Job Description

The salary range for this position is: $4,446 – $5,914 monthly.

The Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department is seeking a highly motivated Permit Technician II to join our Building Development Center (BDC) team. This is where community members (individuals and businesses) in Thurston County come to obtain development permits and property information. The BDC contains three separate county departments which include the Community Planning & Economic Development, Development Review Division of the Public Works Department, and Environmental Health Division of the Public Health and Social Services Department.

The Permit Technician II will report to the Building Development Center Supervisor and serve as a primary customer service representative for CPED. This is a front-line position and is not eligible for telework.

The work of a Permit Technician II in Community Development directly impacts the everyday lives of our residents. We are seeking a candidate who will bring a positive attitude and excellent customer services skills to serve the community of Thurston County. Community Planning and Economic Development strives for continuous development of process improvements to better serve our community and values team members who look for ways we can improve.

Essential functions may include but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides customer service to community members visiting the Building Development Center.
• Provides general permitting information to the public on development related requirements and regulations in person, by phone, and email.
• Reviews development proposals for completeness and enters a variety of application types into a permit tracking system. Application types include, but not limited to, building applications, septic permit applications, and land use applications.
• Distributes applications to community members and explains the permitting process and routine regulations using established codes and processes.
• Utilizes the permit tracking database to obtain permitting information and provide status of projects.
• Research questions and complaints and works with other departments involved to identify solutions.
• Communicates both verbally and in writing while maintaining respectful working relationships with other team members, departments, contractors, and the public.
• Computes and receives appropriate fees using a permit database (cash, check, or charge).
• May perform any of the duties assigned to the Permit Assistance Technician I.

For a full description of essential functions, please see the Permit Assistance Technician IIclassification description.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment – You will be working at the front counter of the Building Development Center. The office is typically quiet. You will be primarily sitting at the desk.
• Schedule -Monday to Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. In person. No telework is available for this position.
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings.
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with customers and Thurston County staff, primarily in-person. May interact with customers and Thurston County staff via phone, video, and email.

WHO WE ARE

CPED is a fast-paced work environment dedicated to accountability, consistency, and transparency.

CPED’s Community Development Division serves the County's every day permitting needs for planning, building, code compliance and more. The team includes members with expertise in land use and development, wetlands, prairie habitat, public engagement, building construction, and more.

The team members of Community Planning & Economic Development make it a wonderful place to work and effect change. CPED is a department of highly motivated professionals working for the people of Thurston County and planning for its future. CPED works to conserve natural resources, plan for resilient communities, ensure buildings are safe and energy-efficient and plan for future growth.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plansfor more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 
  High School Diploma or GED.
• 
  Two years of progressively responsible office experience working in the areas of building, land use, environmental health work or closely related area, with an emphasis on public contact.
• 
  Ability to utilize the personal computer and related software packages to perform word processing, information retrieval, and tracking.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Previous customer service work experience and techniques.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Previous experience using a computer database is desired.
• Ability to read maps and use the County’s GeoData map interface.

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact Alana Bradshaw, Operations Manager at alana.bradshaw@co.thurston.wa.us or by phone at (360) 480-0237.

This position is:

• Represented by a Union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items required for consideration:

• Online Application
• Letter of Interest
• Resume

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.