The Department:
The Community Development Department strives to enhance the community’s safety, welfare, quality of life, and economic opportunities by providing advanced planning, development review, permitting and inspection services, as well as administration of programs related to affordable housing. To learn more about the City of Santa Clara's Department of Community Development/Building click here. Santa Clara is home to an extraordinary array of high-tech companies, California’s Great America Theme Park, and Levi’s Stadium, who is the host of Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup.
The Building Department offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, community-centered environment that values professionalism, innovation, and public service. The Department is committed to supporting its employees through:
• Ongoing professional development and technical training
• Leadership growth and advancement pathways
• Engagement in challenging, high-profile, and state-of-the-art projects
• A culture that prioritizes safety, integrity, accountability, and teamwork
The Position:
The City of Santa Clara is seeking an experienced, energetic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Senior Inspector supporting the daily operations of the Building Division. This critical role provides both technical expertise and supervisory leadership to ensure the City’s high standards for safety, service, and professionalism are consistently met.
The Senior Inspector is a supervisory-level classification responsible for performing the most complex building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections, while also providing guidance, coordination, and training for less experienced inspectors and support staff. Depending on expertise, incumbents may be assigned to one or more specialty areas, including Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Permit Center, or Code Enforcement. Experience in MEP plan review is highly desirable and may be used to fill one of the two openings.
This position requires an individual who can operate as a subject-matter expert and exercise sound, independent judgment in daily operations. The role is distinguished from the Inspection Manager classification, which carries broader responsibility for division-wide planning, field operations, and strategic technology initiatives. Employees benefit from competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a strong commitment to work–life balance. This is an ideal opportunity for an individual who is motivated, service-focused, and ready to make a positive impact on public safety and the built environment.
Additional Information:
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of June 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT.MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR POSITIONS ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CMD 033- EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.
The annual salary range for this position is $135,246.00 - $172,696.44. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Education Requirements:
Graduation from high school or possession of a GED.
Minimum Experience Requirements:
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in building inspection with a city and/or county agency.
Desirable Qualifications
- Depending on position assignment, the required experience and certification may be required in a particular specialty such as building inspection, electrical inspection, or plumbing and mechanical inspection.
- MEP plan review experience.
- Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certification.
- Minimum one (1) year of supervisory experience that includes supervising building inspectors.
Licenses/Certificates
The following are required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment:
- A valid California Class C driver's license.
- Certification as a Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, or Combination Inspector by the International Code Council (ICC) or International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), or equivalent.
Other Requirements
- Required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager's Directive 100.
- May be required to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job assignment.
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS: Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score.
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.
