Building OfficialCity of Ridgefield, WA Updated: 8/2021
CITY OF RIDGEFIELD, WA
JOB DESCRIPTION
BUILDING OFFICIAL
Department: Community Development
Pay Grade: 204
FLSA Status: Exempt
GENERAL PURPOSE
Coordinates the operation of the building division, including plan checking and building inspection.
Enforces the Washington State Building Codes and City ordinances. Provides information to internal
and external customers, meets with architects, engineers, developers, homeowners, and builders to
coordinate building inspection and plan review matters. Reviews and inspects plans and construction
for compliance. Provides highly responsible support to the department.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from management staff. Works independently with responsibility for
making final determinations in accordance with established general policies. Directs and assigns
activities within the Building Division. Supervises, coaches and trains employees in the Building Division.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Essential duties are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills. They are intended
to be accurate summaries of what the job classification involves and what is required to perform it. Employees
are responsible for all other duties as assigned.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and
procedures continuously, assesses and monitors work load, support systems, and internal reporting
relationships, identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with manager, and implements
improvements.
• Formulates and applies uniform policies and standards for the building inspections program.
• Monitors and assists the plan review and permit issuance process, monitors the field inspection
process and staff, and investigates and resolves both technical and political complaints and
inquiries.
• Administers, interprets, and enforces the provisions of the building code and other municipal
regulations as they apply to building matters and prepares and recommends modifications to
building code provisions.
• Provides complex technical support to the department manager and City manager on building
related matters, directs special projects, and researches as assigned.
• Interprets and explains specific building codes, ordinances, and administrative orders.
• Researches regulations, procedures, and/or technical materials relating to building codes and
enforcement.
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City of Ridgefield, WA Updated: 8/2021
• Confers with engineers, developers, architects, a variety of agencies, and the general public in
acquiring information and coordinating building inspection and plan review matters.
• Trains, coaches, and mentors building division staff, meets with staff to identify and resolve
problems, assigns work activities and monitors work flow, and reviews work product.
• Inspect buildings under construction, alteration or repair for compliance with building code
requirements.
• Review and approve plans for commercial, industrial and residential building.
• Provide effective and efficient customer service, and promote and maintain responsive community
relations.
• Identify, coordinate and resolve a wide variety of interests in the development and enforcement of
building codes and department policy.
• Assist in the overall budgeting and management of the Building Division.
This is a highly visible position that must maintain a high level of diplomacy and customer service to
the public. The Building Official must organize and effectively express ideas through oral and written
communications to a wide variety of audiences, such as builders and developers, staff, residents,
community groups, elected officials, and other City boards and committees regarding building.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is
qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in
architecture, engineering, construction technology, or a related field.
• Experience: Five years’ increasingly responsible building inspection and/or plan review experience
including administrative and supervisory responsibility.
• Driver’s License: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid driver’s license.
• Certification: Certification as a building official (or able to obtain one upon employment offer),
residential and commercial building inspector and/or plans examiner, plumbing inspector and
mechanical inspector through ICC or other approved organization.
• Have proven experience and knowledge in the application of national and state laws, local codes
and ordinances, policies and procedures governing building and development activity.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a comprehensive building program.
• Principles of the Uniform Building, and Plumbing codes, the Washington Energy Code, and any
additional published building codes and Washington Energy Code.
• Research methods and sources of information related to building code enforcement.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Methods, materials, techniques, and equipment used in the construction of facilities.
• Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services
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City of Ridgefield, WA Updated: 8/2021
Skill in:
• Performing plan review and daily inspections of construction.
• Using sound judgment to make good decisions based on information gathered and analyzed and
considering all pertinent facts and alternatives before deciding on the most appropriate action.
• Interacting with people effectively, sharing and receiving information, and cooperating within the
group and across groups.
• Bargaining (give and take) between two or more parties (each with its own aims, needs, and
viewpoints) seeking to discover a common ground and reach an agreement to settle a matter of
mutual concern or resolve a conflict.
• Presenting and teaching adult learning theory while describing and explaining to a group of people
or on a one-on-one basis.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external customers, stakeholders,
and staff at various levels of the organization.
• Exercising discretion and independent judgment to compare and evaluate possible courses of
conduct and decide after the various possibilities have been considered.
• Written and verbal interpersonal communication and listening to needs of stakeholders and
partners, including soliciting input from the community when needed.
• Providing leadership and guidance to others to assist them in becoming effective in their area of
interest or field of experience, gaining trust of team members, developing leaders, coaching, acting
as a role model, etc.
• Writing clearly, effectively presenting ideas and document activities, and reading and interpreting
written information.
• Performing advanced math, including analysis, statistics, significant data, or number manipulation.
Ability to:
• Coordinate the work of professional and technical personnel and train and coach staff.
• Be a confident leader with excellent interpersonal skills who has the ability to build consensus and
cooperation among staff based on an environment of trust and integrity.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient
plan examination and building inspection services.
• Be a problem solver and have the ability to analyze issues and problems, evaluate alternative
solutions and develop sound conclusions, recommendations and courses of action.
• Analyze, interpret, and check complex plans, specifications, calculations, laws, and regulations.
• Interpret building policies and procedures to contractors, homeowners, and the general public.
• Identify, coordinate, and resolve a wide variety of interests in the development and enforcement
of building codes and department policy.
• Have proven interpersonal skills and a collaborative work style with an ability to provide a high
level of customer service in a positive and helpful manner; and to establish and maintain effective
working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including a variety of City and
other government officials, community groups, customers and the general public.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a personal computer and appropriate
computer programs.
• Have an exceptional character, with very high ethical standards.
• Have proven track record of diplomacy and conflict resolution skills.
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City of Ridgefield, WA Updated: 8/2021
All employees are expected to work in a manner consistent with the City of Ridgefield’s Team Philosophy;
specifically: work and act as a team player in all interactions with other city employees; provide a high
level of customer service at all times; project and maintain a positive image with those contacted in the
course of work; develop and maintain collaborative and respectful working relationships with team
members and others; and consistently provide quality service.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work generally takes place in an office and inspection site environment with exposure to dust and
noise. Continuous travel is necessary to and from job sites throughout the workday. Work is performed
in unfinished buildings.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• The work is light work which requires exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to
10 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects,
including the human body.
• Must possess the visual ability to see clearly at close (less than 20 inches) and far (more than 20
feet) distances, identify and distinguish colors, observe an area that can be seen up and down or
the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point, and judge distances and spatial relationships.
• The following physical abilities are required: standing, walking, sitting, using hands and fingers to
handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching,
crawling, talking, hearing, and smelling.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job
functions herein described. As every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees
may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may reasonably
be considered incidental in the performing of their duties as though they were included in this job description.
I have read and understand this classification description and hereby certify that I am qualified to
perform this job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
_____________________________________ __________________________________
Employee Signature Date
_____________________________________ __________________________________
Supervisor (or HR) Signature Date