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 including residential and light commercial plan review, performing field inspections, and assisting the Code Official in the oversight, training, and coaching of building inspectors, permit issuance, and plan reviewers; may directly supervise assigned staff. Work is performed under the supervision of and reports to the Building Code Official.
To learn more about the Charlottesville Department of Neighborhood Development Services, please visit: https://www.charlottesville.gov/261/Neighborhood-Development-Services
The preferred hiring range for this position is between $35.49 - $46.50 ($73,819.20 - $96,720.00 Annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.
- For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
- The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system which offers both a defined benefit and a defined contribution option. While the City does not participate in VRS, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
- 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/or makes recommendations 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.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties
- Serves as Acting Building Code Official during their absence.
- Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.
Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
- 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. (13VAC5-63-50, Code of Virginia)
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Supervisory experience.
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
- 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.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics
Job Knowledge
- 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.
Reading
- Intermediate: ability to read and understand building plans and written materials such as newspapers, magazines, multi-step instruction manuals, and building code materials.
Writing
- Intermediate: 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.
Math
- Intermediate: 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.
Communication Skill
- Advanced: 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.
Independence and Decision-Making
- 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
Technical Skill
- Advanced: 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
Fiscal Responsibilities
- Assists in monitoring assigned budget line expenditures and may make recommendations to the Building Code Official. May prepare and/or process purchasing documents and payments as needed.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Normally serves as a lead worker; guiding, training, instructing, assigning and/or reviewing work of others. Assists the Building Code Official in the administration, operations, work product, and supervision. Participates and/or make recommendations on hiring, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions. May directly supervise assigned staff.
Other Characteristics:
- Organizational and time managements 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.
Physical Demands:
- Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
- Field work requires traversing interior and exterior of buildings and structures including uneven terrain and obstructions. May include climbing, reaching, stooping, crawling, crouching, and balancing.
- Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Occasionally moves about inside the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
- Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:
- Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.
- Utilizes construction tools and equipment necessary for inspections.
Work Environment:
- A combination of on-site inspections and standard office environment. Ability to climb, crawl and access various areas within or around buildings, properties and construction sites or during emergencies and in all weather conditions.
- Work requires visiting construction sites and exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme brightness or darkness, chemicals/hazardous waste, gases, electrical hazards, fumes/airborne particles. May encounter exposure to inclement weather, wet or humid conditions, uneven terrain, noise, fumes, dusts and pollen, animals/wildlife, and traffic.
- When performing work in an office environment there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
- Noise level varies from moderate to loud depending on the work site.