Deputy Building Official

Lead with Purpose. Build Trust. Make a Difference.

Palm Beach County is seeking an experienced and principled leader to serve as Deputy Building Official and help lead one of the Countys most important public-facing operations.

We believe character is the foundation of effective leadership. As such, we are looking for a leader people can trust. This is more than a building code position.

The Deputy Building Official provides strategic and operational leadership for the inspection, flood, drainage, and code administration functions. The successful candidate will lead through integrity, accountability, sound judgment, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to serving both the community and the employees who serve it.

The ideal candidate understands that effective leadership is not simply about knowing the code, it is about knowing when to listen, when to act, when to challenge, and when to support. This position requires a leader who can make difficult decisions with fairness and consistency, communicate clearly, build strong relationships, and create an environment where employees are empowered to perform at their best.

WHO ARE WE:

The Palm Beach County Building Division is a team of over 200 professionals serving unincorporated Palm Beach County across Permitting, Plan Review, Inspections, Floodplain, Drainage, and more. Our work is rooted in public service and a shared responsibility to keep the structures in our community safe. We are committed to developing our employees, growing expertise at every level, staying at the forefront of our industry, and fulfilling our promise to Deliver Exceptional Service, Every Time.

Our Division is growing, and the best is yet to come. With strong industry involvement, IAS accreditation on the horizon, and a move into our new state-of-the-art facility in early 2027, this is an exciting time to join our team. If you are ready to lead, now is your opportunity to grow, contribute, and help shape what comes next. Come build with us!

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:

Every decision made by the Building Division has a real impact on peoples lives; on the safety of families, success of businesses, quality of development, and resilience of our community.

We need a leader who understands that responsibility.

We are looking for someone who will leave the organization stronger than they found it, not simply through better processes, but through better people, stronger teams, and a culture built on trust.

If you are ready to lead with integrity, build trust, develop people, and make a lasting difference in the community you serve, we invite you to apply.

WHAT YOULL DO:

As a member of the Building Divisions leadership team, you will:

• Support, develop, and lead managers and employees responsible for inspection operations and related administrative functions.
• Establish and maintain a culture of trust, professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and exceptional customer service.
• Provide strategic direction for operational programs, processes, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure inspection and administrative services are delivered efficiently, consistently, and in accordance with applicable laws, codes, and regulations.
• Exercise sound and independent judgment in addressing complex construction, development, code, personnel, and operational issues.
• Interpret and apply the Florida Building Code, Florida Statutes, Local Ordinances, and other applicable regulations.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, technology, service delivery, and organizational effectiveness.
• Monitor operational performance and assist with budget development, resource allocation, and long-term planning.
• Participate in building code development, implementation, and interpretation.
• Build effective working relationships with County leadership, employees, customers, contractors, design professionals, governmental agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Develop future leaders through coaching, mentoring, professional development, and meaningful accountability.
• Represent the Building Division with professionalism, credibility, and integrity and serve as a trusted resource to County leadership and the community.

THE LEADER WERE LOOKING FOR:

Technical expertise is important. Character is essential.

We are looking for a leader who:

• Delivers exceptional service, every time, to internal and external stakeholders.
• Leads by example and earns trust through actions, not titles.
• Demonstrates integrity, honesty, and professionalism in both decisions and relationships.
• Treats people with dignity and respect, including when difficult decisions must be made.
• Takes ownership and holds others accountable in a fair, consistent, and respectful manner.
• Has the courage to make difficult decisions and the humility to reconsider them when presented with new information.
• Builds strong teams rather than simply managing employees.
• Communicates openly, clearly, and respectfully.
• Balances regulatory responsibility with practical, solution-oriented exceptional customer service.
• Invests in people and recognizes that an organizations greatest asset is its employees.
• Remains calm, thoughtful, and professional when dealing with conflict, pressure, or competing priorities
• Understands public service is a position of trust and responsibility, not simply a job.
• Has the vision and leadership ability to improve an organization while respecting the people, experience, and processes that make it successful.
• Understands leadership is measured by how people are treated, not just by what gets accomplished.

If you are a leader who believes doing the right thing, developing people, and serving the community matter just as much as technical expertise, we want to hear from you.