The City of Newberry: Who are We?

• A top-rated, rapidly growing community with a small-town feel
• Located in the spectacular region of freshwater springs and rivers
• A short drive from the theme park capital of the world (Orlando) and the world-class, sandy beaches of the Gulf and Atlantic oceans.
• Just down the road from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) in an area known for its diverse culture, historical sites, scenic beauty, and cultural events.
• In a State with no income tax, low sales tax, and beautiful seasonal weather

Why you’ll love it at the City of Newberry?

• You’ll get the satisfaction of having a direct impact on the community in which you work.
• You’ll be integral in your community’s development.
• You’ll be part of a transforming organization dedicated to developing a shared vision among team members.
• You’ll receive a competitive salary.
• You’ll have highly competitive benefits including: health, dental, life, health spending account, tuition reimbursement programs, parental leave, and State of Florida Retirement System!

We are committed to building a team of dedicated employees who strive for excellence in public service. By hiring ambitious, forward-thinking individuals, we equip them with the tools, support, and autonomy needed to elevate their impact within our organization. We value creative thinkers who bring innovative ideas to improve our service standards. Our team members are passionate about contributing to a collaborative environment and understand the importance of working together to achieve success. If this aligns with the type of work environment you're seeking, we encourage you to read on.

Postion Summary: Building Official

This is managerial work leading, planning, and administering the programs and activities within the Building Division of the Community Development Department.

Under general supervision, performs highly responsible supervisory, administrative, and technical work interpreting and enforcing federal, state, county and local building standards and codes. Performs a variety of routine and complex technical, supervisory, and administrative work in plans review and analysis, inspection, including fire inspection and enforcement to determine compliance with all applicable ordinances as well as accepted standards relating to building. Provides technical assistance to field inspectors in all matters relating to building. An important duty of the employee is to administer codes effectively and impartially in order to promote the health, welfare, and safety of the City's citizenry. The employee must be thoroughly knowledgeable of the existing municipal codes and keep abreast of changes and trends in the field of building inspection and construction codes. Employee is also responsible for inspectors and other personnel.

Work is performed under the administrative direction of the Director of Community Development, requiring that the employee exercise extensive initiative and independent judgment in policy and program formulation for the Division. Initiative and independent judgment are also necessary in contact with municipal officials, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and the general public. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports submitted, and results obtained.

The Building Official serves at the will of the City Manager and may be selected or removed at will by the City Manager. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its management duties and advanced knowledge of building codes and regulations.
 

EXAMPLES OF WORK

This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide strong and effective leadership and supervision of the employees comprising the Building Division, ensuring a well-run department with efficiently balanced work distribution.
• Communicate with municipal department heads, managers, and staff.
• Monitor and report current and changing building codes.
• Facilitate meetings as an effective tool for employees to work in partnership with other divisions or departments to attain stated goals.
• Directs operations of inspectors who check building and site plans, issue permits for new construction work and keep records of inspections and related work.
• Directs operations of inspectors who enforce various building codes and ordinances primarily related to new, rehabilitation, and remodeling construction.
• Studies and prepares proposed codes, maintains records, and prepares recommendations for presentation to the City Commission for adoption of codes.
• Evaluate current systems, procedures, and policies, in particular with regard to internal workflow and the overall design review processes; identify areas that require updating or reengineering; and implement necessary changes in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Knowledge of SmartGov is a plus but willingness to learn the software and continue the online/paperless trend of the department a must.
• Participates in and/or conducts preliminary plan reviews.
• Conducts inspections on complex projects.
• Assists inspector(s), plan review personnel, and building department staff in resolving problems.
• Reviews codes, regulations, and standards to keep abreast of the latest edition of the Florida Building Code.
• Participates in technical seminars and/or training conferences, and other continuing education programs to keep current with technology, maintain skills, and meet current licensing requirements.
• Confers with contractors, architects, engineers, owners, and planning department regarding construction codes, building plans, and flood protection.
• Performs timely, fair, and non-discriminatory evaluation of performance of employees under his/her supervision.
• Recommends selection, promotion, discharge, and other appropriate personnel actions.
• Initiates or recommends discipline of employees in accordance with City policies.
• Prepares, submits, and monitors annual division budget and monitors department reserve funds.
• Receives and investigates inspection complaints and provides a written record of all findings.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports.
• Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.

Non-essential Job Functions

May act in absence of supervisor.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, licenses, certifications, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in engineering, architecture, or construction management, and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector, plans examiner or construction manager, including three (3) years of management or supervisory experience.
• Ten (10) years of experience as a contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector, plans examiner or construction manager, including three (3) years of management or supervisory experience, may substitute for the bachelor’s degree and required experience.
• A master’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in engineering, architecture, or construction management may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Experience in the implementation and management of a paperless plans review and inspections system is preferred.

Licenses and/or Certifications

• Requires valid State of Florida Driver's License.
• Must possess a State of Florida Provisional Building Code Administrator certification upon hire.
• Must obtain State of Florida Building Code Administrator certification within one (1) year of hire.
• Certification as State of Florida Building Code Administrator is preferred.
• Florida Professional Engineer, Florida Registered Architect, or Florida Licensed Contractor is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of the national, state and local building and zoning codes including applicable sections of the Florida Building Code, National Fire Protection Association codes, safety standards and related ordinances and regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications and blueprints. Ability to perform onsite inspections.
• Ability to detect violations and unsafe building work. Ability to direct the work of subordinates. Knowledge of OSHA standards, rules and regulations. Knowledge of building construction materials and methods of the stages of construction when possible violations and defects may most easily be observed and corrected.
• Ability to make decisions recognizing established precedents and practices, and to use resourcefulness and tact in meeting new problems. Ability to supervise the work of others in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates and other employees
• Extensive knowledge of management and supervisory techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of municipal codes and ordinances administered by the Building Division.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the building inspection and construction codes field.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal and other governmental officials, architects, engineers, contractors, representatives of business organizations, other employees, and the general public.
• Ability to conduct analytical studies and draw sound conclusions.
• Ability to analyze Division operations and to establish necessary operating and personnel policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage the work of a diversified staff.
• Ability to prepare oral and written reports and impart them effectively.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work related environmental conditions.

• Requires normal visual acuity, and field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.
• Requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time, exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis, or routine keyboard operations.
• Regularly requires sitting for prolonged periods of time.
• Occasionally requires performance of tasks outdoors under varying climatic conditions.
• Occasionally requires climbing ladders and scaffolding, crawling under buildings, and/or walking on rough terrain associated with construction sites.
• Occasionally results in exposures to dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, traffic, electrical shock, and heights.
• May require attendance at meetings outside regular business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

All City of Newberry positions are subject to testing (e.g. written, oral, performance, computerized, interview, and/or any combination). Candidates selected for testing will be notified via email or telephone. Please check your e-mail and telephone messages regularly, including "junk" folders. Test times and locations to be announced

 THE CITY OF NEWBERRY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS EMPLOYER AND A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations with management.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all of the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Job functions described are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees may be assigned additional duties by management as deemed necessary. Duties not contained herein may be considered essential to performing this job successfully, just as though they were included in this job description.
 

The City of Newberry has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.