Building Official

YUMA; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Arizona State Retirement System

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid leave and benefits

Job summary

The City of Yuma is seeking a Building Official to lead the Building Safety Division within the Department of Community Development. You will oversee plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement, guiding programs and ensuring compliance across the city.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five years of public-sector Building Safety management, with ICC certification within a year of hire.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in construction, architecture or public administration.
• Five years’ experience managing public sector Building Safety programs.
• ICC Building Official certification within one year of hire (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Direct Building Safety operations including plan review, permitting, inspections and code enforcement.
• Advise City on building safety policies and standards; exercise independent judgment inside policy guidelines.
• Lead staff, manage performance, and coordinate priorities, budgets, and resources.
• Assist with Capital Improvement Projects related to the built environment.
• Represent Building Safety to state/regional agencies and promote programs to the public.
• Maintain relationships with developers and community leaders; ensure consistent code compliance.

Skills

Interpreting and applying standards

Directing and leading staff

Reading and interpreting plans

Building inspections

Land use & building safety interface

Advice and consultation

Independent judgment

Cooperative relationships

Task prioritization

Computer literacy

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Technology, Architecture, Business or Public Administration

Job description

Summary

Open until filled with a 1st review date of August 31, 2026**

Are you looking to join a team that values Professionalism, Accountability, Integrity, and Responsiveness? Do you want to be a part of a strong team dedicated to serving our community, building relationships, and creating opportunities? Then this might be the opportunity for you!

We are looking for someone to join Team Yuma as the Building Official working with the Department of Community Development – Building Safety Division . The ideal candidate will lead and oversee the City’s building safety programs, including plan review, permitting, inspections, and related code compliance activities.

Under administrative direction, plans, organizes and directs the activities, functions, budgets, and programs with the Department of Community Development (DCD); manages plan review, permitting, building safety and code enforcement for the City.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans and directs Building Safety operations, reviews and evaluates Building Safety programs and work performed; verifies compliance with all regulations, standards and policies.
• Serves as principal advisor to the City and subject‑matter expert on building safety and technical issues; exercises independent judgment within broad policy guidelines; evaluates and analyzes complex and sensitive issues and projects, develops solutions, advises on specialized areas of technical expertise, and assures the highest quality services are effectively delivered to clients.
• Directs, coaches, trains staff, and evaluates performance; meets regularly with staff to discuss and resolve priorities, workload, resource allocation, budgets, technical issues, quality standards, and services.
• Develops and assists Engineering with the coordination and implementation of Capital Improvement Projects as they pertain to the built environment.
• Evaluates operational information, trends, and develops plans to meet future needs; assures issues are properly addressed and resolved; monitors changes in regulations and legislation.
• Represents Building Safety to state and regional agencies; explains and interprets programs, policies, and activities; promotes Building Safety programs and services to community agencies, citizen groups and the general public.
• Meets regularly with Community Leaders, Design and Developers to maintain professional relationships in the development community.
• Assists with Code Enforcement ensuring consistently applied rules and regulations.
• Supports the relationship between the City and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff; promotes the City goals and priorities, vision, values and the “Yuma Way”, and complies with all City policies and procedures.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work‑related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Technology, Architecture, Business or Public Administration, or related field; AND five years’ experience managing public sector Building Safety programs; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge Of

• City organization, operations, policies and procedures.
• Federal regulations, Arizona statutes, and regional ordinances governing building and safety codes.
• Principles and practices of public sector administrative management, including performance management, personnel rules, accounting, budgeting, procurement, and contract management.
• Principles and practices of the construction industry and building trades.
• Methods, procedures and techniques for evaluating technical compliance.
• Methods and techniques of inspecting a variety of plans, buildings and technical documents.
• Principles and practices of building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections.
• Occupational hazards and safety precautions in construction areas.
• Record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures.
• Techniques and practices for effective and efficient management of allocated resources.
• Principles and practices of public sector administrative management, including performance management, personnel rules, accounting, budgeting, procurement, and contract management.
• Environmentally responsible and resource‑efficient community development techniques.

Skill In

• Interpreting and applying building and safety standards, state and Federal regulations, department standards, and City codes and policies.
• Directing and leading staff, delegating tasks and authority, and coaching to improve staff performance.
• Reading and interpreting building plans and technical specifications, and checking details, estimates, plans, and specifications of projects.
• Performing building inspections for compliance with building and safety codes, and detecting deviations from plans, regulations, and standard construction practices.
• Navigating the relationship between land use planning and building safety programs.
• Providing advice and consultation on standard construction methods and requirements.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City employees, representatives from other government agencies, community groups, and advisory boards.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

License And Certification Requirements

A valid Arizona State Driver’s License is required. International Code Council (ICC) Building Official certification is required within one year of hire; depending on the needs of the City, incumbent may be required to obtain additional technical certifications.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office environment, with frequent trips to building sites. May occasionally be required to bend, reach, stoop, and lift objects.

