Permit Center Technician I/II

Powhatan County; Virginia; On-site; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Powhatan County is seeking a detail-oriented administrative professional to support Community Development operations, including Building Inspection, Planning, and Zoning. The role adapts to the candidate's experience level and will coordinate permit workflows, document handling, and meeting logistics.

The successful candidate will assist customers, prepare reports, manage records, and ensure compliance with applicable ordinances. A strong communication and organizational skillset is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience providing customer service and administrative support.
• Familiarity with building permit reviews and zoning processes.
• Knowledge of erosion and sediment control program requirements.
• Ability to file, maintain records and respond to FOIA requests.
• Proficiency with computers and office software.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist customers in person and via email, mail, and phone, providing information and help.
• Provide administrative support to department management and staff.
• Coordinate building permit process; receive documents and schedule inspections.
• Process vouchers, receipts, invoices, and mail for the department.
• Review business license applications for zoning compliance.
• Distribute plans, plats, and permit applications to staff and agencies.
• Prepare and distribute Planning Commission packets; upload documents.
• Transcribe Planning Commission minutes and post them.
• Serve as Records Retention Officer for state-mpecified records.
• Research data and prepare monthly reports.
• Process FOIA requests.
• Verify contractor licensure.
• Order street signs; maintain department expenditures records.
• Update website and inventory of forms.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Know county zoning/subdivision ordinances and building permit review.
• Know erosion/sediment control program requirements.
• Know county business licensing processes.
• Use project-tracking software.

Skills

Customer service

Administrative support

Interpersonal relations

Oral and written communication

Planning and prioritizing

Zoning knowledge

Records management

Document handling

Records retention

Tools

Project-tracking software

Job description

This position performs technical duties in support of the department's Community Development operations, including Building Inspection, Planning, and Zoning functions.

Position will be filled at the level depending on experience and qualifications of new hire.

• Assists customers in person and via email, mail, and telephone; provides information and assistance.
• Provides administrative support to department management and staff.
• Coordinates the building permit process; receives documents and schedules inspections.
• Processes vouchers for cash and checks for departmental services; receives and/or reviews records, reports, memoranda, correspondence, etc.; processes invoices for payment.
• Reviews business license applications for compliance with zoning ordinance requirements; reviews building permits for environmental and zoning compliance.
• Receives, prepares, and distributes site plans, plats, zoning requests, permit applications, erosion control plans, and other documents to appropriate staff members for review, and routes to local and state agencies as appropriate.
• Receives, prepares, and distributes documents for monthly Planning Commission packets and uploads documents to the departmental website.
• Transcribes minutes from monthly Planning Commission meetings; uploads approved minutes to the departmental website.
• Serves as the department’s Records Retention Officer; maintains and manages records according to state requirements.
• Researches, gathers data, and prepares monthly reports.
• Receives, processes, and distributes departmental mail.
• Processes Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Verifies contractor licensure.
• Orders new and replacement street signs for county roads.
• Maintains records of department expenditures.
• Updates the department website; updates and maintains an inventory of department forms.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Knowledge of the county zoning and subdivision ordinances.
• Knowledge of the department's building permit review process.
• Knowledge of erosion and sediment control program requirements.
• Knowledge of County business licensing processes.
• Knowledge of department plan review processes.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs, including project-tracking software.
• Skill in prioritizing and planning.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in the provision of customer services.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

The Planning Director assigns work in terms of general instructions. The Planning Director spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures, accuracy, and the nature and propriety of the results.