Description

The City of Paramount is now accepting applications for the position of Building and Housing Manager.
First application review period: February 07, 2026

*Job opened until filled*

If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

THE CITY 
Located in the gateway to the Los Angeles metropolis, the City of Paramount offers secure quality of life to its residents and a business-friendly attitude that has created a growing retail and services sector, with a thriving Downtown.  

Paramount's government is a stable, innovative, and financially conservative organization, and the City has continually invested in its infrastructure and emphasized code enforcement and assistance programs to help residents and businesses upgrade and maintain their properties. For these reasons, the City has a distinctive appearance that appeals to current and potential residents.  

For its employees, Paramount offers a family-friendly organization that places emphasis on lifework balance and flexibility. City leadership highly values the input and impact of each employee. Rather than work from the top-down, Paramount chooses collaboration, fostering a professional, respectful, and fulfilling work environment.  

CITY GOVERNMENT
The City of Paramount is operated by 6 departments: Administrative Services; Planning and Building; Public Safety; Public Works; Community Services, and Finance.  

With an operating budget of $50.4M, City population of 52,000, and covering 4.8 square miles, the City of Paramount is dedicated to providing fiscally responsible services that maintain a vibrant community that is Safe, Healthy, and Attractive! We value respect and ethical behaviors, adaptability, service excellence, and accountability. The City promotes innovation through teamwork, and providing effective, inclusive, and transparent public information and engagement.    

THE POSITION

Under direction, to plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work of building inspection, permitting, and housing program and project staff in the Planning and Building Department; to oversee and supervise the day-to-day operational activities of the Building and Safety Division and Housing Program; to coordinate and communicate with other departments, City officials, external agents and the public to provide information and address issues related to assigned functions; to assist in the development and administration of the Building and Safety Division and Housing Program budget; and to perform other related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a mid-management class in the Planning and Building series.  Incumbents supervise staff responsible for conducting building inspection, plan examination, building permitting , housing program and project administration to ensure the safety, habitability, and compliance of building and residential structures; and administer housing grants, programs and projects. Duties require extensive knowledge of building codes, housing regulations, and appropriate certification in building inspection. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

An incumbent in this class receives direct supervision from the Planning and Building Director and the Assistant Planning and Building Director. An incumbent in this class exercises direct supervision over subordinates, Building Inspectors, Building Permit Technicians, Management Analyst, and other support staff.

Examples of Duties:

• Supervise and direct the work of subordinate personnel engaged in building inspection, plan examination, permitting, housing enforcement, housing grant management, and related activities; plan, organize and coordinate staff assignments; participate in the recruitment and selection of new employees; develop employee schedules; assign staff duties and review work for compliance with established standards, requirements and procedures; monitor employee performance and initiate transfers, reassignments and/or disciplinary actions as required.
• Plan, schedule and ensure appropriate training and compliance with certification requirements; maintain and verify training records and certifications and ensure that staff receive ongoing training needed to maintain competence and knowledge, develop new skills, and perform work efficiently and effectively.
• Monitor staff work for quality and compliance with applicable laws, codes, regulations and ordinances; review staff inspection reports for consistency and accuracy; research and investigate problems or issues and resolve expediently and appropriately.
• Provide input to the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures; review Building and Safety Division and Housing
• Program activities and recommend policy or procedure changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide information to the public regarding building code requirements; interpret and explain necessary measures for compliance; coordinate and direct the resolution of complaints; respond to the most difficult inquiries or inspection issues and follow-up as needed to ensure that issues have been resolved.
• Coordinate building inspection activities with code enforcement staff, planners and other departments as needed; arrange for joint inspections as necessary.
• Assist code enforcement staff on cases involving structures; review County Assessor documents to identify property ownership, liens, zoning and other characteristics; provide interpretation of building permit documents.
• Ensure that building plans, permits and other Building and Safety Division and Housing Program records are retained and maintained appropriately and in compliance with legal requirements.
• Prepare required reports, including State-mandated reports regarding the number of housing units constructed, the number of permits issued, and the collection of State fees.
• Coordinate and perform special projects as assigned; provide business process expertise and coordination to the development and implementation of new building-related systems and technology tools.
• Assist with the preparation and administration of the Building and Safety Division and Housing Program budget; develop plans and proposals to meet future service needs; analyze expenditures and implement appropriate fiscal control measures as needed.
• May perform the most difficult building inspection, plan examination and permitting duties and/or coordinate with the Building Official for inspection assistance.
• Plan and conduct staff meetings; attend a variety of meetings, seminars and conferences related to assigned activities.
• Act as the Director and/or Assistant Director in their absence if assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education, training, and work experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position may be qualifying. A typical combination is as follows:

Experience:

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in the inspection and plan review of public, commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, including housing code enforcement or housing program administration.

Training:

Bachelor's degree with major coursework in civil engineering, architecture, construction technology, urban planning, public administration, or a related field.  Additional relevant experience may substitute for all or part of the college-level education.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license and insurability at regular rates for the City’s automobile insurance.
• Possession of a valid International Code Council (ICC) or equivalent building inspection certificate; or possession of housing-related compliance certification, or equivalent (e.g., HUD, HCD), within 1 year from appointment.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles, practices, terminology and techniques of building and plan permitting, examination, inspection, violation investigation and enforcement; including housing program administration.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of assigned programs, policies and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision and leadership, including staff selection, motivation, direction, mentoring and performance evaluation.
• Laws, regulations, standards and requirements applicable to assigned programs and functions, including State codes, local ordinances and City policies, including housing-related laws and tenant protections.
• Basic civil engineering principles, practices and methods related to structural engineering.
• Fair housing, the Housing Element development and implementation process, and the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).
• The Uniform/California Building, Plumbing, and Mechanical Codes, and the National Electrical Code.
• Building-related recordkeeping requirements and procedures.
• Advanced methods and techniques for researching property information.
• Correct English usage, including grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.

Skill to:

• Effectively utilize modern office equipment, including personal computers and standard business software such as the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Operate a variety of office equipment, including a calculator, copier, computer and assigned software.
• Safely operate one or more types of vehicles if required by assignments. 

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, schedule, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate staff performing a variety of building inspection, plan examination, permitting, and housing program duties.
• Interpret and explain applicable laws, codes, rules, ordinances and regulations, including housing-related regulations.
• Handle difficult public contact situations with tact.
• Review and prepare complex reports based on technical and legal information.
• Develop and maintain appropriate systems for maintaining building and safety records and housing records.
• Perform building inspections and investigations.
• Determine appropriate actions within broad guidelines.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Prepare and administer budgets.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.

Supplemental Information:
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed in both outdoor or indoor settings and requires:  the use of standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; frequent standing in and walking between work areas and driving to work sites; finger dexterity to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or and to operate standard office equipment; occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling; lifting and carrying materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Work is primarily performed with moderate noise levels, varied temperature and weather conditions, and occasional potential exposure to hazards such as dust and fumes; may require interacting with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental and City policies and procedures, including housing-related concerns.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Completed application and resume must be submitted by the filing deadline listed above. Application packets will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in the job announcement. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure an invitation to the recruitment process. The selection process will include an oral interview and may include other testing processes designed to predict successful job performance.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.

Equal Opportunity Employer 
Please Note: If you have a disability that may require an accommodation in the selection process, please notify Human Resources in writing when you submit your application.