Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras with approximately 106,000 residents living in unincorporated areas of the county. Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget, capital investments and other funds of more than $1 billion. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.

Bernalillo County

Department of Human Resources

Job Descriptions

What does the red Zia symbol mean? The Zia sun symbol represent the four cardinal directions, the four seasons of the year, the four period of each day (morning, noon, evening, and night), and the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle age, and old age). The centre of the sun symbol stands for life itself. The yellow field with red symbol pays recognition to the Aragon Realm of the conquistadors and their homeland in Spain.
JCM404: Certified Building Official

Certified Building Official

Job Code
Grade
Bargaining Unit
JCM404
9
None
       
       
Salary
As Hourly
As Annual
78,582.00 - 98,696.00 - 124,093.00 USD Annual
$37.78 - $47.45 - $59.66
$78,582.00 - $98,696.00 - $124,093.00

POSITION SUMMARY

The Certified Building Official serves as Bernalillo County’s authority on building compliance. This position ensures adherence to County building and zoning ordinances, as well as building, electrical, and mechanical/plumbing codes. Responsibilities include supervising staff, overseeing inspections, managing permit processes, and enforcing compliance. Supervisory duties include hiring, training, performance assessment, coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Serves as the County’s Certified Building Official.
  • Supervises, schedules, and reviews the daily workload of building, electrical, mechanical/plumbing inspectors, and clerical staff.
  • Provides and coordinates training for inspection and administrative staff.
  • Assists contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners in meeting County permit and code requirements.
  • Ensures all required inspections for residential and commercial construction are performed in compliance with applicable codes.
  • Reviews construction plans to verify compliance with County building, zoning, and related codes; provides written details for permit issuance.
  • Issues stop-work notices, correction notices, and notices of violation as needed.
  • Prepares reports and maintains accurate records of inspections, complaints, and legal proceedings; serves as an expert witness in court cases.
  • Recommends changes to inspection procedures and department operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Compiles department statistics and supports budget preparation and departmental reporting.
  • Attends and presents department information at meetings, including evenings and weekends as required.
  • Supervises and directs the Code Enforcement Coordinator on property maintenance matters.
  • Analyzes, adopts, and coordinates updates to the County's Building Ordinance approximately every three years.
  • Creates, manages, and organizes Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) with municipalities and tribal governments.
  • Oversees permitting, plans reviews, and inspections throughout Bernalillo County.
  • Resolves complex code compliance issues among contractors, inspectors, architects, and engineers.
  • Manages department inventory, including vehicles, tools, equipment, and office supplies.
  • Assists Public Works Facilities with code analysis for County-owned and prospective buildings.
  • Handles sensitive and confidential records, documents, and decisions with discretion.


*The above information is intended to outline the general nature and scope of the duties required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may vary depending on specific job assignments and responsibilities. 


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
  • Nine (9) years of work experience in budgeting, cost control, zoning ordinances, land use regulations, database operations or project management principles.
  • Two (2) years in a managerial role.

*Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered for the above requirements. 


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCREENING AND COMPLIANCE



The offer of this Bernalillo County position requires compliance with the following:

  • Successfully complete the post-offer employment medical examination.
  • Comply with County safety guidelines.
  • Possess and maintain a valid New Mexico driver’s license.
  • Complete all required FEMA trainings assigned to the position.
  • Obtain New Mexico Certified Building Official certification prior to hire.
  • Obtain International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Official certification within 60 days of hire.



WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Perform duties both indoors and outdoors.
  • Work indoors in both temperature-controlled and non-temperature-controlled environments; work outdoors in all weather conditions, including severe weather.
  • Experience occasional exposure to vibration and noise during building inspections at construction sites.
  • Work indoors on even surfaces such as carpet, tile, or concrete, which may be wet or dry.
  • Work outdoors on a variety of surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, natural ground, gravel, snow, ice, or roofs; surfaces may be even or uneven, and wet or dry.
  • Use stairs, ladders, and scaffolding when performing outdoor duties.
  • Experience exposure to fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, and areas with poor ventilation.
  • Encounter work hazards such as heights, active construction sites, scaffolding, and loose animals.



EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS

  • Operate a variety of office equipment, including mainframe computers, photocopiers, and communication devices.
  • Use work aids such as construction documents, books, binders, hard hats, gloves, tape measures, architectural scales, and cameras.
  • Operate a County vehicle as needed.

Revision: 8/21/2025 1:40:29 PM