Chief Building Official

Building Division Manager

Under general direction of the Assistant City Manager, plans, organizes, directs, and reviews the activities of the Building Division including plan review and building inspection, as well as serving as the municipality's Floodplain Manager.

Essential Functions

• Directs, supervises, and evaluates overall building activities of the City of Kingsport;
• Ensures all construction and occupancy activity meets applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations;
• Focuses on integrating all development services in a manner that results in an exceptional experience for customers;
• Manages and supervises inspection of all construction and remodeling projects to ensure compliance with building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical codes, and ordinances;
• Responds to the most complex and difficult inquiries and requests for information;
• Provides information and resolves services issues or complaints;
• Identifies and establishes goals, objectives, and schedules;
• Assists in development of annual operational and budgetary plans;
• Manages and supervises subordinate personnel for adherence with established goals, objectives, and standards;
• Inspects plans and specifications for compliance prior to issuance of appropriate permit(s);
• Works cooperatively with other city department personnel, architects and contractors for building code interpretations;
• Represents City of Kingsport in court proceedings regarding enforcement of laws, codes and ordinances;
• Serves as a technical resource;
• Coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies;
• Provides highly responsible and complex administrative support;
• Prepares and presents a variety of reports of activities to the board;
• Performs on-site inspections of construction projects as follow up of requests and/or complaints regarding procedures/methods and compliance with terms/conditions of permit;
  • Confers with public for enforcement of nuisance ordinances for maintenance of overall city appearance;
  • Issues Building Permits Upon Plan Approvals;
  • Approves and Signs all Certificates of Occupancy/Completion;
  • Prepares building code violation cases for code enforcement action and litigation; and
  • Performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Mastery building, plumbing, mechanical, gas, housing, electrical and handicap adopted codes and ordinances;
• Knowledge of City of Kingsport zoning ordinances;
• Knowledge of the principles and theories of community development;
• Knowledge of general management principles and practices, including budgeting, policy/procedure development and personnel supervision/management;
• Skill in planning, organizing, and managing through subordinate staff;
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with contractors, City of Kingsport officials, other state and federal agencies/officials, and the public;
• Skill in reviewing a variety of projects to determine if they comply with the City's short and long term community goals and objectives as well as in accordance with applicable building and zoning ordinances;
• Skill in interpreting complex laws, ordinances, and codes;
• Skill in preparing and presenting complex reports/information to persons of varying understanding and priorities;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to use tact, initiative, and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines;
• Skill in working effectively in an environment subject to frequent interruptions, changing priorities and exposure to varying environmental conditions during field inspection of in-process construction projects.

Education and Experience

High school graduate or high school equivalent; plus, experience equivalent to ten years full time work in building inspection, engineering or closely related area with supervisory/managerial responsibilities for two of those years; Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or closely related area may substitute for two years required experience (except managerial experience); Valid TN/ VA Driver's License; and Certification by the State of Tennessee in Building Inspection, and ICC Certification as: Residential and Commercial Combination Inspector, Commercial Combination Plans Examiner, Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner, Energy Code Inspector/plan examiner, and Certified Building Official. FEMA Certification as Certified Flood Plain Manager.