Benefits

The City of Yuma offers the following benefits to Full‑time City employees:

• ARIZONA STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM (ASRS) - City employees are automatically enrolled in the Arizona State Retirement System. Employees contribute 11.87% (pre‑tax) and the City contributes 11.87% of employee gross wages through automatic deduction. Should an employee terminate City employment, the ASRS funds may be withdrawn or remain until retirement. Contributions to the ASRS are in addition to FICA (Social Security taxes).
• LONG TERM DISABILITY (LTD) - Included through the Arizona State Retirement System. Employees contribute .11% and the City contributes .11% of employee gross wages. LTD contributions are in addition to FICA (Social Security taxes).
• SHORT TERM DISABILITY - The City provides short‑term disability coverage at no cost to the employee. Short‑term disability replaces part of your income if you can’t work for a short time due to a covered disability.
• SOCIAL SECURITY & Medicare - Employees pay a contribution into the Social Security & Medicare System.
• WORKER'S COMP. - Insurance coverage for medical expenses and loss of income due to an on‑the‑job injury is provided by the City of Yuma for all employees.
• UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - Employees are covered by Unemployment Insurance.
• MEDICAL, DENTAL, and VISION INSURANCE - The City of Yuma is proud to provide medical, dental and vision insurance for its employees which is administered by the Yuma Area Benefit Consortium. Employees may choose from two traditional PPO plans or a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account. Dependent premiums are paid one month in advance and are pre‑taxed (unless waived). Additional information regarding medical, dental and vision benefits may be requested from the City's Human Resources Department.
• LIFE INSURANCE - The City provides a life insurance policy for employees in an amount that is equal to your annual salary. An Accidental Death and Dismemberment rider is also included for an equal amount. Employees may elect, at their cost, additional life insurance for up to 5X your annual salary. Various voluntary insurance policies are available at your cost and may be set up as an automatic payroll deduction. Information is available from the City's Human Resources Department.
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT - The plan establishes a reimbursement account, which is designed to provide you with a means of paying for certain medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses with pre‑tax dollars. The amount you designate is subtracted from your earnings before taxes and is deposited in your flexible spending account. As a new employee you have 30 days from your hire date to enroll.
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Provides free counseling sessions for employees and family members, as well as a 24‑hour crisis line for emergencies.
• COMPENSATORY LEAVE (COMP. TIME) - Paid leave that an employee has elected to accrue in lieu of overtime payment.
• GENERAL LEAVE - This leave is available for all regular full‑time and regular part‑time employees. General Leave is paid leave for an employee's personal time off. General Leave can normally be used 90 days after your hire date. General Leave accrual varies by the employee's years of service and employment status.
  • 0 to 5 years = 6.14 hours per pay day or 153.5 hours annually
  • 5 to 10 years = 7.74 hours per pay day or 193.5 hours annually
  • 10 to 15 years = 8.06 hours per pay day or 201.5 hours annually
  • 15 to 20 years = 8.7 hours per pay day or 217.5 hours annually
  • 20+ years = 9.34 hours per pay day or 233.5 hours annually
• SICK LEAVE - Employees are eligible to utilize paid sick leave immediately following 90 calendar days from their date of hire. July 1 of each year, employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank. New employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank on their date of hire.
• PAID PARENTAL LEAVE - The City provides up to 4 weeks of paid parental leave to employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• HOLIDAYS - The City recognizes 12 holidays per year. Holiday pay is at eight hours per holiday.
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
  • President's Day (third Monday in February)
  • Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day (First Monday in September)
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day After Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day
  • Additional Day in conjunction with Christmas
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION - Employees may participate in a tax‑sheltered Annuity Plan (457 Plan) through payroll deduction to provide additional retirement income.
• TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - The City provides eligible employees tuition reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate level courses. Eligible full‑time employees may receive up to a maximum of $3,500 per calendar year.
• SMOKE-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT - The City prohibits smoking in, and within a reasonable distance of, all buildings used by the City for the conduct of City business or buildings or facilities used or occupied as workspace by City employees. This includes City owned and operated vehicles. This policy applies to all City employees, volunteers, citizens, and other persons entering or using City owned or operated facilities and/or vehicles.