Deputy Department Director - Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement

Salary: $108,672.00 - $181,479.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 05M00000032
Department: Planning and Development Review
Opening Date: 06/02/2026
Closing Date: 6/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity... YOU !!!


This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• T uition Assistance Program

Description
Supervisory-level position, with a high level of independence, judgement, and discretion; responsible for development and implementation of policies, programs, and regulations across City agencies regarding compliance and enforcement of the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and International Property Maintenance Code to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Individuals in this position class provide strategic leadership to ensure goals, policies, and performance expectations of the Mayor and City Council are achieved in an effective and efficient manner. The incumbent oversees approximately thirty-five (35) employees within the Division of Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement within the Department of Planning and Development Review, reports directly to the department Director, and may be assigned to serve as Director in his/her absence.
This is an at-will UNCLASSIFIED position and serves at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. This position may be required to work evenings and weekends.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Researching, directing, and managing initiatives, regulations, programs, and related agency and interdepartmental policies related to the Uniform Statewide Building Code and International Property Maintenance Code, as adopted by City Ordinance
• Making interpretive decisions on behalf of the organization regarding the means for executing the goals established by City policy
• Formulate and recommend strategies for solving complex issues
• Provide leadership and vision for team of employees with diverse education and experience
• Supervise management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff
• Conduct performance evaluations, coordinate training, and implement hiring, discipline, and termination procedures
• Establish and administer standard operating procedures with regards to inspection, documentation, data management, abatement, demolition, and related enforcement activities including, but not limited to, unsafe structures, nuisance and environmental violations, unlawful vegetation, and unlawful vehicles.
• Review plans, permits, and projects for compliance with codes, ordinances, and other regulations; serve as a primary point of contact for applicants
• Establish sequences and timelines for complex abatement and corrective projects
• Ensure compliance with deadlines and other performance measures
• Prepare for, organize, and attend various meetings with internal and external stakeholders
• Network, communicate, and meet with attorneys, consultants, executives, municipal representatives, community boards, and professional associations.
• Meet with property owners, attorneys, architects, and other organizations to coordinate inspections and referrals
• Interpret and explain codes, rules, and regulations
• Prepare, use, and serve court summons, subpoenas, and administrative appeals
• Process liens
• Research ownership data through legal documentation
• Draft, implement, review, and respond to various documents, ordinances, and emails.

SUPERVISION

• Exercised: typically supervises other employees, including managers and supervisors
• Received: typically reports to a Department Director or other executive
• Note: other reporting relationships may apply, including development review tasks assigned to individuals outside of the Department

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE:

• Advanced knowledge of the Uniform Statewide Building Code, International Property Maintenance Code, and code enforcement activities, including unsafe structures, nuisance and environmental violations, unlawful vegetation, and unlawful vehicles.
• Advanced knowledge of management practices, human behavior and performance, and organizational culture.
• Advanced knowledge of policy development and implementation and legislative processes.
• Advanced knowledge of inspection and land use management software (e.g. EnerGov), and the Microsoft Office suite.
• Intermediate knowledge of state and local land use laws and zoning codes. Basic knowledge of principles, methods, and practices of land use planning, zoning, urban design, and landscape architecture, and how they affect each other. Basic knowledge of principles, methods, and practices of land use planning, zoning, urban design, and landscape architecture, and how they affect each other.

SKILLS:

