Permit Technician

Tillamook-County; Tillamook (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Tillamook County's Community Development team is seeking a detail-oriented permit and licensing assistant. You will help the public complete permit applications for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, septic work, and Short-Term Rental licenses, ensuring all required documents are provided for a decision by the Building Official or Planning staff.

You will determine fees, process payments, and maintain financial records, while issuing permits after approval.

Qualifications

• Education above high school or equivalent experience required.
• Knowledge of permit application requirements and supporting documents.
• Familiarity with basic bookkeeping practices.
• Understanding of land use planning and building terminology.
• Ability to interpret deeds and legal property descriptions.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public in completing permit applications for various trades and Short-Term Rental licenses.
• Determine and collect appropriate application fees; maintain department financial records.
• Issue permit and license documentation after approval.
• Answer inquiries via phone or in person with limited searches of references and maps.
• Maintain timelines for planning and short-term rental license processing.
• Schedule inspections and track progress; coordinate with reviewers.
• Organize project files and maintain professional communication.

Skills

Vacation rental knowledge

Land use terminology

Permit requirements

Basic bookkeeping

Construction knowledge

Education

One year of education beyond high school

Equivalent experience accepted

Tools

Word processing software

Spreadsheet software

Electronic databases & filing systems

Job description

Department: Community Development

Union Affiliation: AFSCME

Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday

Total Hours Per Week: 40

Tillamook County follows Oregon Pay Equity laws in reviewing education, experience and seniority for wage offers.

This classification provides information to the public on Short Term Rental permits, building, land use, and sanitation requirements, assists the public in completing permit and license applications, and issues permit and license documents.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The individual in this role is expected to possess and exhibit the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of vacation rental or real estate industry, of land use planning and building terminology and procedures.
• Knowledge of permit application requirements, including supporting documentation requirements.
• Knowledge of basic bookkeeping practices and principles.
• Knowledge of general construction and trade practices to assist with permit processes and inquiries.

Skills

• Skill in keyboarding and use of word processing software.
• Skill in the use of spreadsheet software.
• Skill in use of electronic databases, filing systems, and tracking systems.
• Skill in maintaining clear and professional communication with the public and coworkers.
• Skill in organizing, multitasking, and prioritizing tasks in a busy work environment.
• Skill in researching and finding answers to complex or uncommon questions.

Abilities

• Ability to understand and interpret deeds and legal property descriptions.
• Ability to interpret maps and aerial photographs.
• Ability to conduct record searches.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to obtain necessary information for the permit process to proceed and to answer questions of limited technical complexity.
• Ability to make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Ability to remain calm and use good judgment during confrontational or high- pressure situations.
• Ability to courteously meet and deal with a variety of employees, representatives of title companies, contractors, consultants, vendors, and the public.
• Ability to manage time efficiently and remain productive under tight deadlines.

Required Qualifications

(Minimum qualifications for this role)

Education

• Other: one year of education above the high school level.
• Equivalent experience may be substituted for educational requirement. Amount of additional experience acceptable: One (1) year.

Experience

• N/A

Certifications or Licenses

• At the time of appointment, must possess a valid Oregon driver's license and maintain an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• N/A

Other Qualifications

• Must pass a pre-employment criminal history background investigation.

Duties assigned to this classification include, but are not limited to, the following examples.

• Assist the public in completing permit applications for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or septic work, residential construction, conditional use, variances, exceptions, manufactured dwellings, Short-Term Rental License applications, Short-Term Rental License renewals, etc. Ensure that necessary supporting documents are supplied so that a decision can be rendered by the Building Official, Planning Director, Short-Term Rental Administrator, or the Environmental Program Manager. Assure signatures are those of legal owners.
• Determine appropriate application fees; receive payments, and record receipts. Maintain department financial records, including permit and license fees, grants, and purchase of supplies.
• After approval decision is received from staff, issue permit and license documentation to applicant.
• Answer telephone and walk-in inquiries where facts are readily verifiable and require limited searches of references, files, historical material, maps, aerial photos, etc. Answers explain or identify designated flood zones, designated geographical hazards, setback requirements, road name changes, and legal ownership changes.
• Maintain statutory timelines for processing planning and short-term rental license applications. Process decisions within required deadlines based on detailed review of reports, property files, and appropriate course of action.
• Schedule all inspections, track their progress, verify special inspections/zoning requirements, and invoice for additional inspections as necessary.
• Manage and organize overflowing file drawers, creating new project files as necessary.
• Maintain professional demeanor and clear communication when assisting customers via phone, email, in person, or virtual meetings.

Performs additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervision is not a function assigned to this role.

Supervisory Controls

• Works under close supervision, performing routine tasks independently based on past experience. Deviations from established practices are referred to the supervisor for guidance.

Working Conditions

Mental effort

• Usually, normal concentration and deadlines with occasional periods of sustained deadline pressure.

Physical effort

• Minimal: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers, laptop bag, or small parts; or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Work environment

• Everyday Risks/Discomforts: require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

Selection Process

Following the closing date of this recruitment, if you are selected as a candidate for an interview, we will contact you via email to arrange a date and time. We want to ensure that we hire the best possible staff for our county team because we believe that people are our most valuable asset!