DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for reviewing building plans for compliance with applicable codes and regulations and the issuance of building permits; ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; performs the more technical and complex tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility; and serves as acting Building Official in the absence of the Building Official.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for plan checking residential, commercial, and industrial building plans and drawings for conformance with applicable state and local codes and regulations.
• Assumes responsibility for the Building Division’s public counter activities, permit tracking program, and issuance of building permits; maintains quality control for the automated permit tracking system.
• Establishes schedules and methods for providing plan checking and permit issuance services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly.
• Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; interprets, reviews, and evaluates plan review and permit issuance policies and procedures in response to changes in building codes and local ordinances; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Participates in the selection of assigned staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of the assigned program budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
• Oversees and participates in the maintenance of records concerning assigned operations and programs; prepares reports on operations and activities.
• Performs the more technical and complex tasks of the work unit including plan reviews on the more complex and sensitive projects; determines project valuation and related building and development fees; processes and issues building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits; assists plans examiner with rechecking of plans to allow for faster turn around of projects.
• As necessary, provides assistance to building inspectors in the performance of structural and non-structural field inspections on special projects.
• Responds to questions from and provides assistance to the public, developers, contractors, owners, and design professionals regarding building regulations, permit requirements, and application of state and local codes; provides problem solving direction to customers to allow code compliance; prepares guidelines, handouts, forms, and procedures for public use.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other City departments and outside agencies in order to coordinate project compliance necessary for conditions of approval.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of plan checking; incorporates new developments as appropriate into programs.
• Serves as acting Building Official in the absence of the Building Official.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a plan checking and permit issuance program.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of buildings and structures.
• Principles, methods, and practices of structural and civil engineering.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding structural and civil engineering.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local rules, regulations, and ordinances including applicable state laws, ordinances, and codes related to structural design and construction.
• General legal procedures related to building code enforcement.
• Administrative regulations, adjudications and opinions relating to building inspection activities and enforcement activities.
• Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct plan checking and permit issuance programs.
• Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in plan checking and permit issuance services and activities.
• Select, train, and evaluate staff.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for providing assigned services and activities.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.

• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Recommend alternative solutions to design and construction problems.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Make engineering computations and analysis to check building construction computations.
• Review and analyze plans and detect code violations.
• Maintain excellent public relations.
• Attend meetings at various locations.
• Make difficult interpretations of the codes and resolve problems related to building code enforcement.
• Prepare clear and comprehensive reports.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, and other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work in building inspection, structural engineering, civil engineering, or a related field.

Experience: Five years of responsible experience in the review of building construction plans including one year of lead supervisory or project management responsibility.

License or Certificate - Possession of an appropriate, valid California driver’s license. Possession of certification as a Plans Examiner issued by the International Code Council (ICC).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Indoor and outdoor environments; travel from site to site; incumbents may be exposed to noise, dust, inclement weather conditions, and potentially hostile environments; work at heights and in confined areas. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office and field settings and operate equipment and vehicles; works from ladders and walks on uneven terrain, loose soil, and sloped surfaces; FREQUENT walking, sitting, standing; upward and downward flexion of neck; side-to-side turning of neck; fine finger dexterity; light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils; moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, and reaching above and at shoulder height; moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Revised: July 2012
JP/Department

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates