Chief Building Official

Chief Building Official

The position is responsible for the comprehensive management and oversight of the City of Lauderdale Lakes' Building and Permitting Division and Code Compliance Division. It ensures full compliance with Florida Building Codes, the City's Code of Ordinances, and all applicable land development regulations, safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare through consistent enforcement of building standards and construction practices. The role provides decisive leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction to support efficient, transparent, and customer-focused service delivery for residents, businesses, and development partners. The position carries both supervisory and administrative responsibilities, including the regulation of building construction, oversight of plan review and permitting functions, and coordination of inspection activities for residential and commercial projects. The Chief Building Official enforces applicable codes and regulations, resolves complex technical matters, and ensures the integrity and quality of the built environment. As a highly visible public-facing role, it requires strong communication skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.

Supervision is received through consultation with the Director of Development Services. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports, and results obtained. Must work effectively with City, intergovernmental, elected, and appointed officials; outside consultants; funding agencies; architects; contractors; employees; attorney; and the general public. Provides direct oversight and leadership to all staff within the Building and Code Enforcement Divisions, ensuring effective performance, adherence to professional standards, and consistent delivery of high-quality services.

Essential Duties

• Administer and enforce the Florida Building Code, applicable local ordinances, and other construction regulations.
• Reviews plans for residential, commercial, and industrial construction project, Plans Examiner for compliance with building codes and safety standards.
• Complete onsite inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial properties for compliance with building codes and safety standards.
• Oversee plan review and inspections for residential, commercial, and industrial projects completed by assign staff and contractors, ensuring compliance with building codes and safety standards.
• Ensure timely and accurate issuance of permits, certificates of occupancy, and related documents.
• Ensures Code Compliance by interpreting and enforcing the City's Ordinances while overseeing the code enforcement divisions proactive and reactive investigations of the interior and/or exterior of residential and commercial properties.
• Supervise and manage building division staff, including plan examiners, building inspectors, code enforcement officers and administrative personnel.
• Contract Management-manage contractors and contracts assigned to the division.
• Conduct training and provide guidance to staff to ensure consistent interpretation and enforcement of codes.
• Evaluate staff performance and implement professional development programs.
• Oversee the review of building plans and specifications to ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Resolve complex technical and code-related issues with architects, engineers, contractors, and property owners.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in construction, building code, public health, safety, and welfare compliance.
• Develop and recommend policies, procedures, and operational standards for the division.
• Stay updated on changes to building codes, legislation, and best practices, ensuring the city remains in compliance with state and national standards.
• Provide technical support to city leadership, boards, and committees regarding building, construction and code enforcement matters.
• Collaborate with developers, property owners, and contractors to ensure a smooth permitting and inspection process.
• Represent the City at public meetings, hearings, and other community events related to building, construction and code enforcement activities.
• Respond to inquiries and resolve disputes regarding building code interpretations and enforcement actions.
• Performs other duties assigned and/or required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Public Administration, or related field, and a minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in building inspection, construction, or code enforcement, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or management role preferred. Equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience will be considered.

• Must possess a State of Florida Building Code Administrator Certification also known as a Building Official or Florida Certified General Contractor.
• Plans Examiner, Building Inspector, Combination Inspector certifications are a plus.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In-depth knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local building codes and regulations FBC. Strong understanding of modern construction methods and south Florida building and construction methods and requirement, HVHZ, and SFHAs materials, and safety standards. Effective leadership and team management skills. Excellent communication, negotiation, and public relations abilities. Competency in interpreting architectural and engineering drawings. Proficient in permit tracking and code enforcement software.

Miscellaneous Information & Special Requirements

Assigned computer, including industry specific software, Microsoft Office software; phone; and copiers. This position performs work where the employee is frequently required to sit, talk or hear, use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms, or sustained keyboard operations. The employee is occasionally required to climbing as high as needed to inspect the work, within the bounds of safe access methods and equipment, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, walking and standing. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Tasks are regularly performed inside and/or outside with potential for exposure to adverse conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, fumes and/or poor ventilation, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature, and noise extremes, machinery and/or moving vehicles, vibrations, electric currents, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, gases or chemicals, oils and other cutting fluids, violence and/or disease, or pathogenic substances. The City of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of Lauderdale Lakes will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.