Director of Building & Life Safety

About the Position

The Village is seeking its next Director of Building & Life Safety to lead a team of professionals in a fast-paced department. As the Director of the Building & Life Safety Department, you will play a pivotal role in planning and directing all functions and operations of the department. The Director of Building & Life Safety oversees three teams in the department focused on: Building & Property Services, Fire Safety Services, and Permits & Licensing. Reporting to the Village Manager, you will supervise and coordinate the workflow of department staff, set departmental goals, and ensure compliance with building codes and regulations. The Director of Building and Life Safety oversees a department of 19 professionals.

Last year, the Department processed more than 5,000 building permits and performed over 3,000 annual inspections. In 2023, the Village of Arlington Heights Building & Life Safety Department became the first in Illinois to be accredited by the International Accreditation Service for its high-quality professional services. The department was awarded the IAS Recognition for quality, permitting, plan review, inspection and property maintenance Code enforcement services.

This position is available due to the upcoming retirement of the current Director. The new Director of Building & Life Safety will have the opportunity to build on recent successes in the department, including the successful launching of Energy software for permitting and licensing, customer service improvements, and an increase in inspectional capacity due to cross training of Inspectors.

Key responsibilities of the Director will include:

• Acting as the Building and Fire Code Official for the municipality.  

• Supervising and coordinating the work of department staff, setting goals and priorities based on departmental functions.

• Overseeing the plan review process, including building permit applications and site plans, and approve permits as appropriate.

• Providing guidance and advice to staff, citizens, and contractors regarding established building codes and regulations.

• Enforcing codes pertaining to building, electrical, fire safety, and plumbing, ensuring compliance with all relevant ordinances.

• Tracking and monitoring inspectors' responses to complaints by residents, determining patterns and selecting appropriate action for resolution or compliance.

• Consulting with architects, contractors, and individuals on technical aspects of projects and interpret code provisions as necessary.

• Attending meetings with staff, managers, and municipal authorities to advise and inform on building issues.

• Monitoring progress of construction work in the municipality to ensure code compliance and overseeing the work of building and fire inspectors.

• Developing and monitoring the department budget, recommending modifications as required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in building inspection, code enforcement, and municipal management, coupled with a demonstrated track record of strong leadership skills. Candidates should have considerable knowledge of budget preparation and knowledge of the principles and practices of Human Resources Management, so as to effectively lead a department.

Our ideal candidate will have more than ten years of related building experience, including at least three years in a supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Qualified candidates will have knowledge of national and local building, fire, electrical, and plumbing codes and ordinances and expertise in methods and materials used in building design, construction, electrical, fire, and plumbing installations. Prior experience with fire prevention is highly preferred.

Our ideal candidate is a strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, capable of liaising effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and the public. Above all, you will have a commitment to professionalism and integrity and a dedication to serving our community with excellence.