Assistant Building Official

Department: Community Development
Union Affiliation: None
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Total Hours Per Week: 40

Recruitment Open Until Filled.

SUMMARY

Assists the Building Official in the direction and supervision of the Building Codes Division of the Department of Community Development; provides plans review, compliance with applicable mechanical, structural, plumbing, electrical, and specialty codes required of new construction, and alteration/repairs of existing structures. 

Work includes planning, organizing, and achieving the goals and objectives of the building office and coordinating them with the overall purpose of the department of planning and development. 

Work closely with the Planning, Sanitation, and Short-Term Rentals Divisions to ensure development is in compliance with the county’s development codes and ordinances. The role includes considerable contact with private citizens, building contractors, and officials of state and local government agencies to assure compliance with the Oregon Uniform Building Code and related regulations.

(Duties assigned to this position are not all inclusive. Additional duties may be assigned.)

• Assists the Building Official in the supervision of Building Inspectors and administrative support personnel. Plans, organizes, prioritizes, assigns, and reviews the work of staff involved in building construction inspection and codes enforcement. Establishes work goals and project plans.

• Directly supervises permit technician staff. Review work of staff; evaluate performance; effectively recommend promotions, transfers, new hires, or terminations.

• Reviews blueprints, plans, and sketches submitted with permit applications; determines code conformance and reviews cost estimates; lists and explains discrepancies and deficiencies of plans to contractors and the public; approves plans after corrections and issues building permits.

• Schedule and conduct on-site inspections on new and remodeled residential and commercial building construction and repairs for conformance to County structural and applicable codes; verifies construction is according to approved plans; checks site locations for proper set-backs; inspect, as certified, plumbing, heating, cooling, structural and mechanical systems for compliance with building code regulations and safety requirements.

• Conducts final inspection of completed work; gives official approval to acceptable structures and installations and reject unacceptable work.

• Respond to inquiries and complaints regarding the application and interpretation of building codes; provide information and advice to contractors, builders, and the general public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.

• Maintain appropriate building inspection records and compile reports of plan review activities; prepare a variety of correspondence to other agencies and the public; prepare special reports and periodic reports as requested by the Building Official.

• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare revenue and cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for requests; monitor revenues; monitor and control expenditures. 

• Follow all safety rules and procedures established for work areas. Maintain work areas in clean, orderly manner.

• Provide expert testimony in court regarding State Building Code when needed.

• Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES 

Knowledge:

• Residential, industrial, and commercial building construction methods, practices, and techniques. 
• Inspection practices and procedures. 
• Structural engineering and design to determine conformance with the appropriate codes.
• Advanced knowledge in plan review, inspection, and code enforcement procedures. 
• Permitting process in relation to building, plumbing, mechanical, energy, and fire codes.
• Oregon Specialty Codes, and City and County ordinances that govern building, plumbing and mechanical inspection. 

 Skills:

• Conducting structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical inspections.
• Communicating orally and in writing.
• Time management.
• Interacting with the public and others in a courteous and tactful manner.

 Abilities: 

• Supervise and direct others to attain high-quality work in an efficient manner. 
• Develop work unit plans, budgets, and schedules. 
• Explain code requirements to the general public, employees, boards/commissions, and professionals engaged in the construction industry. 
• Read and understand laws, ordinances, blueprints, and construction plans.
• Read and interpret engineering and architectural plans, blueprints, and specifications.
• Inspect materials, construction and installation of structures, plumbing installations, and mechanical systems. 
• Document findings and requirements and communicate the same to contractors and property owners. 
• Communicate effectively with other employees, builders, architects, engineers, public agencies, contractors, vendors, and the public. 
• Make decisions in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, other county employees, representatives of State agencies, building contractors, and the public.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Five years of progressively responsible work experience in building inspection, code administration or enforcement, or construction, which includes two years as a Building Inspector/Plans Examiner with supervisory experience, or any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential function of the position.

Required: 

• Possession of ICC Building Official certification or successful completion of ICC legal/management module before hire and/or completes a Building Official Orientation class administered by The State of Oregon within twelve months of hire; OR Possesses a valid Oregon Building Official Certification and completes a Building Official Orientation class administered by The State of Oregon within twelve months of hire; OR Completes The State of Oregon administered Building Official Certification class within twelve months of hire.
• Oregon Inspector Certification (OIC) will be a requirement of the position within the first six months of hire. (NOTE to out-of-state applicants: The State of Oregon provides classes to obtain this certification)
• Hold and maintain the following ICC Certifications (equivalent Oregon certifications will also be recognized): Building Inspector, Building Plans Examiner, Residential Building Inspector, Residential Mechanical Inspector within a year of hire.

Preferred: 

• Oregon Specialized Plumbing Inspector (SPI) and/or Oregon Specialized Electrical Inspector (SEI). Oregon A-level Electrical or Plumbing certification.
• Oregon one- and two-Family Dwelling Electrical Inspector.
• ICC or industry-specific electrical or plumbing certifications without state experience also desirable.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Work is performed under the general direction of the Building Official. Discretion is required in applying and developing general goals and policies and resolving organizational and service delivery problems. Work is reviewed for overall conformance with department goals and objectives as determined by the Building Official.

The employee uses seasoned judgment in choosing and interpreting the numerous guidelines that control the work. As an Assistant Building Official, the incumbent has the authority to permit deviations as approved from codes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed both in the office and in the field. Physical demands for the position while in the office are minimal; however, this position will require vision, hearing voice conversations, and keyboarding. Field inspection work requires walking through, climbing over, and crawling under structures; occasional lifting up to 30 pounds and exertion for short periods; sometimes walking or standing for long periods; and daily travel by motor vehicles to make inspections throughout Tillamook County. A majority of the work involves work in the outdoors with exposure to all weather conditions and terrains and potentially hazardous job sites.

Following the closing date of this recruitment, if you are selected as a candidate for testing and/or an interview, we will contact you via email to arrange a date and time. We want to ensure that we hire the best possible staff for our county team because we believe that the right people are our most valuable asset!

Salary : $80,364 - $109,992