Permit Technician

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

King County is hiring a Permit Technician in the Environmental Health Services Division. This role supports the public with permit intake, processing, plan review, and customer service in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities include handling high-volume permits, data entry, inquiries, payments, and document processing while aligning with equity and justice initiatives. Hybrid onsite/remote schedule with Washington-state residency expected.

Qualifications

• Two years of customer service experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with complex accounts receivable/payable functions.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to follow complex instructions and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Process permits renewals, intake for permits, plan review, and related billings.
• Scan high volumes of permits or data entry into databases.
• Answer calls and intake complaints, permit adjustments, and payments.
• Read and interpret maps and legal descriptions to ensure correct parcel numbers and addresses.
• Set up and monitor applications, coordinate with staff to avoid backlogs, and follow up.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Tools

MS Office

Job description

The Environmental Health Services Division of Seattle & King County Public Health is seeking to hire one (1) candidate for a career service in the Permit Technician role. Seeking to select qualified candidates with excellent customer service and technical skills to support and perform a variety of duties focused on serving the public to help us meet our mission to identify and sustain environmental conditions that promote health equity, healthy people and communities in Seattle and King County. The Permit Technician works as part of a team to collect and process permits, conduct in-take for plan review, letters, and perform customer service-related duties.

The Environmental Health Division processes over 13,000 permits for food establishments, pools/spas, meat cutters, solid waste services, pet business, and plumbing and gas piping services (read more about the division below). The successful candidates in this position will be extremely motivated to provide excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment and independently prioritize a high volume of work while working as a member of a team. These positions will report to the Program Supervisor for our Permit Technician team within the Environmental Health operations section at the Chinook/downtown offices. The Program is committed to the principles of racial equity and social justice and values diverse perspectives and life experiences in its workforce. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Background

About the Environmental Health Services (EHS) Division

Through the work of over 190 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) promotes healthy and equitable environmental conditions and prevents disease through sanitation, safe food, air, and water (drinking, surface, and recreational), and reduction of exposure to hazardous materials. In addition to permitting and inspecting public pools, spas, pet businesses, plumbing installations, on-site septic systems, and solid waste facilities, the Division also works in partnership with community to address unhealthy environmental conditions and leads the department’s climate change efforts. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender or economic status. The Division’s core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve.

To learn more about EHS, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs

Note: This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm

Remote and Onsite Work:

The Environmental Health Services team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is building name and address. in-office presence with potential 1 day remote

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department’s hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

• Process permits renewals, and provide application in-take for permits, re-inspection, plan review and other billings.
• scanning a high volume of permits using a barcode scanner or manual data entry into database
• Answer incoming calls, that may include intaking of complaints, permit adjustments, payment intake and triaging calls.
• Incoming mail processing
• Read and interpret maps and legal descriptions. Assure permits are issued to the correct parcel number & address.
• Process letters and public disclosures requests.
• Set up and monitor status of applications, coordinated with program staff to avoid backlogs and ensure applications are processed and follow up in a timely manner.
• Monitor accounts for payment and coordinates collection process for unpaid accounts.
• Compile data that may require information searches through files, including spreadsheets and/or customized database applications including financial research questions.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum:

• Two (2) years of customer service experience demonstrating the ability to communicate with customers using discretion, patience, etiquette, and professionalism.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
• Experience with complex accounts receivables/payable functions.
• Experience in automated financial and management information systems, word processors, spreadsheets, database, and similar software applications.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions; adjust to changes in workload demands; and research, gather and compile technical information from a variety of sources.
• Strong organization, problem solving and researching skills.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including MS Office application such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Skill in maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Strong math and analytical skills.
• Excellent time management and priority setting skills; able to handle multiple tasks with extreme accuracy.
• Skill in tracking and following through on assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new computer applications.
• Knowledge and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to positively contribute in a team environment; actively listens to others and builds trust and confidence.
• Ability to be reliable and dependable with assignments and work schedule.
• Skill in teamwork and collaboration.

Desired:

• Demonstrated experience providing customer service.
• Demonstrated experience with complex reconciliations.
• Bilingual skills.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Who May Apply

internal and external applicants

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application
• Supplemental Questions
• Resume

(Please note: Cover letters and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation and Pre-Employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CLA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Union Membership

Protec 17