Building Official (Engineer IV) chez King County, WA

About the Department

The Department of Local Services, Permitting Division is recruiting for a Building Official (Engineer IV), The person in this role will oversee specialized plan examination of building plans and supporting documentation for structures and developments; as well as field inspections of single family, multi-family, commercial buildings, and other structures to ensure compliance with structural, life safety, energy, mechanical, accessibility, and other applicable county, state, and federal building codes and regulations. We are seeking a proactive and strategic individual that will empower their team, is committed to stellar service-delivery, and dedicated to equity, racial and social justice.

About the Department of Local Services:
King County is the local service provider for the roughly one quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county; collectively, these communities would be the second largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office, and the Road Services and Permitting Divisions. Together, this department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivering local services to all unincorporated areas.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering equity, racial and social justice in every aspect of our work.  Our commitment to “True North” values which ensures every person has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential and forms the core of our mission and purpose.  Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

To learn more about the Permitting Division please visit our website at King County Permits.

Position Duties

Applying equity, racial and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

• Provide responses and support for building inspectors in the field. 
• Determine interpretation and application of codes for plans examiners and inspectors. 
• Determine interpretation and application of codes for permit review coordinators as it interrelates to permitting requirements. 
• Determine basic administrative code application, including when work may be exempt from permit. 
• Determines if permits should be extended. 
• Respond to customer inquiries regarding a broad range of technical and administrative topics. 
• Conduct site visits evaluating and determining action on difficult projects. May include posting properties. 
• Respond to request for early starts, sequential permitting, grading permit or Pre-issuance construction authorization (PICA).
• Review and distribute workload, assignments, and priorities for building inspectors.
• Develop policy interpretations, public briefing documents, outreach, mentoring and technical training to support division implementation of the King County and State building codes by plan review and inspection staff. 
• Work with stakeholders in the State building code to advance higher performance building codes to meet County goals.  
• Represent the County on various committees in support of Permitting’s operations including MyBuildingPermits, Washington Association of Building Officials and other professional agencies.
• Represent the Division and provide support for emergency and disaster response actions, planning and training.  
• Exhibit and support a culture of superior customer service, and scrupulously honor commitments made to customers and others. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Construction experience or education and experience in a related field such as architecture, construction management or building construction technician.
• Ability to conduct meetings with a variety of stakeholders including builder and professional associations, business and homeowner groups, and other governmental representatives.   
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Demonstrated experience in the application and interpretation of structural, life safety, energy, mechanical, accessibility, and other applicable county, state, and federal building codes.
• Demonstrated experience in the application of construction methods and materials and construction sequencing as they relate to code requirements.  
• Knowledge of the permitting process.
• Experience working specifically on implementing the current Washington State energy codes and other codes or standards that exceed current adopted energy codes.
• Knowledge of site development and land use regulations including earthwork, soil types and characteristics, erosion and sedimentation control, structural materials, systems, and engineering.
• Knowledge of fire prevention systems, hazardous material control and life safety systems. 
• Skill in reading, interpreting, and explaining blueprints, specifications, codes, ordinances, and policies.
• Skill in recognizing defects in construction materials and techniques and recommending alternative methods. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize a high volume of work and handle multiple tasks with changing priorities while meeting deadlines and team goals.
• Strong communication skills, collaborative working style, and the ability to handle stressful situations in a positive manner.
• Are skilled in presenting to a diverse audience in a variety of formats.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, plan, schedule and follow up on tasks; elevate issues or obtain additional resources when necessary.
• Have demonstrated proficiency with business applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite.

Desired Qualifications: 

• International Code Council (ICC) certification as a building inspector and/or plans examiner
• Experience as a building inspector
• Experience as a plans examiner
• Experience in reviewing green building and sustainable construction projects
• Experience with electronic review of construction documents 

Requirements: 

• An offer of employment will be contingent on the success of a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must have a valid Washington State driver's license and a good driving record. A complete driving abstract will be required.
• Must be able to use office equipment and software.

Other Qualifications

The first review of applicants will be on the week of October 13, 2025, and applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview the week of October 20, 2025. 

This recruitment will be used to fill one career service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional vacancies in the same classification that may occur within the next six months. 

Who May Apply:This position is open to all qualified applicants. First consideration will be given to current PROTEC17 members in the same classification that are eligible for lateral transfer.

Forms and Materials: A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a resume and cover letter (no more than 2 pages) summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.

Selection Process: Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Interviews will be conducted via Teams. Reference checks and file reviews will be conducted.

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf

Work Schedule: The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours, and/or on weekends. This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act and is eligible for overtime pay, with prior supervisor approval.

Emergency Designation Status: This position has been designated as:  

Non-Mission Critical - Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical.

Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.

Union Membership:  PROTEC17 

Work Location:
The work associated with this position will be performed through a hybrid work schedule of teleworking, field work, onsite work and meetings as needed. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change.

Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Your primary onsite workspace will be at 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 300, Renton, WA 98057.

Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work in a hybrid environment.  
  
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 
  
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

 
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
 

To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Vivienne Swai, HR Analyst, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 206-477-1538.