Assistant Building Official

City of San Bernardino; San Bernardino (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of San Bernardino is seeking an experienced Assistant Building Official to support the Building and Safety Division. You will supervise staff, oversee complex inspections and plan reviews, and help interpret and enforce building codes while developing division policies for improved service.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and five years of responsible building inspection experience, including three years as a plans examiner, plus ICC certifications.

Qualifications

• Education and experience providing required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, construction management or related field.
• Five years in building inspection including three years as plans examiner with permitting experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff in building inspection, plan review, and permitting.
• Conduct complex plan reviews and inspections as needed.
• Interpret and enforce building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, green building codes.
• Develop division policies, resolve complex compliance matters, and ensure responsive service.
• Prepare reports and coordinate with City departments and external agencies.
• Assist Building Official with division operations and program improvements.
• Respond to public inquiries at counter and promote staff development.

Skills

Building inspection

Plan review

Code interpretation

Staff supervision

Communication

Problem solving

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/architecture/construction management/technology

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity for professional growth and development? Consider joining the City of San Bernardino's Community Development Housing Department as the City’s Assistant Building Official.

About the City:

As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.

San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.

About the Position:

The Assistant Building Official supports the daily operations of the Building and Safety Division by supervising staff and overseeing complex building inspections, plan reviews, and permitting activities. The position also performs highly complex plan reviews and inspections as needed, assists the Building Official with interpreting and enforcing applicable codes, develops division policies and procedures, resolves complex compliance matters, and ensures responsive service to the community.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is an experienced and knowledgeable building and safety professional with strong leadership, plan review, and inspection experience. They possess a thorough understanding of applicable building codes and can effectively supervise staff, resolve complex compliance issues, exercise sound judgment, and communicate professionally with contractors, architects, engineers, property owners, and members of the public.

Day in the life consists of:

• Supervising, training, and evaluating building inspection, plan review, and permitting staff.
• Coordinating daily inspection and plan review assignments and monitoring workloads.
• Conducting complex plan reviews and building inspections as needed.
• Interpreting and enforcing building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, and green building codes.
• Advising contractors, architects, engineers, property owners, and the public on code and permit requirements.
• Resolving complex complaints, code-compliance matters, and inspection issues.
• Assisting the Building Official with division operations, policies, procedures, and program improvements.
• Preparing reports, maintaining records, and coordinating with City departments and outside agencies.
• Assists and responds to Building & Safety related questions from the public at our public counter.
• Actively promotes and encourages staff members in their professional training and development.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, architecture, construction management and technology, or a related field.

Experience: Five (5) years of responsible experience in building inspection, including three (3) years of experience as a plans examiner, along with experience in permit issuance and processing.

Licenses, Certifications, and Equipment:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License, which must be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of a current and valid Combination Building Inspector and Plans Examiner certification issued by the International Code Council (ICC), which must be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of a current and valid Certified Building Official designation issued by the ICC, or the ability to obtain it within one (1) year of appointment and maintain it throughout employment.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience using a solutions-driven approach to interpret building codes, facilitate compliance, and resolve complex building and safety issues.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with City divisions and departments, regulatory agencies, contractors, design professionals, and other external partners.

Knowledge of and Ability to:

• Apply advanced principles and practices of building construction, inspection, plan review, and structural design.
• Interpret and enforce applicable building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, green building, zoning, and safety codes.
• Review complex construction plans and specifications for compliance with applicable laws, codes, and regulations.
• Conduct complex building inspections and identify code violations, unsafe conditions, and required corrective actions.
• Plan, organize, supervise, train, and evaluate building inspection, plan review, permitting, and administrative staff.
• Develop and implement division goals, policies, procedures, work plans, and service improvements.
• Analyze workloads, establish priorities, coordinate assignments, and ensure inspections and plan reviews are completed promptly.
• Resolve complex complaints and compliance matters involving contractors, architects, engineers, property owners, and the public.
• Exercise sound, independent judgment when addressing sensitive or complex technical issues.
• Prepare clear and concise technical reports, correspondence, documentation, and recommendations.
• Communicate effectively and provide responsive customer service to City staff, outside agencies, contractors, and members of the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships while using tact and diplomacy.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

The employee may work in a variety of environments. Under typical office conditions, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear, both in person and by telephone use hands to manipulate, handle, and feel computers and standard business equipment, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk and on occasion will lift up to 25 pounds and the noise level is usually quiet. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus. When required to work in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts, is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration, and works in confined or high, precarious places. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, dust and soil, slippery and uneven surfaces, possible electrical shock, and moving traffic. The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud. Employees may be required to work weekends and holidays. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb, or balance, bend, grasp, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, climb ladders or inclines, or crawl, and on occasion will lift up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Recruitment Timeline

This recruitment will close on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm, or until a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Applications review: Week of Monday, August 31, 2026

1st Interview: Week of September 06, 2026, or agreed upon date by both HR recruiter & Dept (TENTATIVE)

2nd Interview: Week of September 13, 2026, or agreed upon date by both HR recruiter & Dept (TENTATIVE)

All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the personnel officer

Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.

Successful candidates shall be required to:

• Pass a reference check and background verification. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
• Provide verification of qualifying education.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination, including a drug screening.

Starting salary will be based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

E-Verify Participation

The City of San Bernardino participates in the E-Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.

Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.

For more information about E-Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov

Disclaimers

The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at [phone].

This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.

For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Human Resources at 909-998-2060 or email Janet Sirob at [e-mail].

Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.