Chief Building Official

Town of Vail

Listing Expires on 11/28/2016

Department: Community Development  

Division:   Bldg. Safety & Inspection Services

Reports to: Community Development Director 

Position Purpose:

As manager of the Building Safety & inspection Services Division, the chief building official is responsible and accountable for the smooth and efficient functioning of the division in administering the town’s adopted building codes and in serving the public by promoting and ensuring building safety.

Essential Job Duties:

  1. Provides sustained leadership and management direction to the team.
  2. Responsible for coordination of the building permit review process.
  3. Performs commercial and residential plan reviews to ensure that drawings for new building construction comply with building codes adopted by the town.
  4. Coordinates the inspection process and performs building, mechanical and plumbing inspections of commercial and residential building construction for compliance with building codes adopted by the town.
  5. Coordinates the staffing of the public information counter and assists the public at the counter and on the phone as necessary to provide the public with information and facilitate the permit review and inspection processes.
  6. Assists the department director and other team managers in coordinating the functions of the department, preparing the annual budget and other management team functions.
  7. Is responsible for complying with all Town of Vail safety and health policies, practices, and procedures that prevent and mitigate human economic losses arising from accidental causes and adverse occupational and environmental health exposures.

Challenges:

  • Facilitate the continued development of a highly motivated, highly effective, cross-trained team that not only functions well as a team, but also promotes and fosters teamwork within the department, within town government and with all participants in the building construction and building management industries.
  • Maximize the efficiency of staff in providing for building safety and high standards of public service while still maintaining an equitable balance between staffing levels, work loads, fee revenues and building code administration expenditures.
  • Take advantage of every available opportunity to promote the public¢s knowledge, understanding and acceptance of building safety concepts and building codes.

Direction and Decision Making:

  • Provides work direction to and conducts annual performance evaluations with the staff of the division.
  • Receives direction from the Community Development Director.
  • Is responsible for making final administrative decisions on interpretations regarding adopted building code requirements as they relate to the intent and performance objectives of the codes and the design and construction of buildings. This requires a high level of technical analysis and independent decision making based upon the specific circumstances involved in various situations.

Relationships:

  • Internally, promotes and facilitates daily coordination and cooperation within the team and with the rest of the Community Development Department, Fire, Public Works and Police departments and other town staff as necessary for effective functioning of the team.
  • Externally, promotes and facilitates working directly with architects, contractors, engineers, property owners and utility providers to answer questions regarding the town’s building codes and procedures and to effectively manage and coordinate review and inspection functions with the entire building design and construction industry.

Knowledge and Experience:

  • Bachelor¢s degree in architecture, construction management, engineering or a closely related field and a minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in building code administration, or an approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Holds and maintains three (3) or more certifications from the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and is certified as a building official by the Council of American Building Officials (CABO).
  • Thorough working knowledge of construction techniques and TOV codes and regulations and their intent and building performance objectives as they apply to building construction.
  • Thorough knowledge of the development review, building permit and building plan review processes and procedures and the SIERRA (or other) automated permit system.
  • Individual should also have excellent interpersonal skills, be a team player, have a strong customer service orientation, and be creative, innovative and computer literate.

Job Environment:

  • Travels to inspection sites in all weather conditions.
  • Exposure to noise from construction equipment, to fumes from paint, and to dust from various construction activities.
  • Works extensively with computers, desk phones, cellular phones, 2-way radios and calculators. Also utilizes computer aided drafting (CAD), copy machines, printers, fax machines, blueprint machines and filing systems.

Performance Measures:

  • Successful completion of probationary period.
  • Annual performance review, with at least quarterly progress checks with supervisor.
  • Building permit application, review & inspection process flows smoothly, meeting turnaround time goals and maintaining a high level of cooperation and coordination with all involved in the building design and construction process.
  • Holds and maintains 3 or more International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) certifications in nationally recognized building codes adopted by the town, including the renewal of existing certifications every three (3) years. Obtains ICBO certification in Building Code Accessibility/Usability within one year of hiring date.
  • Actively participates in professional organizations directly related to building code administration, and, through professional development activities and contacts, is thoroughly familiar with state of the art concepts and practical techniques in building code administration and construction technology.

To apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Vail’s Community Development Director GRuther@vailgov.com.