Chief Building Official - Jefferson County (Development Services)

JobsQuest; Kentucky; On-site; USD 93,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Jefferson County Development Services Department seeks a well-qualified Chief Building Official to manage the Building Division, overseeing permits, plan reviews, and inspections related to land development.

Responsibilities include interpreting, revising, enforcing, and administering state and county-adopted building codes; maintaining records and preparing evidence for court cases; and supervising staff with direction and training.

Qualifications

• The candidate must hold a valid driver's license.
• ICC Certified Building Official certification is required.
• Experience conducting inspections for both residential and commercial buildings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the County’s Building Official.
• Serve as the County’s Fire Code Official.
• Sign Certificates of Occupancy (COs) issued by Jefferson County.
• Develop and update knowledge of codes, laws, and guidelines.
• Interpret plans and codes to ensure compliance during construction.
• Oversee inspections and plan reviews to ensure safety and compliance.
• Maintain inspection records and file documentation for court use.
• Prepare reports and respond to public inquiries.
• Supervise staff, assign work, and provide training.

Skills

Driver's license

Building inspections experience

Education

ICC Certified Building Official certification

Job description

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

10/23/2026

PAY GRADE:

Grade 32

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Jefferson County Development Services Department is seeking a well-qualified, motivated Chief Building Official to manage the Building Division, overseeing permit coordination, plan reviews, and inspections related to land development. Responsibilities include interpreting, revising, enforcing, and administering state and county-adopted building codes; maintaining official records and preparing evidence for court cases; and supervising subordinate staff by assigning and reviewing work, establishing performance goals, and providing direction and training.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Jefferson County provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is presented below:

$92,955 - $144,206

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Driver’s license.
• Certified Building Official certification from the International Code Council.
• Experience conducting building inspections for residential and commercial buildings.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Serves as the County’s Building Official.
• Serves as the County’s Fire Code Official.
• Acts as the primary signatory for Certificates of Occupancy (COs) issued by Jefferson County.
• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.
• Interprets codes and ordinances by comparing plans to code requirements and ordinances to clarify information for construction professionals and the general public.
• Oversees and participates in enforcement of codes and ordinances by conducting and monitoring inspections (e.g., communicating required modifications to appropriate parties, issuing stop-work notices) to ensure compliance and safety.
• Oversees and participates in plan reviews by comparing plans to pertinent codes to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances.
• Oversees and participates in the maintenance of inspection records by filing, researching, documenting records, calculating fees and preparing for court cases so records are up-to-date and fees charged are appropriate.
• Performs administrative duties including writing various reports, maintaining records, and responding to concerns from the public.
• Research and reviews codes, ordinances, notices, and permitting by reading code books and amendments, and researching new materials to ensure knowledge is current or to provide information to others.
• Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training to ensure work is properly performed in a timely manner.
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job involves moderate physical exertion required for occasional prolonged periods of lifting, carrying, balancing, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, or running. Work may involve occasional lifting of items or objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is conducted both indoors in an office setting, as well during occasional field visits. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as a computer, digital camera, phone, copier, etc.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson Countyprovides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Each Merit System member city/agencyoperates its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.

ACCOMMODATION:

To request an accommodation in the application or hiring process due to your own ongoing medical condition or disability, please contact our Accommodations Coordinator at [e-mail] or phone at 205-279-3500 (select option 1) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The accommodation process is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or accommodation in the job application process.

NOTE:

This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System.

DISCLAIMER:

This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required for this position and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.