Job Description

Posting number: T27008

Department: Community Development and Planning

Job classification: Inspector of Buildings

Posting type: Open

Categories: Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, Planning and Development, Safety, Community Development

The Town of Andover is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and service-oriented professional to lead its Building and Zoning Division. The Building Commissioner oversees a knowledgeable team, guides responsible development, and helps ensure that buildings and properties throughout Andover are safe, accessible, and compliant with applicable codes and regulations.

Under the general direction of the Town Manager and in coordination with the Department Head of Community Development and Planning, the Building Commissioner provides strategic, administrative, and technical leadership for the Building and Zoning Division. Serving as the Town’s Inspector of Buildings and Zoning Enforcement Officer, the Building Commissioner retains independent responsibility for administering and enforcing the Massachusetts State Building Code, M.G.L. c. 143, the Town’s zoning and general by-laws, and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations within the statutory authority of the position.

Examples of duties

• Provide administrative and strategic leadership for the Building and Zoning Division and contribute to the overall leadership of the Community Development and Planning Department, including preparing and administering the division’s budget and establishing operational priorities and initiatives.
• Plan, organize, and direct the division’s daily operations, including permitting, plan review, inspections, code enforcement, zoning enforcement, and customer service.
• Supervise division staff, including building inspectors, electrical and plumbing/gas inspectors, the Sealer of Weights and Measures, and administrative support staff.
• Oversee the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of the Massachusetts State Building Code, applicable specialized codes, M.G.L. c. 143, the Town’s zoning and general by-laws, and other applicable laws and regulations, including responding to unsafe-building and emergency conditions within the authority of the position.
• Review building permit applications, construction plans, and supporting documentation; conduct site inspections; issue permits, certificates of occupancy, enforcement orders, and other determinations within the authority of the position; and calculate and collect applicable fees in accordance with the Town’s approved fee schedule.
• Review subdivision, commercial development, and other significant development proposals and coordinate with Town departments through the interdepartmental review process.
• Work collaboratively with property owners, contractors, architects, engineers, design and trade professionals, developers, residents, and Town staff to explain requirements and achieve compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Serve as the Town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer pursuant to M.G.L. c. 40A, § 7. Respond to zoning inquiries and written enforcement requests as required by law; investigate complaints; issue enforcement notices; establish compliance deadlines; pursue applicable penalties in accordance with law and Town by-laws; and enforce special permits, variances, and other land-use decisions.
• Review applications submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals for accuracy and completeness, prepare technical reviews and recommendations, and attend meetings and hearings as required.
• Review proposed amendments to the Town’s zoning and general by-laws and provide technical guidance and recommendations.
• Serve as staff liaison to, or appoint a designee to support, the Design Review Board, Andover Preservation Commission, Ballardvale Historic District Commission, and Central Street Historic District Commission, and provide technical guidance to the Planning Board and other boards and commissions as appropriate.
• Interpret and apply requirements related to accessibility, land use, occupancy, site-plan approvals, historic-district decisions, signs, Board of Health inspections, and other matters within the division’s jurisdiction.
• Conduct inspections associated with liquor-license applications and renewals and serve on Town committees as directed by the Town Manager.
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, building science, public administration, or a related field and at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in building construction, design, field supervision, inspection, code administration, or a related area, including supervisory or management experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

Municipal building, zoning, permitting, and code-enforcement experience is strongly preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

• Must be certified by the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards as an Inspector of Buildings/Building Commissioner or be eligible for conditional appointment in accordance with 780 CMR 110.R7.
  
• A candidate appointed conditionally must hold certification as a Local Inspector at the time of appointment and obtain certification as an Inspector of Buildings/Building Commissioner within the timeframe prescribed by applicable regulations.
  
• Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle driver’s license.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the Massachusetts State Building Code, applicable specialized codes, zoning requirements, construction practices, materials, methods, and inspection procedures, as well as applicable federal, state, and local laws related to building safety, accessibility, land use, occupancy, and code enforcement.
  
• Demonstrated leadership, management, budgeting, planning, organizational, and supervisory skills, including the ability to establish priorities and support effective and consistent division operations.
  
• Ability to analyze complex technical, regulatory, and legal issues and develop sound, practical, and defensible conclusions and recommendations.
  
• Ability to interpret and enforce codes, laws, regulations, and by-laws firmly, consistently, tactfully, and impartially.
  
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly and establish effective working relationships with residents, applicants, property owners, contractors, design professionals, employees, officials, boards and commissions, and regulatory agencies.
  
• Ability to recognize Town-wide priorities and collaborate effectively across departments and within an Open Town Meeting–Town Manager form of government.
  
• Proficiency with permitting, inspection, record management, and other technology used in municipal building operations.
  

Supplemental information

Supervisory Responsibility: Provides direct and indirect supervision to five or more full-time-equivalent employees.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Work is performed in both an office environment and at construction sites, existing buildings, and other field locations throughout the Town.

The position requires the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• Travel between work locations and move safely throughout active construction sites, existing buildings, and other field locations.
  
• Walk or stand for extended periods and occasionally climb stairs, ladders, or scaffolding; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and reach as necessary to conduct inspections.
  
• Work outdoors in varying weather and around construction activity, noise, dust, uneven terrain, and other conditions commonly encountered at inspection sites.
• Respond to emergency conditions involving fires, floods, unsafe structures, and other potentially hazardous environments.
  
  

The Town of Andover is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Town is committed to advancing its workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.