Chief Building Official

Reporting to the Director, Development, the Chief Building Official (CBO) leads the City’s Building Approvals Division and acts as the statutory authority for building regulation and compliance. The CBO is responsible for ensuring that all buildings within the City of Delta meet safety, sustainability, accessibility, and regulatory standards under the BC Building Code, Safety Standards Act, and applicable municipal bylaws.

The CBO provides definitive interpretation of codes and bylaws, issues permits and occupancy approvals, resolves complex technical and regulatory disputes, and aligns regulatory service delivery with Council priorities and community objectives. This role provides final decision‑making authority on building code compliance while fostering a customer‑focused, consistent, and defensible approvals process.

In addition to leading core permitting, inspection, plan review, and enforcement functions, the CBO is responsible for advancing modernization initiatives such as digital permitting, electronic plan review, workflow optimization, and performance measurement. The role integrates provincial and municipal energy, climate, and sustainability objectives, including the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon requirements, into building regulation and operational practice.

The CBO leads a multidisciplinary, unionized team, cultivating a high-performing environment through continuous development, succession planning, workforce growth, and strategic resource allocation. The position establishes and monitors service performance metrics to support continuous improvement and transparency.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the City’s statutory authority for building regulation, providing final interpretation and application of the BC Building Code, Energy Step Code, Zero Carbon requirements, and related bylaws
• Lead permitting, inspections, plan review, and enforcement for residential, commercial, industrial, and complex development projects
• Advance regulatory modernization initiatives including digital permitting systems, e‑plan review, and process improvement
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to improve service delivery, predictability, and accountability
• Lead and support unionized staff, fostering growth and development through coaching and clear expectations, and addressing attendance, workplace concerns, and employee relations matters in consultation with Human Resources
• Provide expert technical advice to Council, senior leadership, staff, applicants, and the public
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations to Council and senior management
• Collaborate across departments to align building regulation with planning, engineering, climate action, property use and compliance, and community objectives
• Represent the City in provincial, intermunicipal, and industry forums
• Demonstrated expertise in complex building code interpretation and regulatory decision‑making
• Proven leadership experience in a unionized municipal environment
• Experience with digital permitting systems and regulatory modernization initiatives
• Strong leadership, communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, building science, construction management, public administration, or a related field
• Professional designation such as Professional Engineer or Architect, or Registered Building Official (RBO) designation with strong related experience.
• Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in building regulation, inspections, or permitting, including at least five (5) years in a senior supervisory or management role
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s Licence

The City of Delta provides a competitive salary of $130,304 - $155,389 (commensurate with experience) and an excellent benefits package including Municipal Pension Plan as well as an earned-days-off system. Interested applicants are requested to apply online at www.delta.ca/employment, to competition number #26-109 EX by April 28, 2026.

At the City of Delta, we are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce that is representative of our community, providing equal opportunity and fostering an inclusive workplace where our individual differences are recognized, valued and celebrated.

We thank all applicants for their interest; only those under consideration will be contacted. Copies of relevant professional certificates, degrees, or tickets must be submitted with your application. Preferred candidates will be required to submit a Police Information Check.