Description

DESCRIPTION
Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $155,565.195 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and I've golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best–value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Water and Energy Resources Departments. In 2019, the City of Long Beach and Plenary Properties Long Beach unveiled the completion of the new four-building Long Beach Civic Center, which includes a new City Hall and Port Administration Building. The tree-lined pedestrian plaza is reflective of an innovative public-private partnership and the Civic Center is designed to revitalize the civic core of downtown to serve residents, attract visitors, and provide safe and efficient city operations. The City is supported by a FY 2024 total budget of approximately $3.3 billion with a General Fund budget of $719 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Community Development delivers a wide variety of programs and services to help create and maintain more safe, sustainable, and livable neighborhoods. The department is comprised of five bureaus: Building and Safety, Code Enforcement, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Planning, and Administrative and Financial Services. Our staff of more than 200 works tirelessly to serve the community through an array of policies and programs, including land use and development, affordable housing, environment and historic preservation, neighborhood improvement, and construction standards and safety. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in our role to help transform Long Beach into a model urban community that honors its past and embraces the future. 

THE POSITION
The Building Inspections Officer is an at-will management position that reports to the Superintendent of Building and Safety (a.k.a., Building Official). The Building Inspections Officer will oversee 30 employees in the Inspection Services Division in the Building and Safety Bureau of the Community Development Department.
The Building Inspection Officer is a leader who plans, organizes, directs and coordinates all activities of the Inspection Services Division. The Division activities include inspecting new construction of buildings, including structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing facilities; overseeing the deputy inspection program, administrative citation, construction and recycling debris, and oil well programs including annual oil well billings and construction in the vicinity of gas/oil wells.  

 
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
 The Building Inspections Officer is responsible for: 

Monitoring the performance of inspection personnel to ensure timely, consistent, and high-quality inspection services are provided without compromising public safety; 
Reviewing and modernizing existing systems/protocols to streamline them with an emphasis on technology, mobile tools, and process automation;  
Resolving complex and difficult construction problems and complaints related to the enforcement of construction codes or inspection personnel;
Developing, training, and motivating inspection personnel into an efficient and knowledgeable staff; 
Assisting in the preparation and monitoring of the Division’s budget; 
Leading the Department’s disaster preparedness, including but not limited to:  reviewing the Department’s current disaster/emergency resources, making recommendations based on a thorough and continuous needs assessment, coordinating and tracking the disaster/emergency training for the Department, formulating a comprehensive Department Operations Center (DOC) plan, educating key team members regarding their DOC roles, and acting as the Department representative in the coordination of emergency programs with other City departments and outside agencies; 
Establishing policies, procedures and interpretations to ensure construction codes and their enforcement are timely, accurate, uniform and consistent;
Leading strong, solution-oriented collaboration with the Permit Center Division and Engineering/Plan Review Division to ensure seamless project flow from plan submittal to final inspection;
Coordinating with partner departments, bureaus, or agencies such as Planning, Code Enforcement, Fire, Health, Public Works, Water, Gas/Oil, and Harbor to resolve inter-agency challenges, eliminate delays, and simplify the development process for customers;
Developing technical policies and public information bulletins to assist our customers better understand inspection requirements and navigate the process successfully;
Improving transparency and consistency around the restaurant inspection processes, and working to eliminate misconceptions by providing proactive education, outreach, and clear guidance;
Managing, overseeing, and performing quality control on work performed by staff, contract staff, and outside consultants; 
Attending court to provide testimony and act as an expert witness regarding violations;
Acting as the public face of the Inspection Services Division by attending meetings with public interest groups and construction trade associations; and
Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

EDUCATION:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture or a related field.
Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.  
Certification from the International Code Council (ICC) or its equivalent in inspections.

*Required documents, such as transcripts, degrees, certificates, or licenses, must be uploaded to the online application in PDF format at the time of filing. Any documents submitted must contain either the applicant's name or other identifying characteristics on the document. Proof of education for academic degrees should indicate the type of degree and date of degree conferral. Candidates who possess degrees or units from outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalency at the time of filing.

 
EXPERIENCE: 
Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the enforcement of codes and statutes regulating the use and maintenance of buildings and properties, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire/life safety construction and inspection.
One (1) year of the required experience must have been at a supervisory or management level. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
A valid California Class C Driver License and proof of auto insurance. 
 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

Ability to innovate and stay up to date on the latest technologies while also striving to integrate them into providing excellent service to the public. 
Lead with consistent experience in the enforcement of codes and statutes regulating building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire life safety construction and inspection and the use and maintenance of buildings and properties.
Sets the example by providing excellent skills in customer service, oral and written communication, time management, supervision and process improvement.
Uses strong skills in leading and motivating teams, managing staff, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Demonstrates willingness to embrace new methods and technologies that can enhance project outcomes and community benefits.
Agile and adaptive leader who can successfully operate in a high-performance, fast-paced professional environment.
Effectively prioritizes tasks and manages time to meet project deadlines and goals.
 
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on June 27, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, certification, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration. 

The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender. The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting the Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7008. In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer, and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.