Job Details

Deputy Building Official

Come join our team! The City of Novato is recruiting for Deputy Building Official within the Community Development Department's Building Division. This leadership role offers an exciting opportunity to help guide the daily operations of the City's permit center and plan review functions while supporting safe, compliant, and high-quality development throughout the community.

Working closely with the Chief Building Official, the Deputy Building Official plays a key role in overseeing permit processing, supervising plan review operations, and providing technical guidance to staff, design professionals, contractors, and members of the public. This position combines leadership, technical expertise, and customer service, ensuring that development projects move efficiently through the review process while maintaining compliance with applicable building codes, regulations, and safety standards.

The Deputy Building Official also supervises professional, technical, and administrative staff, coordinates consultant plan review services, and contributes to the continued improvement of Building Division policies, procedures, and service delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for a knowledgeable building professional who enjoys solving complex problems, mentoring staff, and working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to support responsible development in the Novato community.

If you are passionate about public service, bring strong knowledge of building codes and construction practices, and thrive in a leadership role that balances technical review with responsive customer service, we encourage you to apply. The City of Novato values a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applicants who are eager to contribute their expertise to a supportive and mission-driven team.

Benefits:

• 9/80 work schedule - every other Friday off
• Accrue 80 hours of vacation to start
• Provided with 90 hours of executive leave, with potential for an additional 90
• Provided with 40 hours of sick leave upon hire
• 14 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation match up to $2,000
• Technology and transportation stipend paid monthly
• Free parking on site
• Office is within walking distance of terrific restaurants, shopping, and the Downtown SMART Station

This is a supervisory level class exercising direct control of permit center and plan review staff. Positions assigned to this class can be distinguished from lower-level permit center and plan review staff classes by the performance of more complex tasks requiring a high degree of knowledge related to all areas of permit intake and processing, plan review and contract administration. Positions assigned to this class can be further distinguished by the performance of lead supervisory activities such as assigning work, monitoring project progress and providing technical assistance and training to other professional and technical staff as well as responsibility for assigned projects.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize, direct and supervise the daily operations of the development permit services and plan review sections of the building division.
• Supervise the building permit application process and routine basic over-the-counter permits, collect fees, and provide information to the public on construction, zoning and the General Plan.
• Provides complex, technical and development guidance to City staff and/or external organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals related to development and development-related projects.
• Coordinate and respond to inquiries regarding City requirements relative to the construction and alteration of facilities and related departmental processes and procedures.
• Checks permit applications for completeness and accuracy before issuing permits.
• Supervise the plan review process for in-house reviews, consultant reviews, and routine basic over-the-counter permits, collect fees, and provide information to the public on construction, zoning and building code standards.
• Perform and oversee staff and consultants work in reviewing, analyzing, and approving plans, specifications, and supporting documentation of commercial and industrial buildings and residential structures; reviews building plans and specifications for compliance with the plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire safety, and structural engineered design and other related design requirements.
• Consults with architects, engineers, and contractors regarding structural and fire-life safety requirements of building design; answers questions and gives instructions to architects, engineers, contractors and others regarding building requirements and requirements for compliance standards; issues permits after plan review approval.
• Perform field inspections as required.
• Advises Code Enforcement personnel regarding associated structural, civil engineering, and building code related issues.
• Formulates recommendations regarding use of consultants and monitors performance and consulting contracts.
• Provides direct supervision to professional, technical engineering and clerical staff; participates in recommending the appointment of personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities related to the Building Division.
• Assists in planning, organizing, evaluating, and participating in the functions and activities of the Building Division including supervision, plan review and inspection.
• Assists Chief Building Official in performing review and inspection tasks that are part of City projects.
• Assists in resolving work problems; interpreting routine administrative policies to subordinates, other departments, consultants, contractors and the public.
• Assists in coordinating Division activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
• Participates in the development of division policies and procedures for a variety of Building Division needs.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles, methods, and practices of construction design and documentation.
• Applicable State laws, ordinances, and codes related to building development design and construction.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of Public and Private development projects.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding building codes and standards, and land development.
• Pertinent State, Federal and local standards, regulations, and ordinances.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.

Ability to:

• Provide lead supervision and training to assigned personnel.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned personnel.
• Analyze plans and detect code violations. Provide clear, concise written plan review comment reports.
• Understand and interpret complex construction plans, specifications, and other project documentation.
• Perform technical research and solve difficult engineering problems.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply pertinent laws, standards, and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of: - Making sound decisions - Demonstrating effective leadership.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned office equipment.

Experience and Training - Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible professional experience in permit processing, building plan review and/or inspection.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license. Possession of or ability to obtain, within one year of hire, a commercial building plans examiner certification. Possession of or the ability to obtain, within one year of hire, certification as a Certified Building Official. Possession of a California Access Specialist (CASp) certification is highly desirable.

Working Conditions: Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment: Physical Skills: Able to use standard office equipment, including a computer; sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist, and maintain sustained posture in a seated or standing position for prolonged periods of time; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person, over the telephone, and to make public presentations; lift and carry up to 5lbs of files, and materials. Work Environment: Mobility to work in a typical office and/or field setting. Ability to: Travel to different sites and locations; drive safely to different sites and locations; maintain a safe driving record; work protracted and irregular hours and evening meetings or off shift work for meeting attendance or participation in specific projects or programs; available for evening meetings.

Selection Process: It is important to complete all required application materials, including the supplemental