Chief Building Inspector

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and community-minded professional to serve as our next Chief Building Inspector. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing building inspections, building permitting and plan review, and building compliance activities, while helping shape a safe, balanced, and functional community through thoughtful development practices.

The City of Morganton is committed to thoughtful growth, excellent public service, and building a strong community through teamwork and professionalism. This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping the future of a growing and vibrant city while working alongside dedicated professionals who value collaboration, innovation, and service.  This position is more than inspections — it is an opportunity to help guide responsible growth and contribute to building a City where people want to live, work, and invest.

About Morganton

The City of Morganton strives to be a community of choice that blends a strong local economy, an active downtown, first-class recreation opportunities, and strong neighborhoods. We are a welcoming place that acknowledges its history, embraces its cultural diversity, and works collaboratively and purposefully to make Morganton an unmatched place to live, work, play, and invest.

The Development and Design Services Department is committed to supporting both existing and new development by providing positive, efficient, and collaborative customer service — within the department, across City departments, and with the public. We believe successful development occurs when planning, zoning, engineering, landscaping, inspections, and code enforcement work together to support a shared vision for the community.

About the Role

The Chief Building Inspector performs responsible technical and administrative work involving construction document review and inspection of building construction, alterations, repairs, and additions to residential, commercial, and other facilities in accordance with North Carolina State Building Codes and local ordinances.

The successful candidate will oversee construction document review and inspection operations, supervise inspection personnel, and work closely with contractors, developers, engineers, architects, property owners, citizens, and City staff to ensure compliance and promote quality development throughout the community.

This position reports to the Development and Design Services Director and supervises two Building Inspectors and a Fire Inspector.

What We’re Looking For

 Our department structure and focus is to efficiently process projects to ensure all City requirements (zoning, building code compliance, watershed, engineering, landscaping, etc.) are quickly & accurately executed to allow customers to proceed on a timely basis.  To support this culture, the successful candidate will value teamwork and help developers and customers be aware of and comply with zoning and other City requirements beyond building codes, recognizing that each discipline plays a critical role in shaping a thriving community.

The successful candidate will:

• Work closely with the other members of the Development and Design Services team to promote quality development throughout the City
• Foster collaboration and open communication within and across departments
• Facilitate the flow of information and recognize when issues impact other divisions or departments
• Approach challenges with professionalism, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills
• Balance customer service with consistent application and enforcement of codes and ordinances
• Demonstrate leadership, accountability, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions
• Support development through proactive communication, efficiency, and solution-oriented service

Key Responsibilities

• Review construction documents for compliance with local ordinances and State Building Codes
• Provide technical guidance and code interpretation to contractors, engineers, architects, and citizens on building code requirements
• Conduct building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspections and re-inspections on construction projects for all structures governed by the Building Code
• Investigate complaints regarding building code violations and unsafe conditions, and issue warnings and stop-work orders when necessary Maintains detailed documentation for all inspections and other activities, including entering field inspection results and plan review results into permitting software
• Supervise inspection personnel and support ongoing professional development 

• Conduct special event inspections and safety inspections as needed and assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree or post-secondary training in a construction-related field preferred
• Five (5) or more years of experience as a building inspector in North Carolina or closely related construction inspection experience
• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina building codes and local ordinances
• Strong communication, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills
• Ability to interpret plans, specifications, codes, and regulations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, elected officials, contractors, developers, and the public
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license without restrictions
• Level III Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Inspection certifications, or ability to obtain within six months of employment

Anticipated starting pay is $72,000 - $92,000, depending on experience. Morganton values and strives for diversity and inclusion in its workforce. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  Applications will be reviewed as received.  Applications may be obtained online at www.morgantonnc.gov or at the Human Resources Department, Morganton City Hall, 305 E. Union Street, Suite A-100, Morganton, NC.  Phone (828) 438-5253 EOE