Permit Technician

City of El Cerrito; El Cerrito (CA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Retirement

Medical/Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Voluntary Benefits

Holidays

Vacation

Sick Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Bilingual Pay

Wellness Program

Job summary

The City of El Cerrito is actively recruiting two Permit Technician vacancies in the Building Division, with placement at level I or II based on experience. These roles serve as the primary point of contact for the public, contractors, architects, and engineers, supporting daily operations of the Building and Planning Divisions.

The successful candidate will provide excellent customer service, guide customers through complex permitting processes, review applications for accuracy, issue permits,

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to guide customers through complex permitting processes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Review and inspect building permit applications for accuracy and completeness.
• Issue completed permits and respond to inquiries about requirements and processes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the public, contractors, architects, and engineers.
• Support daily operations of the Building and Planning Divisions within the Community Development Department.

Job description

The City is flexibly recruiting to fill two (2) Permit Technician vacancies in the Building Division. A successful candidate will be placed at either level I or level II in the Permit Technician classification series depending on experience. Permit Technicians represent the City of El Cerrito to all visiting members of the public, as well as contractors, architects, and engineers. This role serves as the primary point of contact for the City and supports the daily operations and key functions of the Building Division as well as the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. A successful candidate will have excellent customer service and organizational skills, effective communication and listening skills, and lastly possess the ability to multitask and work on multiple projects at once. Additionally, the Permit Technicians will review and inspect building permit applications for accuracy and completeness, issue completed permits, and answer a variety of inquiries and questions about requirements and processes. The Permit Technician II is considered the journey level classification and takes on the full scope of responsibilities in the series, working independently on more complex projects and operates with minimal supervision. The Permit Technician reports to the Building Official.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging place to work with a dynamic and collaborative City team and an opportunity to grow professionally, this is the position for you!

City Perks

• CalPERS Retirement: CalPERS Classic members 2.7% @ 55 and PEPRA members 2% @ 62 retirement formula integrated with Social Security; 8.5% employee contribution.
• Medical/Dental Insurance: Fully paid medical coverage (up to Kaiser family rate) and dental coverage (up to Family coverage) for employees and their dependents. This is a value of up to $38,064 annually; cash in lieu option available at $500 per month.
• Life Insurance: The City pays for basic life and AD&D insurance coverage each up to $100,000.
• Short-Term/Long-Term Disability Insurance: 2/3rds of salary up to the maximum monthly.
• Voluntary Benefits: Supplemental life insurance, deferred compensation plans and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) offered.
• Holidays: 13 paid holidays per year, plus 3 floating holidays and 1 birthday holiday.
• Vacation: Vacation ranging from 11 to 33 days per year based on years of service.
• Sick Leave: Accrued at 8.75 hours per month.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Cost reimbursement up to the maximum of $3,500/fiscal year for work related studies.
• Bilingual Pay: The City pays $2,600 per year to employees who are bilingual and who have passed a proficiency test provided by the City.
• Wellness Program: Access to an array of wellness programs offered by the City such as massage days, fitness and meditation classes, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Are We A Match?

• You are passionate about providing excellent customer service.
• You excel at guiding customers through complex permitting processes.
• You enjoy contributing to a positive work environment.
• You are dedicated to approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.
• You are detail-oriented with sharp organization skills required to monitor diverse projects.

Tentative Virtual Interview date: Week of November 9th, 2026