Building and Safety Supervisor

Salary : $153,285.34 - $186,319.64 Annually
Location : 630 Garden St., Santa Barbara, CA
Job Type: Full-time Unclassified
Job Number:
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 11/05/2026
Closing Date: 12/1/2026 5:30 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION
THE POSITION

The Community Development Department is seeking a knowledgeable, talented, and motivated Building and Safety Supervisor. This position is responsible for planning, prioritizing, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of staff responsible for providing code compliance services in the Code Compliance division. The position develops, recommends, and implements City code compliance policies, procedures, and regulations for ensuring code compliance involving the application of related laws, ordinances, and regulations. Analyzes, evaluates, and interprets Municipal Codes and other local regulations. Advise professionals and the public of building codes, building code interpretations, city ordinances and other related requirements. Participate in the investigation of potential violations and the enforcement of the municipal code, ordinances, standards, and health and safety regulations. Documents violations: research ownership records, prior complaints, municipal codes, ordinances, and State regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred. Compile detailed information for action by appropriate City officials. Communicate with property owners and attorneys and conduct follow-up investigations to ensure compliance.

Hybrid/Flexible Work Schedule: This position has the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule. Schedules are dependent upon operational needs and are subject to change. Details of teleworking considerations can be addressed during the interview process.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This is the supervisory class in the Building Inspection, Plan Check and Code Compliance series. It is distinguished from the various Department Building and Safety and Zoning enforcement positions by the responsibility for supervising, overseeing and evaluating an employee work unit. The Supervisor independently responds to and resolves complaints and makes sound decisions in the field. The Building and Safety Supervisor is a multiple position classification assigned to one of three functional areas within the Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department.
BENEFITS:

To view our benefits page click here.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of building plan checking, inspection, permit issuance, prescribing civil penalties, and code enforcement.
• Applicable City, State, and Federal codes, ordinances, and regulations related to Enforcement, Planning, Land Use and Building Standards.
• Principles of supervision team building, training and performance evaluations.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of construction and safety related to construction.
• Principles of engineering as they relate to building codes and regulations.
• Principles of health, welfare, and life-safety as they relate to building codes and regulations.
• Pertinent Federal and State codes and regulations related to a building division.
• Principles of structural design and engineering mathematics.
• Complex principles and techniques of code enforcement.
• Methods and techniques of conflict resolution.
• Municipal code administrative fine procedures.
• Departmental policies affecting the Building Division.
• Report methods, permitting process, and community relations.
• Modern office procedures, methods, computer software and hardware.

Ability to:

• Select, supervise, organize, train, evaluate, and review the work of staff.
• Interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State and Local laws, codes and regulations.
• Read and interpret complex building plans, specifications, and zoning and building codes.
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing, planning policies, building and zoning regulations, and local procedures with clarity and diplomacy.
• Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
• Handle a variety of code enforcement issues.
• Handle complaining parties, defendants and their attorneys in an assertive, but courteous manner.
• Apply mathematical means to verify calculations and ensure compliance with applicable codes.
• Interpret and explain City policies and procedures.
• Provide technical information and assistance to engineers, architects, contractors, attorneys, real estate agents, appraisers and the general public.
• Handle inquiries that require administrative and technical code knowledge.
• Operate computer systems and permit, record keeping; word processing and accounting programs.
• Coordinate plan review with other City Departments and outside agencies.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including public contacts.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in structural engineering, building inspection, code enforcement, plan checking, building permit counter and record maintenance, including two years of lead supervisory responsibility.

Education and/or Training:
A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course works in civil engineering, architecture or related field is highly desirable. Specialized training in building inspection, code enforcement, plan checking, building permit counter, record maintenance and clerical operations.

License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements:Possession of, or ability to obtain, within one year of appointment:

• Certified Code Enforcement Officer Certification issued by the California Code Enforcement Officers Association (CACEO) or by the International Code Council/American Association of Code Enforcement (ICC/AACE)
• Certified Plans Examiner by ICBO/ICC (International Conference of Building Officials/ International Code Council).
• Certified Combination Inspector (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, building) by the International Conference of Building Officials

SELECTION PROCESS
It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as "See application", "Extensive Experience", or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Community Development Department.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your account to view these emails.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2026.
THE SALARY RANGE consists of five steps, each representing an increase of approximately five percent. STEP INCREASES, through the top salary step, are tied to job performance with annual performance reviews. Employees receive annual performance reviews.
THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS may vary and are subject to collective bargaining:
Note: Part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits, e.g., 50%, 60%, etc.

• Standard Citywide 9/80 work schedule with closures on alternate Fridays.
• Flexwork/Telecommuting is available.
• Bilingual pay may be available at a rate of $64 / pay period.
• Vacation is accrued at 96 hours / year, increasing with City service.
• Personal leave (32 hours) is provided each July 1st at the start of the fiscal year (pro-rated the first year).
• Sick leave is accrued at the rate of 96 hours / year.
• Holidays: 12 holidays are observed / year.
• Retirement: The City does not participate in Social Security.
  • PERS Miscellaneous Formula: "Classic" members: 2.7% @ 55; City contributes 12.03% and employee contributes 8% of salary. "New" members: 2% @ 62; City contributes 12.03% and employee contributes 7.75% of salary.
  • PERS Police Safety Formula: "Classic" members: 3% @ 50; City contributes 23.38% and employee contributes 9% of salary. "New" members: 2.7% @ 57; City contributes 23.38% and employee contributes 14% of salary.
  • PERS Fire Safety Formula: "Classic" members: 3% @ 50; City contributes 27.8% and employee contributes 10.5% of salary. "New" members: 2.7% @ 57; City contributes 14.72% and employee contributes 14.5% of salary.
• Insurance including medical, dental, and vision benefits is available. Click here for the benefits rate sheet: Supervisors Unit Rate Sheet.
• Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance (1x annual salary) is provided. Employee-paid supplemental life insurance is available subject to a health application if coverage is not elected during the new hire guarantee issue period.
• Employee Assistance Program: A City-paid EAP is available for employees and members of their household.
• Long-term Disability Insurance is provided.
• State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) is provided. Employee pays 1.1% of salary. For 2025, the anticipated SDI/PFL rate is 1.2% of salary.
• Deferred Compensation Savings Plans (457) are available to employees through a deferred compensation program.
• A uniform allowance or uniform will be provided by the City to those employees required to wear a uniform.
• Employee must pay an amount equal to 1.45% of salary toward Medicare. An equal amount is paid by the City.
• The Santa Barbara City Supervisory Employees' Bargaining Unit represents this classification.

Revised 12/1/2024
01

Please describe your supervisory experience and approach in developing a "Team-building" environment.
02

Describe your experience with each of the following:

1. Field inspection
2. Structural building plan review
3. Code enforcement
4. Conducting investigations
5. Issuing citations.

03

Describe your experience with supervising a staff that successfully manages heavy daily workloads.
04

Share two (2) code compliance case issues that you have had to deal with as a supervisor or manager. Include the situation, your role, how you handled the situation, and what the outcome was.
Required Question