Building and Safety Supervisor

City of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The City of Santa Barbara is seeking a knowledgeable Building and Safety Supervisor to lead the Code Compliance division within the Community Development Department. The role focuses on supervising staff, applying building codes, and enforcing municipal regulations to maintain safe and compliant development.

The position offers a hybrid schedule with opportunities to coordinate with engineers, attorneys, and city departments to ensure clear communications and effective enforcement.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressive experience in structural engineering, building inspection, or code enforcement.
• Two years of lead supervisory responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, architecture, or related field preferred.
• Licensure: CACEO/ICC certifications within one year if appointed.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and evaluate staff in code compliance and related services.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local building codes.
• Investigate potential violations and enforce municipal codes.
• Coordinate plan reviews with other departments and agencies.

Skills

Staff supervision

Code enforcement

Reading building plans

Coordination with agencies

Communication skills

Mathematics for compliance

Education

Bachelor's in civil engineering, architecture, or related field

CACEO/ICC certification (preferred)

Tools

Permit management software

Computer proficiency

CAD basics

Job description

ABOUT US

At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here. The mission of the Community Development Department is to assist the public in managing the development of the community in order to protect and preserve the quality of life, promote a sound economic base and appropriate design, and ensure safe construction, all in balance with the constraints of the City’s environment and resources. Read more about the Department of Community Development here.

THE POSITION

The Community Development Department is seeking a knowledgeable, talented, and motivated Building and Safety Supervisor. This position is responsible for planning, prioritizing, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of staff responsible for providing code compliance services in the Code Compliance division. The position develops, recommends, and implements City code compliance policies, procedures, and regulations for ensuring code compliance involving the application of related laws, ordinances, and regulations. Analyzes, evaluates, and interprets Municipal Codes and other local regulations. Advise professionals and the public of building codes, building code interpretations, city ordinances and other related requirements. Participate in the investigation of potential violations and the enforcement of the municipal code, ordinances, standards, and health and safety regulations. Documents violations: research ownership records, prior complaints, municipal codes, ordinances, and State regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred. Compile detailed information for action by appropriate City officials. Communicate with property owners and attorneys and conduct follow-up investigations to ensure compliance.

Hybrid/Flexible Work Schedule: This position has the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule. Schedules are dependent upon operational needs and are subject to change. Details of teleworking considerations can be addressed during the interview process.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the supervisory class in the Building Inspection, Plan Check and Code Compliance series. It is distinguished from the various Department Building and Safety and Zoning enforcement positions by the responsibility for supervising, overseeing and evaluating an employee work unit. The Supervisor independently responds to and resolves complaints and makes sound decisions in the field. The Building and Safety Supervisor is a multiple position classification assigned to one of three functional areas within the Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of building plan checking, inspection, permit issuance, prescribing civil penalties, and code enforcement.
• Applicable City, State, and Federal codes, ordinances, and regulations related to Enforcement, Planning, Land Use and Building Standards.
• Principles of supervision team building, training and performance evaluations.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of construction and safety related to construction.
• Principles of engineering as they relate to building codes and regulations.
• Principles of health, welfare, and life-safety as they relate to building codes and regulations.
• Pertinent Federal and State codes and regulations related to a building division.
• Principles of structural design and engineering mathematics.
• Complex principles and techniques of code enforcement.
• Methods and techniques of conflict resolution.
• Municipal code administrative fine procedures.
• Departmental policies affecting the Building Division.
• Report methods, permitting process, and community relations.
• Modern office procedures, methods, computer software and hardware.

Ability to:

• Select, supervise, organize, train, evaluate, and review the work of staff.
• Interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State and Local laws, codes and regulations.
• Read and interpret complex building plans, specifications, and zoning and building codes.
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing, planning policies, building and zoning regulations, and local procedures with clarity and diplomacy.
• Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
• Handle a variety of code enforcement issues.
• Handle complaining parties, defendants and their attorneys in an assertive, but courteous manner.
• Apply mathematical means to verify calculations and ensure compliance with applicable codes.
• Interpret and explain City policies and procedures.
• Provide technical information and assistance to engineers, architects, contractors, attorneys, real estate agents, appraisers and the general public.
• Handle inquiries that require administrative and technical code knowledge.
• Operate computer systems and permit, record keeping; word processing and accounting programs.
• Coordinate plan review with other City Departments and outside agencies.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including public contacts.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in structural engineering, building inspection, code enforcement, plan checking, building permit counter and record maintenance, including two years of lead supervisory responsibility.

Education and/or Training:

A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course works in civil engineering, architecture or related field is highly desirable. Specialized training in building inspection, code enforcement, plan checking, building permit counter, record maintenance and clerical operations.

License, Certificate and/ or Other Requirements:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, within one year of appointment:

• Certified Code Enforcement Officer Certification issued by the California Code Enforcement Officers Association (CACEO) or by the International Code Council/American Association of Code Enforcement (ICC/AACE).
• Certified Plans Examiner by ICBO/ICC (International Conference of Building Officials/ International Code Council).
• Certified Combination Inspector (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, building) by the International Conference of Building Officials.

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Community Development Department.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2026.