Primary responsibilities are to provide quality customer service to community members and businesses that need to apply for permits with the County. Additionally Permit Technicians receive, screen, and route development permit applications to the appropriate technical review staff As well as prepare and issues permits. Permit Technicians may be assigned to Front Desk Reception related duties and/or Permit Preparation and Issue duties.

Front Desk/Reception
Permit Technicians assigned to Front Desk Reception will be responsible for greeting customers by phone and in-person and either routing them to the appropriate employees to address their issues, or answer general and technical permit-related questions.

Preparation and Issue
Permit Technicians assigned to prepare and issue permits are responsible for discussing projects with customers, processing payments for permits or forwarding customers on to other Planning Team members if more complex permitting matters arise.
The Permit Technician I / II is a progression promotion position that requires specific education, certification and/or experience requirements to achieve Permit Technician II level through the progression process. Employees eligible for promotion must be recommended by the Planning Director, have a satisfactory performance evaluation, and funding available in the department budget.

• Performs day-to-day operations of permit processing and ensures application of policies and procedures to these operations.
• Greet customers by phone or in-person at the reception desk and provide assistance to permit applicants regarding application procedures. Advise permit applicants of requirements to complete applications and obtain approvals.
• Route incoming calls to the appropriate department to address permitting questions.
• Reviews permit application submissions. Collects, organizes, and performs ministerial review on all submitted permit applications. Determines level of completeness.
• Maintains permit records in the permit management system, including written correspondence to files, letters to and from applicants about the permit application, fee statements and refunds, fee adjustments, interpretations requests, permit suspensions, and expirations.
• Inform applicants and technical review staff of permit status and route permit applications to the appropriate technical review staff for further processing.
• Research land use records and compare to project applications for accuracy. Identify deficiencies or project development issues related to zoning, forest practices, shorelines, environmental review, addressing, access permits, urban growth areas, natural resource lands, flood hazards, fire districts, school districts, open space status, legal lot of record, wells, sewer, right-of-ways, and easements.
• Coordinates permit review with respective city, state, and tribal agencies where required.
• Attends professional seminars and training as required to maintain required certification.
• May provide secondary support for administration and assist with office administrative procedures.
• May support Department accounting processes.
• Calculate fees based on fee schedules.
• Balance and report daily receipts.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• High school diploma or GED; and
• A combination of experience and training which demonstrates possession of the required skills, abilities and knowledge.

• Local land use codes and building codes.
• Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Multi-line phone systems

• Work professionally with the public.
• Provide quality customer service.
• Read maps and legal description of real property.
• Read construction documents, maps, site plans, and land use records.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Give and receive constructive feedback.
• Work collaboratively within a team environment.
• Perform work with minimal supervision and demonstrate good decision-making skills.
• Operate most types of office equipment including computers, copiers, printers, and microfiche readers.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

Qualifications vary based on position level. Certifications are accepted from the International Code Council or equivalent.

Work is typically performed in an office environment with a team atmosphere.

Those present in a normal office environment. Physical hazard may be present during inspection of unsafe job sites. Occasional walking on uneven or steep terrain. Driving hazards to sites and meetings. Possible hazards in the field such as dogs, upset landowners, etc.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Following review of applications and resumes, the highest qualified applicants will be interviewed and may be tested. After a selection is made, all applicants not selected will be notified in writing. Skagit County reserves the right to use applications received for this posting to fill any other positions within this classification which may open within six months following the closing of this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination in its employment practices.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Changes to the position description may be made at the discretion of the employer.