Building Approvals Code Engineer

City of New Westminster; New Westminster; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid remote work

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible Work Program

Job summary

City of New Westminster is hiring a Building Approvals Code Engineer in New Westminster, BC. Reporting to the Manager, Building, you will be the technical lead for complex building reviews ensuring compliance with BC Building Code, Fire By-law, and City bylaws.

You will liaise with design professionals, consultants, and city staff to deliver consistent decisions. The role offers a regular full-time schedule with a flexible work program and a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering with a focus in structural, civil, and/or mechanical OR an Architecture degree is required.
• Registered Professional with Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (EGBC) OR the Architectural Institute of B.C. (AIBC), holding either a P. Eng designation or Architect AIBC designation
• Preference given to Certified Professional (CP) designation
• Considerable experience in plans examination and interpretation of BC Building Code, Fire Protection Codes, NFPA standards, and other relevant codes and standards
• Preference given to fire protection, mechanical, sprinkler engineering, structural engineering, life safety systems, or building technology experience
• Minimum 5 years of progressive work experience in a Code Engineer capacity
• Municipal experience is an asset
• Equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered

Responsibilities

• Provides advanced technical building code knowledge and serves as the technical lead for the department
• Reviews complex construction applications and interprets codes for compliance
• Develops consistent technical standards for evaluating Alternative Solutions
• Reviews plans for code compliance and life safety considerations
• Manages sprinkler permit applications and conducts technical reviews
• Facilitates discussions with design professionals and developers on by-laws and guidelines
• Provides technical analysis with CBO staff and cross-department partners
• Mentors CBO staff with technical guidance and training
• Maintains records for plan review statuses and work
• Performs occasional field reviews of buildings
• Supports senior leadership with research, reporting, and bulletins
• Acts as technical resource for policy, process, and procedures
• Prepares policy and business cases for departmental activities
• Conducts research on technical and code matters and communicates findings

Skills

Independent thinker

Leadership

Mentoring

Technical report writing

Code enforcement

Building codes knowledge

Project management

Fire protection measures

Driver's license

Education

Engineering degree (structural/civil/mechanical) or Architecture

Professional licensure EGBC or AIBC

CP designation (preferred)

Job description

Great City, Great Work, Great Future!

Building Approvals Code Engineer

New Westminster, British Columbia

Employment Status: Regular Full-Time

Pay Range: $130,412-$143,816 plus comprehensive benefits package

Closing Date: 11/6/26

Number of Openings: 1

Hours per Week: 37.5 hours per week.

Employee Group: Exempt

Location: City Hall: 511 Royal Ave

Competition #: 1528

As a central hub in the Metro Vancouver area, the City of New Westminster delivers a broad spectrum of urban services to over 85,000 residents. New Westminster is rich in history with a viable and thriving economy and has a population representative of the diversity of the region. The City is staffed by talented and dedicated employees who work together to achieve its strategic vision. We have earned a proud reputation for civic leadership, service delivery, and outstanding employee relations.

Reporting to the Manager, Building, the Code Engineer is the subject matter expert and technical lead for the department and provides expert knowledge in support of technical review of designs and specifications for complex buildings in order to determine compliance with the BC Building Code, applicable standards, and the City's Building Regulation Bylaw, Fire By-law and other related City by-laws and guidelines. This complex advisory work involves making independent and technical interpretations and decisions related to permitting. The position will function independently, liaising effectively with the applicant design team, jurisdictional authorities and other city staff to complete technical reviews of the most complex building applications. Duties will focus on providing expert evaluation of building systems as presented through applications for permit and making compliance decisions related to technical issues and evaluation of alternate solutions. The successful candidate will work with Building and Plumbing Official staff, partners in Engineering and Public Works, and professional consultants to develop consistent decisions with respect to interpretations of development related regulations.

Examples of key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides advanced technical building code knowledge and proficiency to serve as the technical lead for the department
• Applies expert knowledge to strengthen the department's technical capability for reviewing the most complex construction while supervising the overall code engineering process and staff performance within the section
• Develops within the department consistent technical standards and approaches for evaluating performance-based Alternative Solutions to prescriptive code.
• Reviews applications, comments, interprets and applies the intent and purpose for codes and standards compliance with an emphasis on structural and fire/life safety matters
• Manages sprinkler permit applications and completes direct technical review of complex projects
• Facilitates discussions with design professionals, consultants, contractors and developers regarding the interpretation of various by-laws, codes and guidelines and assists applicants in understanding the regulations that affect construction and plans approval
• Works with Certified Building Official (CBO) staff to provide detailed technical analysis of Alternative Solutions
• Provides specialized advice and answers technical questions from the City's CBO, Fire and Engineering teams
• Mentors several specialized technical staff (CBOs), providing technical guidance and training
• Maintains accurate records for plan review status and work performed
• Conducts occasional reviews and examination of buildings in the field
• Supports the Deputy Director, Building Approvals with research, report writing, and technical bulletins
• Serves as the technical resource for the management team on specific issues as well as overall policy, process and procedures
• Prepare policy on technical findings and business cases for departmental activities
• Performing research on technical and code matters keeping the department current on expert knowledge and providing written communication in reports and bulletins
• Authorizes Building Permit Issuance (compliance with applicable codes)
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The Code Engineer is responsible for the following:

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering with a focus in structural, civil, and/or mechanical OR an Architecture degree is required.
• Registered Professional with Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (EGBC) OR the Architectural Institute of B.C. (AIBC), holding either a P. Eng designation or Architect AIBC designation
• Preference will be given to candidates with a Certified Professional (CP) designation
• Considerable experience in plans examination and interpretation of the BC Building Code, Fire Protection Codes, NFPA standards, and other relevant codes and standards
• Preference will be given to candidates with fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, sprinkler engineering, structural engineering, field review of life safety systems and/or building technology experience
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in a Code Engineer capacity, showing development in technical capability and responsibility for increasingly complex construction
• Municipal experience is considered an asset
• An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Independent thinker
• Strong organizational, leadership and mentoring skills
• Superior verbal and written communications skills to deal effectively with the public and design professionals in person and via phone and e-communications.
• Excellent technical report writing skills
• The ability to enforce codes, regulations and bylaws with tact, firmness and sound judgement.
• Extensive knowledge of the B.C. Building and Fire Codes and industry standards (NFPA, CSA, ASTM)
• Considerable experience and knowledge of building design, building materials and construction
• Project management of multi-disciplinary projects
• Experience in fire protection measures for high buildings
• A valid Class 5 Driver's Licence for the Province of British Columbia is an asset

Working Conditions: This is a regular, full-time exempt position. Duties are primarily performed in an office environment. Since this is a position that reviews applications for permit, engagement with the public is required. There is expectation for an ability to work collaboratively with applicants through potentially challenging situations with consultants, and applicants. This position is eligible for participation in the City’s Compressed Day Off program. Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of New Westminster has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 5 days every 2 week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

We offer our employees great work-life balance, including competitive salaries, comprehensive health and wellness benefits and retirement plans (a percentage in lieu of benefits for auxiliary positions). We also offer a hybrid remote work schedule in accordance with our Remote Work Policy, opportunities for education and training, and engaging, rewarding work.

To support a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community; women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression (LGBTQ2S+), persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversity of our workforce, are encouraged to express their interest.

New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halq'eméylem-speaking peoples. It is acknowledged by the City that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land.

We are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.

We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted

www.newwestcity.ca