The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.   

Please note: Applications will be accepted through August 25, 2025. 
Resumes received by July 28, 2025, will receive first consideration.

To view the full recruitment brochure, please click here. (Download PDF reader)

Deputy Director/Building Official
Under administrative direction from the Planning and Building Department (PBD) Director, the Deputy Director position will be responsible for the overall administration of the Building Bureau. In this capacity, the position also carries the delegation of authority as Building Official to be the administrative interpreter of the Building Code as cited in Section 15 of the Oakland Municipal Code. Given the integral and principal role that the building code plays in permitting, inspection, code enforcement, environmental quality, and community character, this position is a key participant in the development of policy, processes, and metrics for the City of Oakland to meet its residents', businesses’, institutions’, and cultural needs.

The Building Official has a critical role to play in the quality of life in the City of Oakland, given its history, diversity, architectural distinction, transportation hubs, and economic opportunities. The Building Official has opportunities rarely found in most jurisdictions. As part of a larger county in the most urbanized agglomeration of major cities in the nation, The Deputy Director will have a seat at the table for the strategic as well as transactional recommendations to the Mayor, Council, and Administration to enhance the experience of building and developing in Oakland while achieving our principal goal of building safe structures that are welcome additions to the city both during their construction and over the years they are in service to their users.

Management is also a key component of this role. The Building Official is responsible for over 50 staff members that interface with numerous stakeholders including the Planning and Administrative/Operations Bureaus within the Planning & Building Department, as well as with the Oakland Fire Department, Department of Transportation, and Economic Workforce Development Department. Success as a Deputy Director will require a service-based philosophy and partnership approach that enhances the internal operations across multiple departments and divisions. The skill set to manage key performance metrics will be essential for success in this position.