Permits Specialist​/Senior Permit Specialist

Permit Specialist/Senior Permit Specialist

With a fabulous waterfront, vibrant downtown, great parks, neighborhoods and public spaces, a commitment to smart growth, excellent service delivery and community engagement, Vancouver, Washington is all grown up, and we need excellent talent to keep us going (and growing) strong! We're currently recruiting for a Permit Specialist/Senior Permit Specialist. The primary responsibilities for the job are to confer with and advise members of the general public, property owners, architects, engineers, developers, and others regarding City building and planning and other pertinent development policies, procedures and standards;

provide and explain requirements of building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, zoning, system development charges, and related codes and ordinances. Review applications and construction plans for completeness; issue permits for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and related work; calculate fees. Accept, review, and recommend actions regarding various land use related applications including those related to business licenses and land use permits; verify possession of State license;

calculate fees. Accept plan check applications; calculate fees; electronically log plans; report status checks; identify required plan corrections with correct code requirements; route and track for plan review. Perform data entry of essential development review permit information into permit system software program. Follow up on reports, correspondence, emails, and items requiring further notices and permit action. Research and process public disclosure requests and permit information requests.

Prepare, maintain, and update department files and records; utilize electronic methods for storage.

This is a full-time, regular, non-exempt union position. This position is covered under the provisions of an agreement between the City and the OPEIU union. The schedule for this position is M-F, 8am to 4:30pm. Permit Specialist salary - $4,725 - $6,042 Senior Permit Specialist salary - $5,481 - $7,006 Salary for this position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement with negotiated step increases based on seniority.

The starting salary for most candidates will be at the beginning of the listed range, equal to Step 1 of the step cycle for the range. Directly related experience will be considered for step credit at hire, with such credit not to exceed Step 4, the approximate midpoint of the listed range.

• Confer with and advise members of the general public, property owners, architects, engineers, developers, and others regarding City building and planning and other pertinent development policies, procedures and standards; provide and explain requirements of building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, zoning, system development charges, and related codes and ordinances
• Coordinate with other staff and departments to ensure correct and complete information is received on submittals for building, fire, grading, engineering, and land use applications
• Accurately enter data into the permitting and electronic plan review system. Review electronic plan review submittals for completeness. Authenticate licensing of contractors. Act as front-line technical support in assisting customer through the electronic plan review process
• Assign reviewers and route submittals to appropriate departments. Ensure accurate reviews are performed and correct timelines are generated. Accurately identify and determine unique project needs and exercise independent judgement to make modifications as needed
• Follow up on reports, correspondence, emails, and items requiring further notices and permit action
• Perform cashiering duties: manage a cash drawer, issue change, receipts, and balance personal drawer daily. Calculate fees, perform refunds, waive fees, and make fee adjustments as warranted. Generate daily and monthly audit reports
• Examine permits at time of issuance, reviewing that accurate fees have been calculated and all contractual conditions have been met. Issue permits and assist with coordination or scheduling of inspections, and support applicant with inspection questions
• Maintain records for permanent retention
• Provide staff coverage as needed
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Experience and Education

Permit Specialist

• Two years of responsible clerical experience including public contact, preferably in an active office environment
• Equivalent to a HS Diploma/GED

Senior Permit Specialist

• ICC Permit Technician or Residential Plans Examiner certification.
• Two years of responsible clerical experience including public contact, preferable in an active office environment; AND
• One year of work in a multi-task team-oriented office environment that includes experience with processing building, development, fire, and land use permit; AND
• One year of inspection and code enforcement violations / procedures using web and automated data base resources; AND
• One year of…