Chief Building Official

As the Chief Building Official, you will lead the daily operations of building permitting within the Community Development Department. You'll provide leadership and direction to the City’s building inspection and permitting team responsible for helping construction projects move forward safely and in compliance with adopted building codes and regulations. You'll serve as the City's primary resource on building code matters, working closely with property owners, contractors, architects, developers, staff, and elected officials to support community development and construction activity throughout Durango. 

This position combines technical expertise, staff leadership, and customer service. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in building construction and code administration, experience supervising and guiding a team, the ability to interpret and apply complex regulations, and a commitment to providing fair, consistent, and professional service to the community. 

The starting pay for this position is between $106,992 and $117,691 per year, with opportunities for growth up to $149,789 per year based on long-term growth and performance within the role.

 City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence
The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here. 

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan. 

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because: 

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements. 
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals. 
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results. 
  

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve. What You’ll Do in This Role:  

• Manage the City's building permitting, plan review, inspection, and code compliance services. 
• Supervise, coach, and support building inspection and permitting staff while managing daily operations and service delivery. 
• Review building plans and inspect residential and commercial construction projects for compliance with adopted building, plumbing, mechanical, and related codes. 
• Interpret and apply building regulations, provide technical guidance, and help resolve complex code questions. 
• Work directly with property owners, contractors, architects, engineers, developers, and community members throughout the permitting and construction process. 
• Respond to customer concerns and code compliance issues with professionalism and sound judgment. 
• Recommend updates to policies, procedures, and building codes based on changing regulations and industry practices. 
• Advise City leadership, boards, commissions, and City Council on building-related matters. 
• Assist with division budgeting, operational planning, and continuous improvement efforts. 
• Issue stop-work notices for non-compliant or unpermitted construction and maintain related documentation. 
  

You Have:  

• A bachelor’s degree with major coursework in structural engineering, architecture, or a related field. 
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in the construction industry, including experience with building, plumbing, and mechanical systems. 
• Three years of experience working as a code official for a municipality or other building code agency, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) certificates preferred. 
  

You Will Succeed in This Role If You: 

• Communicate complex technical information in a way that is clear and easy for others to understand. 
  
• Balance customer service with consistent application of codes and regulations. 
  
• Build positive working relationships with contractors, developers, community members, elected officials, and coworkers. 
  
• Stay current on changes in building codes, regulations, and industry practices. 
• Approach challenges with professionalism, sound judgment, and a solutions-focused mindset. 
  
• Are comfortable splitting your time between office work, field inspections, meetings, and public interaction. 
  

What We Can Offer You: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. 
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.  
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.  
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.  
• Long-term disability coverage. 
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). 
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area. 
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being. 
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.  
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.  
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations. 
  

View the full Chief Building Official job description here.