Certified Building Official

Bernalillo County; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 79,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Remote & flex-work options

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Bernalillo County is seeking a Certified Building Official to act as the authority on building compliance, overseeing permits and inspections across the county.

The role includes supervising inspectors, coordinating training, reviewing plans for code compliance, and issuing notices as needed. A bachelor’s degree and nine years of related experience, including two in management, are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Nine (9) years of work experience in budgeting, cost control, zoning ordinances, land use regulations, database operations or project management principles.
• Two (2) years in a managerial role.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered for the above requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the County’s Certified Building Official.
• Supervises, schedules, and reviews the daily workload of building, electrical, mechanical/plumbing inspectors, and clerical staff.
• Provides and coordinates training for inspection and administrative staff.
• Assists contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners in meeting County permit and code requirements.
• Ensures all required inspections for residential and commercial construction are performed in compliance with applicable codes.
• Reviews construction plans to verify compliance with County building, zoning, and related codes; provides written details for permit issuance.
• Issues stop-work notices, correction notices, and notices of violation as needed.
• Prepares reports and maintains accurate records of inspections, complaints, and legal proceedings; serves as an expert witness in court cases.
• Recommends changes to inspection procedures and department operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Compiles department statistics and supports budget preparation and departmental reporting.
• Attends and presents department information at meetings, including evenings and weekends as required.
• Supervises and directs the Code Enforcement Coordinator on property maintenance matters.
• Analyzes, adopts, and coordinates updates to the County's Building Ordinance approximately every three years.
• Creates, manages, and organizes Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) with municipalities and tribal governments.
• Oversees permitting, plans reviews, and inspections throughout Bernalillo County.
• Resolves complex code compliance issues among contractors, inspectors, architects, and engineers.
• Manages department inventory, including vehicles, tools, equipment, and office supplies.
• Assists Public Works Facilities with code analysis for County-owned and prospective buildings.
• Handles sensitive and confidential records, documents, and decisions with discretion.

Skills

Budgeting and cost control

Zoning ordinances

Project management

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Planning or related field

Tools

Database operations

Job description

Job Posting Title

Certified Building Official

Department

Planning & Development Services

Location

415 SILVER AVE SW

Pay Range

$78,582.00 - $124,093.00

Close Date

September 24, 2026

Employees at Bernalillo County enjoy the ability to team up with each other to build a high quality of life for our county residents, communities, and businesses. In addition to being an organization with a strong focus on work-life balance, building a culture of flexibility, learning, and belonging the County offers many benefits. Employees of Bernalillo County enjoy many thoughtful rewards such as, but not limited to generous leave accruals; career development opportunities; remote & flex-work options as appropriate; longevity pay; education assistance program; health benefits; lucrative retirement; and so much more.

The Certified Building Official serves as Bernalillo County’s authority on building compliance. This position ensures adherence to County building and zoning ordinances, as well as building, electrical, and mechanical/plumbing codes. Responsibilities include supervising staff, overseeing inspections, managing permit processes, and enforcing compliance. Supervisory duties include hiring, training, performance assessment, coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Serves as the County’s Certified Building Official.


• Supervises, schedules, and reviews the daily workload of building, electrical, mechanical/plumbing inspectors, and clerical staff.


• Provides and coordinates training for inspection and administrative staff.


• Assists contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners in meeting County permit and code requirements.


• Ensures all required inspections for residential and commercial construction are performed in compliance with applicable codes.


• Reviews construction plans to verify compliance with County building, zoning, and related codes; provides written details for permit issuance.


• Issues stop-work notices, correction notices, and notices of violation as needed.


• Prepares reports and maintains accurate records of inspections, complaints, and legal proceedings; serves as an expert witness in court cases.


• Recommends changes to inspection procedures and department operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.


• Compiles department statistics and supports budget preparation and departmental reporting.


• Attends and presents department information at meetings, including evenings and weekends as required.


• Supervises and directs the Code Enforcement Coordinator on property maintenance matters.


• Analyzes, adopts, and coordinates updates to the County's Building Ordinance approximately every three years.


• Creates, manages, and organizes Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) with municipalities and tribal governments.


• Oversees permitting, plans reviews, and inspections throughout Bernalillo County.


• Resolves complex code compliance issues among contractors, inspectors, architects, and engineers.


• Manages department inventory, including vehicles, tools, equipment, and office supplies.


• Assists Public Works Facilities with code analysis for County-owned and prospective buildings.


• Handles sensitive and confidential records, documents, and decisions with discretion.


• The above information is intended to outline the general nature and scope of the duties required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may vary depending on specific job assignments and responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.


• Nine (9) years of work experience in budgeting, cost control, zoning ordinances, land use regulations, database operations or project management principles.


• Two (2) years in a managerial role.


• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered for the above requirements.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCREENING AND COMPLIANCE

The offer of this Bernalillo County position requires compliance with the following:

• Successful completion of a post-offer employment medical examination and background investigation.


• Adherence to all County safety guidelines.


• Complete all FEMA training(s) assigned to this position.


• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver’s license by the date of hire and maintenance of a valid license while employed in this position.


• Complete required supervisor training, if applicable.


• Obtain New Mexico Certified Building Official certification prior to hire.


• Obtain International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Official certification within 60 days of hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Perform duties both indoors and outdoors.


• Work indoors in both temperature-controlled and non-temperature-controlled environments; work outdoors in all weather conditions, including severe weather.


• Experience occasional exposure to vibration and noise during building inspections at construction sites.


• Work indoors on even surfaces such as carpet, tile, or concrete, which may be wet or dry.


• Work outdoors on a variety of surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, natural ground, gravel, snow, ice, or roofs; surfaces may be even or uneven, and wet or dry.


• Use stairs, ladders, and scaffolding when performing outdoor duties.


• Experience exposure to fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, and areas with poor ventilation.


• Encounter work hazards such as heights, active construction sites, scaffolding, and loose animals.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS

• Operate a variety of office equipment, including mainframe computers, photocopiers, and communication devices.


• Use work aids such as construction documents, books, binders, hard hats, gloves, tape measures, architectural scales, and cameras.


• Operate a county vehicle as needed.