Assistant Director of Building Safety (Building Official)

City of Mansfield, Texas Municipal Government • Full-time • Mansfield, Texas, United States • $116.85k - $139.10k / year • 16h ago

Starting Salary Range: $116,854.00 - $139,095.00

Starting salary will reflect qualifications, experience, demonstrated capabilities, and internal equity

The Assistant Director of Building Safety (Building Official) leads the City’s Building Safety Division, working to protect the safety of everyone who lives, works, and gathers in Mansfield. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development Services, this position is the City’s primary technical resource on construction codes, plan review, permit operations, inspections, and building code enforcement.

This role sets the standard for how the City shows up for developers, contractors, and residents navigating the permitting and inspection process. It takes someone who brings deep technical knowledge, genuine care for the community, and the ability to lead a team that people trust.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Division Leadership - Direct, assign, and evaluate the work of building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and general inspectors and administrative staff; set clear expectations, support staff development, and build a team known for technical competence and professional conduct.
Building Code Enforcement - Direct enforcement of all applicable building code provisions governing construction methods, materials, and requirements; oversee investigation of complaints and resolution of violations in a consistent, fair, and well-documented manner.
Safety and Code Compliance - Ensure all permitted construction activity meets applicable safety standards and building codes; direct staff to identify and respond to unsafe construction conditions, unpermitted work, and imminent hazards; coordinate with other City departments when construction safety issues affect the public.
Permitting Operations - Oversee plan review, permit issuance, fee collection, contractor registration, inspection records, notices, and orders; work directly with applicants and staff to resolve plan issues, approaching those conversations as a resource, not a barrier.
Technical Advisory and Code Maintenance - Provide technical support to the Zoning Board of Adjustments and the Construction Codes Board of Adjustments and Appeals; represent the Division in Development Review Committee meetings; evaluate and recommend code updates to City management and City Council.
City Facilities and Records - Assist in the review of design and construction for City facilities; maintain accurate records on inspections, permits, fees, and enforcement; prepare regular reports on division activity and performance.
Additional Duties - This role may require taking on responsibilities outside of those listed above as organizational needs evolve. Duties and priorities may shift at any time with or without notice.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Code and Regulatory Expertise - Thorough knowledge of building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical codes, ordinances, and construction safety standards; ability to interpret provisions, identify violations and unsafe conditions, ensure consistent enforcement across all trades, and recommend amendments to keep the City’s standards current.
Plan Review - Ability to read and evaluate building plans and specifications for compliance with applicable codes, zoning requirements, and City standards.
Leadership - Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a multi-discipline inspections team; experience managing performance, supporting growth, and maintaining accountability in a technical environment.
Customer Focus - Genuine commitment to serving developers, contractors, applicants, and residents well; ability to communicate technical requirements clearly, respond to concerns professionally, and represent the City in a way that builds confidence and trust.
Collaboration - Ability to work across departments, boards, and agencies to move projects forward; comfortable in multi-stakeholder environments where alignment matters as much as technical accuracy.
Continuous Improvement - Interest in keeping the division current in codes, processes, and technology; ability to identify what is not working and propose practical changes that improve outcomes for staff and the public.
Communication - Clear, direct written and verbal communication; able to translate technical requirements into plain language for applicants, elected officials, and the public without losing accuracy.
Organization - Ability to manage competing priorities in a high-volume environment while maintaining accuracy, follow-through, and responsiveness.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND LICENSING/CERTIFICATION

ICC Certified Building Official (CBO) designation required.
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field preferred. Extensive progressively responsible experience in municipal building code administration, plan review, inspections, or a closely related field may substitute for formal education.
Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License required.
Seven (7) or more years of experience in the enforcement of building codes, preferably for a municipality, with a minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience within a permitting and inspections department.
Plumbing Inspector’s License issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners preferred.
Additional ICC certifications in building inspection or plan review preferred.
Experience with permit management software and electronic plan review platforms preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a combination of office and field settings. Most administrative, supervisory, and advisory work happens in the office. Regular field visits to active construction sites, existing structures, and inspection locations are part of the job.

This position moves materials and field equipment weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally and up to 10 pounds frequently. The position accesses elevated areas, scaffolding, and confined spaces to conduct site reviews and staff oversight as essential functions of the role.

The employee moves about office and field locations, operates a motor vehicle, and communicates with staff, contractors, and the public in both office and field environments.

Field work includes exposure to extreme heat (above 100°F) and cold (below 32°F) for periods exceeding one hour, active construction noise, and atmospheric conditions including dust, fumes, odors, and poor ventilation.

Field oversight may involve proximity to moving equipment, vehicles, electrical current, scaffolding, chemicals, and high heat. Inspection of construction sites and evaluation of work quality are essential functions of this position. PPE is provided when in field environments.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

The City of Mansfield complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and it is our policy to ensure that no person is discriminated against based on their disability. The City of Mansfield offers equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals and strictly prohibits the discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. The City of Mansfield shall provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential job duties when doing so does not create an undue hardship for the city.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The City of Mansfield provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

The City of Mansfield is mandated by federal law to provide a drug-free working environment for the safety of its employees and the public. All employment is contingent upon passing a post-offer employment drug test and/or physical.