Permit Technician

Summary
Employees in these positions are responsible for providing comprehensive, accurate, and professional assistance to the public and the county staff on a wide range of issues and applications relating to building and land use regulations, plans, policies, and permit processes both at the front counter and answering the main line. Employees in these positions provide customer service, provide technical information, review and analyze mapped parcel information, and guide potential applicants to and through the appropriate applications and processes for building and land development permits.

Salary:
Planning Permit Technician 1 - $20.38hr.
Planning Permit Technician 2 - $22.13/hr.

Job Duties
The complexity of duties and responsibilities increases with each position in this classification. Employees may either be assigned to Building Division or the Land Use Division where specific duties will vary slightly.

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Responsible for providing technical information regarding applicable county regulations, processes, and application procedures for particular sites or a specific development proposal, including maps, property information, and other relevant documents.

• Must be able to work positively with the public, co-workers, and managers.
• Responsible for researching property information databases to identify zoning and critical areas issues, building or zoning violations, Health Department water and septic service determinations, engineering issues, subdivision or lot segregation history and ownership, etc.
• Responsible for providing customers with the correct and necessary applications forms and be able to clearly communicate the need for complete and accurate applications. Responsible for determining when additional supporting application information will be required, such as geo-technical analyses, archaeological surveys, flood elevation details, etc.
• Responsible for assisting customers with their preparation of application materials. Responsible for entering applications in the permit tracking software system and ensuring that review comments are placed in that database.
• Responsible for the intake and initial review of all building permit, land development, and planning applications. Review materials with applicants to determine if the application materials are complete.
• Responsible for coordinating the issuance of building permits and land use permits. Prior to building permit and land use permit issuance, ensure that all applicable departments have reviewed and approved the application. Calculate permit fees, contact the applicants, and coordinate the pick up, issuance, and payment of fees.
• Responsible for determining when Limited Review Shoreline Exemptions may be authorized.

Duties specific to the Building Division:

• Schedule daily building inspection requests and coordinate these with the Building Official, Building Inspectors, and customers. Assist Plans Examiners and Inspectors with projects as time allows.
• Responsible for general office duties such as filing, monthly building permit tracking reports. Research and respond to the public for general building records.

Duties specific to Land Use Division:

• Prepare and issue the Notice of Application and send legal notice for publication, ensuring notices and procedures implementing the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) are met.
• Intake of land use applications, gather preliminary information on environmental, wetland, archeological, protected species habitat, and sensitive land aspects contained in departmental maps for each application. Make file for the planner and route to the appropriate departments.
• Responsible for general office duties such as filing, monthly land use permit tracking reports. Research and respond to the public for general land use records. Process mail, and prepare correspondence.
• Prepare land use files for annual archiving.

Permit Technician 2 duties include:

• Maintaining and issuing new property addresses in accordance with the addressing ordinance. Approve all new private road names in accordance with the Addressing Ordinance. Maintain addressing database and records in map form. Coordinate addressing and road name information with Emergency Services, Post Offices, Title Companies, and other agencies. Coordinate with planners on review of new development proposals that involve new address assignments and new road names.
• Responsible for review and approval of Boundary Line Modifications.
• All classifications perform other tasks as directed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic knowledge of the Island County comprehensive plan, the zoning, subdivision, site plan, shoreline, and critical areas ordinances, related Health and Engineering regulations, related state and federal requirements. Ability to gain working knowledge of the Building Code and related permitting processes.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain and understand the need for confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain a high standard of accuracy, completeness, and efficiency.
• Ability to quickly grasp new techniques, deal with rapid change in events, remain calm in stressful and sometimes hostile situations, and relate to various personality styles in a professional manner.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others, both orally and in writing. Independent and self-motivated to complete tasks by required deadlines while simultaneously working on other tasks.

Education, Experience & Certifications

• Valid Washington State Drivers License.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of general office experience are required for the Permit Tech I position. Four (4) years of experience at the Permit Tech I level (or an acceptable equivalent) are required to be considered for the Permit Tech II level. All candidates for Permit Tech positions must have a working proficiency with typical office word processing software, spreadsheets, and database systems. A background with customer service experience is preferred.
• Familiarity with maps, legal descriptions and land title research concepts. Knowledge of land use planning, zoning, building codes and permitting is desirable.
• For the Permit Technician II position, a Bachelors degree in a related field is preferred. At least two (2) years of closely related job experience may be substituted for the educational experience.
• In addition to the experience requirements noted herein, candidates for a Permit Tech II position must demonstrate successful performance, judgment, and leadership skills. A Permit Tech II is expected to carry a larger workload with greater complexity and participate in training of Permit Tech I positions.
• Applicants may be considered who demonstrate an equivalent combination of education and experience to provide the necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the work, at the sole discretion of the County.

Island County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time