Description
Reports to: Director Community and Economic Development Class code :1514
Grade 214 FLSA: Exempt
Hourly Rate: $61.09 ~ $70.25
NATURE OF WORK
Serves as Deputy Director and Building Code Official, overseeing development review and enforcement of construction codes. Lead the Construction and Development Services Division, directing operations across Planning, Building, Annexation, Historic Preservation, and Code Enforcement to support City priorities. Makes final administrative decisions on code interpretation, development review, and enforcement in accordance with applicable laws and appeal processes.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
Plans and directs staff responsible for enforcing construction and development codes to ensure public safety, exercising significant independent judgment within established regulations.
Combines authority as Building Code Official with executive oversight of development services, leading multiple divisions and directing regulatory programs to balance compliance, safety, and economic development goals.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (These essential duties are only illustrative.)
Supports the Director of Community & Economic Development in leading programs, services, and policy implementation, and serves as Acting Director when designated.
Oversees the Development Services Division and Permit Center, providing executive leadership across building, planning, zoning, permitting, inspections, and infrastructure coordination.
Directs and develops staff, ensuring effective service delivery and advancing organizational growth through hiring, training, performance management, and succession planning.
Serves as the City’s Building Code Official, overseeing enforcement and consistent interpretation of all construction-related codes and ordinances. Provides final rulings on complex code issues, approves alternative methods and materials, and addresses gaps in code guidance.
Leads the City’s response to unsafe structures, including condemnation or demolition when necessary, and authorizes emergency actions while coordinating enforcement and legal proceedings with relevant departments.
Contributes to the City’s development review processes, ensuring compliance with zoning, subdivision, and long-range planning policies.
Directs current planning efforts, supports development and redevelopment initiatives, provides regulatory guidance, and collaborates across departments while advising stakeholders on project requirements and code interpretations.
Directs citywide property maintenance and code enforcement operations, including nuisance, unsafe building, and vacant property enforcement activities.
Oversees coordinated enforcement actions with internal departments and legal counsel, ensuring consistent, equitable, and legally defensible compliance and prosecution efforts.
Directs operational management of permitting, inspections, plan review, and development services activities, including process modernization, technology implementation, and performance improvement initiatives.
Develops and administers departmental policies, budgets, procedures, and regulatory recommendations to support effective, consistent, and financially responsible operations.
Coordinates development-related activities with internal departments, governmental agencies, boards, commissions, and stakeholders, while representing the Department on policy, regulatory, and public matters.
Additional Responsibilities
Performs Building Plans Examiner duties or planning functions when designated staff are unavailable.
Reviews and updates public-facing materials, including City website content, to ensure accuracy, clarity, and timeliness.
Balances life-safety enforcement with economic development objectives by delivering practical, consistent, and solution-oriented outcomes.
Performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the supervision of the Director of Community & Economic Development, who reviews the work for the effectiveness of services provided, user satisfaction, and overall results achieved.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Provides direct supervision of division managers, including (but not limited to) the Building Division Manager/Deputy Building Official, Building Plans Examiner, Code Enforcement Manager, and CDS Senior Administrative Assistant. Provides indirect supervision of inspectors, plans examiners, planners, and administrative staff.
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Work includes attending meetings and conferences throughout the city and state and conducting field activities at development sites, fire scenes, police actions, and building failures. Field work may require walking over uneven terrain and performing physical activities such as standing, climbing, stooping, and bending.
Work involves a combination of office responsibilities, meetings, and field activities, including inspections and response to unsafe building conditions. May attend or lead public meetings, including City Council meetings. Work may include evening meetings, special events, weekends, and travel.
May be exposed to hazardous or potentially dangerous conditions when responding to building failures, fires, requests for building assistance, and police requests for assistance. May also be exposed to fumes, smoke, dust, health hazards, and unsanitary conditions at inspection sites.
SUCCESS FACTORS (KSAs)
Thorough knowledge of the development process, including codes and ordinances related to the development permitting process, plan and site review, zoning, platting, permitting, and inspection process. Familiarity with industry best practices related to development services is also required.
Thorough knowledge of the principles and methods of administration, organization, and supervision. Considerable knowledge of modern developments, current literature, and sources of information in the field of development services, including best practices in planning, zoning, public infrastructure, and building.
Knowledge of management methods, principles, and practices and their application to administering and managing the Building Code.
General knowledge of state laws and municipal ordinances relating to planning, zoning, public infrastructure, and building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical codes.
Ability to interpret, apply, and enforce codes and ordinances tactfully and impartially, and to make independent and difficult decisions.
Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of subordinate personnel.
Ability to establish service-standards and benchmarks for the Construction and Development Services Permit Center and clearly articulate these standards to the Mayor, City Council, general public, and the development community.
Ability to direct and manage a diverse and multidisciplinary Construction and Development Services Division and Permit Center, which crosses departmental boundaries.
Ability to quickly assimilate and analyze complex issues and decisively solve problems or lay out an immediate course of action, as necessary.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, other government agencies, the general public, builders, contractors, architects, engineers, and developers.
Skill in the use and care of a personal computer. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in geography, urban planning, architecture, engineering, building design, public administration or a related field; with seven years of experience as a planning, zoning, engineering, or building code official, including three years of supervision or management experience. Master's degree preferred. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may be substituted for the required experience.
ECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Possession of a valid Illinois driver's license.
Must obtain International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Official (CBO) certification within two (2) years of hire.
*Additional ICC certifications preferred.
Residency Requirement:
All employees (except Police and Fire) shall reside anywhere in Winnebago County or anywhere within fifteen (15) miles of the Rockford City Hall within six (6) months of completion of their introductory period, department heads and City Administrator shall live within the municipal boundaries of the City of Rockford within six (6) months of their completion of their introductory period.
