations regarding building safety, zoning limitations and statutory requirements.

• Ability to make generalizations, judgements, and decisions consistent with the County's codes, goals and objectives.

• Ability to direct the daily operations of a section, in a subordinate manager's absence.

• Ability to professionally manage a large division in a fast-growing jurisdiction.

• Ability to explain the rationale of policies, rules and procedures to subordinates to ensure not only compliance, but to heighten awareness of potential problems that may exist without compliance from employees.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid certifications in at least two of the model codes.

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Physical Work Environment: Work is generally performed in a typical office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at the office and high at construction sites. The employee is often required to perform outdoor site and field inspection work and may be subject to all types of weather, including inclement weather, and storm events may be endured during the execution of the job tasks. Employee is "on call" 24 hours per day and is occasionally required to respond to emergency situations outside normal business hours. This position requires the incumbent to remain available via mobile cellular device / email access during and after normally scheduled business hours.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, use hands, fingers, handle, feel or operate objects, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

Material and Equipment Directly Used: Personal computer, word processing software, various other types of computer software, spreadsheets, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, various other office equipment, automobile and light trucks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Closing Date: 5/10/2024 5:59PM MST. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting may represent a modified summary of the full job description. For a full copy of the job description CLICK HERE to view our job classifications.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.