Building Policy Engineer

Requisition ID: 45797 

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace.  Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose and Function

Represents the Building Policy Branch on building regulatory matters while developing building policy and regulations, including the review of alternative solution applications.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Review of Alternative Solution Applications, Professional Judgements, or Other Related Requests

• Analyzes applications using sound engineering principals and judgement to support decision making on applications prepared by professional engineers and architects.  
• Receives and continually monitors applications to identify industry trends and the need for recommending broader engineering research to improve the effectiveness of the City’s regulatory approaches to building design and construction.
• Researches a broad range of simple to complex engineering and design issues related to building performance and construction with respect to energy use, fire and life safety, or other building related elements while consulting with other governmental agencies and industry experts in order to formulate and support decision making. 
• Documents technical rationale and justification to support decision making on applications, including the results and assumptions of any review of relevant fire, egress, hydraulic or energy modelling.
• Defends decision making on applications to the Chief Building Official (CBO)and external stakeholders.
• Liaises with other departmental stakeholders in the review of applications. 
• Negotiates reasonable solutions with industry stakeholders while ensuring regulatory safety objectives, and at the same time, balancing corporate goals and objectives.
• Reviews application processes and recommends approaches to ensure consistent, timely and strategic responses.
• Prepares and presents appeal submissions to the Alternative Solution Review Panel using sound engineering judgement and rationale to support Chief Building Official decisions.

Policy and Regulation Development

• Researches emerging industry trends while monitoring construction activity to support the development of effective regulatory approaches to building design and construction.
• Leads the development of building policy which results in recommendations to Council  for new and amended regulations.
• Carries out engineering research to support the development of regulations impacting the design and construction of buildings.
• Leads public consultation with a wide range of industry and internal stakeholders when developing regulations.
• Interprets results of public consultation while keeping the CBO abreast of developments. 
• Recommends Building By-law policy and regulations that are in alignment with corporate goals and at the same time balance stakeholder needs.
• Presents building policy and regulations to industry stakeholders, interdepartmental staff and at times Council.
• Anticipates and recommends to the CBO areas for further building engineering research.  
• Keeps abreast of emerging industry trends as well as engineering practices related to building design and construction. 

Building By-law and Building Policy Interpretation and Development

• Receives, analyzes and monitors complex Building By-law interpretation requests from industry and staff while consulting provincial and federal agencies responsible for the development of building regulations in addition to industry experts, where appropriate. 
• Interprets objectives and intent of building regulatory matters for the City’s Building By-law as well as other national and provincial building codes and standards.
• Formulates and documents sound technical justification and validation to support interpretations.    
• Notifies applicants of By-law interpretations in a timely manner.
• Prepares and disseminates formal Building By-law interpretations for industry stakeholders as well as staff responsible for permitting and inspection duties.
• Provides support for the maintenance and development of the city’s building regulations and policies.
• Recommends proposed changes to the Building By-law based on interpretation requests, where applicable. 
• Prepares responses to appeals referred to the City’s Building By-law Board of Appeal on behalf of the Director and at times presents responses to the Board. 

Training and Development

• Leads and develops training material for industry stakeholders and permitting and inspection staff to support the implementation of building policy and regulations.
• Promotes building regulatory approaches while engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitates building regulatory training and development with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Monitors the results of training programs and recommends appropriate approaches to ensure goals are met.

Industry Stakeholder Relations

• Represents the Director and Building Policy Branch at regulatory and technical committees to ensure that departmental objectives are understood and addressed.
• Participates and represents the Director on a wide range of building regulatory technical committees at the local and provincial level.
• Supports internal stakeholder committees on building regulatory matters. 

Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A degree in engineering or applied sciences, and registration as a Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geo-scientists of British Columbia
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the application and implementation of the City’s Building By-law or other equivalent model Canadian Building Codes and Standards; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of current Building By-law requirements and referenced standards, including the national and provincial code development process.
• Knowledge of current methodologies and practices of fire protection engineering, including fire modelling.
• Knowledge of building construction, structural engineering and building envelope design principles and practices.
• Experience or knowledge regarding structural concepts related to resilient design, lateral and seismic-resistance systems, and familiarity with wood-frame, mass timber, concrete, steel, or masonry structures would be an asset. 
• Ability to interpret and translate highly technical regulatory requirements as well as engineering research to a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
• Ability to work well under pressure, handle multiple tasks and changing priorities within tight timeframes and with limited supervision and direction. 
• Ability to reconcile differing perspectives, develop consensus, and secure support from a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare clear, well written reports, and records that support technical decision making as well as policy and regulation development work. 
• Ability to lead or facilitate meetings, groups and teams, including controversial subjects.
• Ability to represent the Director in committees, boards, public forums, and in Council. 
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and build relationships. 
• Analytical skills in independently reaching sound decisions and resolving complex problems based on engineering judgement. 
• Ability to analyze, interpret, develop, and implement regulatory requirements. 
• Ability to perform thorough, complete, and accurate work with limited supervision and direction. 
• Ability to manage projects crossing multiple departments, issues, and stakeholders.
• Ability to respond to difficult or demanding stakeholders with tact, fairness, and diplomacy.
• Ability to identify and recommend new ideas aimed at improving service delivery.

Business Unit/Department: Development Services, Building & Licencing  

Affiliation: Exempt  

Employment Type: Regular Full Time 

Position Start Date: May, 2026 

Salary Information: Pay Grade 091: $114,465 to $143,092 per year

Application Close: April 12, 2026

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

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