Building Official

The City of Arcata

Building Official

 

About the City

 

The City of Arcata is located on the Northern California coast, approximately 275 miles north of San Francisco and 110 miles south of the Oregon border, in Humboldt County.  As of 2010, Arcata’s population was 17,231. The City is framed by the Pacific Ocean on the west, forested hills on the east, the Mad River on the North, and Humboldt Bay to the south. At the center of Arcata is the Plaza, surrounded by various local businesses, such as bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants.

 

Arcata’s mild climate, good air quality, beautiful scenery, and wealth of outdoor activities and recreation including fishing, hiking, surfing and river rafting, make it a desirable place to live and raise a family. As home to Humboldt State University, and College of the Redwoods just 30 minutes away, it allows easy access to higher education and cultural opportunities.

 

The City of Arcata is an equal opportunity employer encouraging workforce diversity. 

 

About the Opportunity

 

The Building Official’s primary duty is to support the development community through knowledge of the Building Code and City ordinances. The position will have supervision over one Building Inspector and report to the City Engineer. The Building Official will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Building Division. Additionally, the Building Official will provide highly technical knowledge and professional assistance in Building matters related to the protection of the health and safety of its community by ensuring building, construction, and remodeling activities meet appropriate codes, standards and City ordinances. The incumbent is expected to exercise initiative in ensuring building codes used by the City meet current legal and professional guidelines. 

 

Additionally, some of the bigger projects that the City currently has underway are:

 

• Implementation of a new building and development permit and code enforcement process and software.

 

• Continued review and recommendation of adjustments to building department fees, programs and services to achieve less dependency on the general fund and be at least an 85% self-support program.

 

• Continued involvement of the position and the Division in coordinating the existing commercial cannabis activity permit (CCAP)  () process, including building permit requirements in those instances where CCAP applicants are proposing remodeling or construction changes   to the property or space in which the CCAP is being issued.

 

About the Responsibilities

The Building Official will be responsible for permit processing, plan checking, building permit plan review, building inspection, and building code compliance.

The responsibilities of the Building Official also include:

• Recommends and implements programs, procedures, and practices for providing effective and efficient plan examination and building inspection services; reviews plans submitted for building permits; determines when plans are to be sent out to be reviewed by the City’s contract plans examiner(s); determines and calculates permit values and costs; issues and processes building permits.

 

• Confers and coordinates Land Use and Building enforcement activities with legal, police, fire and other necessary authorities regarding building, fire, life safety and other code interpretations and applications; inspects substandard buildings, gaining right-of-entry into unsafe, dangerous or hazardous structures; and obtains inspection warrants if right-of entry is refused; testifies in court as required.

 

• Assigns, directs, and reviews the work of assigned personnel, including providing training, feedback, and direction, motivating employees, and conducting performance evaluations and disciplinary actions.

 

• Acts as Staff to assigned Committees and Commissions; serves as liaison between assigned Committees/Commissions and City, including attending meetings, and preparing and presenting reports and recommendations.

 

 Education & Experience Requirements

 

• Possess a valid California Driver's License.

 

• Possess, or obtain within twelve (12) months of date of hire, a Building Official certification issued by CABO (Council of American Building Officials) or ICC (International Code Council).

 

• Possess ICC Building Inspector or Combination Inspector certification (may be required to obtain Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector and/or Mechanical Inspector certification).

 

• College coursework in structural, mechanical, civil engineering, architecture, or related field; and at least four (4) years progressively responsible experience as a Plans Examiner or

 

• Building Inspector working under the direction of a Building Official, or related experience, and some supervisory experience, preferred.

 

The Ideal Candidate

 

• Demonstrates a responsive, service-minded, and open communication style with the local building community and residents.

 

• Possesses the experience and confidence to lead the Building Division with a sense of autonomy, but with the greater goals of the City in mind; and the skills and resolve to provide clear vision and effectively manage Division goals.

 

 

• Uses tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.

 

• Manages resources responsibly and creatively, including budget, to maximize the effectiveness of the City.

 

Compensation

 

The salary range is $64,338.58 to $78,203.95 annually.

 

To apply for this opportunity, please visit Koff & Associates’ website and complete an online application. As an alternative, you can mail the completed application materials to this address:

 

Koff & Associates

2835 7th Street

Berkeley, CA 94710

 

The information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.