• Researching, directing, and managing initiatives, regulations, programs, and related agency and interdepartmental policies related to the Uniform Statewide Building Code and International Property Maintenance Code.
• Experience making interpretive decisions on behalf of the organization regarding the means for executing the goals established by City policy
• Formulate and recommend strategies for solving complex issues.
• Providing leadership and vision for team of employees with diverse education and experience
• Supervising management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff
• Conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
• Establishing and administering standard operating procedures with regards to inspection, documentation, data management, abatement, demolition, and related enforcement activities including, but not limited to, unsafe structures, nuisance and environmental violations, unlawful vegetation, and unlawful vehicles.
• Reviewing plans, permits, and projects for compliance with codes, ordinances, and other regulations
• Serving as a primary point of contact for applicants
• Establishing sequences and timelines for complex abatement and corrective projects
• Ensuring compliance with deadlines and other performance measures.
• Preparing for, organizing, and attending various meetings with internal and external stakeholders
• Networking, communicating, and meeting with attorneys, consultants, executives, municipal representatives, community boards, and professional associations.
• Meeting with property owners, attorneys, architects, and other organizations to coordinate inspections and referrals
• Interpret and explain codes, rules, and regulations.
• Preparing, using, and serving court summons, subpoenas, and administrative appeals; processing liens; researching ownership data through legal documentation.
• Drafting, implementing, reviewing, and responding to various documents, ordinances, and emails.

ABILITIES:

• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes, large and diverse political environment and adapt and improvise as conditions change.
• Think critically, using logic and reason to identify solutions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both in writing and speech.
• Facilitate discussion and debate and exhibit excellent interpersonal communication to resolve conflicts.
• Maintain composure in stressful situations.
• Provide superior customer service and manage unhappy clients.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in public administration or field directly related to assignment
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience
• Property Maintenance Official Certification is required upon hire
• Property Maintenance Inspector Certification is required upon hire
• Certified Building Official (CBO) Certification is required within 12-months of hire
• Some departments may prefer a Master's Degree in a field directly related to the assignment
• Some positions may have additional specialized requirements
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Twelve (12) or more years of progressively responsible related experience in building and/or property maintenance code administration and enforcement
• Six (6) or more significant management and supervisory experience in property maintenance code administration and enforcement
• Experience working for local government in a socioeconomically diverse urban environment

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond 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.


The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, HR Division Chief by email at


This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company .

The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.
With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".


The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.
01


10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

02


5-point veteran's must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following:Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in public administration or field directly related to property maintenance and code enforcement?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have at least eight years of progressively responsible related experience?

• Yes
• No

05


How many years of experience do you have working directly in property maintenance and code enforcement?

• Less than eight years of experience
• Eight to twelve years of experience
• Twelve to sixteen years of experience
• Sixteen or more years of experience

06


How many years of experience do you have supervising employees?

• Less than two years of experience
• Two to six years of experience
• Six to ten years of experience
• Ten or more years of experience

07


How many years of experience do you have researching, directing, and managing initiatives, regulations, programs, and related agency, and interdepartmental policies?

• Less than two years of experience
• Two to six years of experience
• Six to ten years of experience
• Ten or more years of experience

08


How many years of experience do you have working for local government in a socioeconomically diverse urban environment?

• Less than two years of experience
• Two to six years of experience
• Six to ten years of experience
• Ten or more years of experience

09


What best describes your knowledge of the Uniform Statewide Building Code, International Property Maintenance Code?

• no knowledge
• basic knowledge
• intermediate knowledge
• advanced knowledge

10


What best describes your knowledge of management practices, human behavior and performance, and organizational culture?

• No knowledge
• Basic knowledge
• Intermediate knowledge
• Advanced knowledge

11


Do you have a current certification as a Property Maintenance Official?

• Yes
• No

12


What best describes your skill level for preparing, using, and serving court summons, subpoenas, and administrative appeals?

• No skills
• Basic skills
• Intermediate skills
• Advanced skills

13


What best describes your skill level for preparing, using, and serving court summons, subpoenas, and administrative appeals?

• No skills
• Basic skills
• Intermediate skills
• Advanced skills

14


What best describes your skill level for preparing, using, and serving court summons, subpoenas, and administrative appeals?

• No skills
• Basic skills
• Intermediate skills
• Advanced skills

15


What best describes your ability to facilitate discussion and debate, and resolve conflicts?

• No ability
• Basic ability
• Intermediate ability
• Advanced ability

16


Why do you want to work for the City of Richmond?
17


Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Required Question