Principal Building Control Inspector (Enforcement Specialism)

North Devon District Council; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Barnstaple seeks an experienced leader for the Building Control service. You will coordinate workload, manage customer relationships, and ensure compliance with building regulations. The role involves supervising team members, addressing dangerous structures, and leading enforcement actions. The ideal candidate should have strong leadership skills, experience in project assessments, and a commitment to service excellence. This position provides an opportunity to shape effective building services in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading teams and managing workloads.
• Proven ability to assess complex building projects.
• Strong customer service and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead an area team in providing effective Building Control services.
• Coordinate and monitor workload; ensure service objectives are met.
• Advise on building regulations and issue completion certificates.
• Manage partnerships and enforce compliance with statutory policies.

Skills

Leadership

Customer relationship management

Building regulation compliance

Supervision and training

Project assessment

Job description

To lead an area team in providing an effective Building Control service in a competitive environment, to co‑ordinate and monitor the workload of the team, lead on the Partnerships Enforcement processes and action, take a lead role in customer relationship management and contribute to the management of the unit including deputising for the Building Control Manager.

To provide appropriate supervision and develop the skills and competence of apprentice and graduate/trainee officers to meet service needs and create career pathways.

Motivate, lead and manage an area team; to train and supervise the work of surveyors as appropriate; allocate, co‑ordinate and monitor the workload of the team, including work for other service areas, to ensure fair distribution of work and to ensure service objectives are met.

Contribute to the management of the day‑to‑day running of the service including deputising for the Building Control Manager.

Assess notifications and inspection of works on site including major commercial projects. Advise customers and staff of appropriate service levels, costs and fees. Certify work in compliance with the building regulations and issue completion certificates.

Be the Partnership lead on Building Control’s enhanced enforcement powers and related matters to ensure statutory time limits are met and in line with corporate policy, liaison with legal services, issue of enforcement notices and instigating appropriate enforcement action and attend court proceedings on behalf of the Council.

Respond to dangerous structure situations and to take or direct others to take action where necessary.

Undertake building surveys and to formulate reports and make recommendations.

Take a lead role in marketing and promotion of the unit including managing key client relationships.

Take a proactive role in the development and testing of systems supporting the delivery of the service.

Other work required of the service as directed by the Manager.

The post may be required to work in any location where the service may be working in partnership with others.