Permit Technician I

City of Alameda; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Retirement: Classic Members: 2

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vacation leave

Holidays

Floating holidays

Sick leave

Deferred compensation

Job summary

City of Alameda is seeking a dedicated clerical professional to support the Permit Center under the supervision of the Permit Center Supervisor/Chief Building Official. The role involves receiving, reviewing, and processing building permit applications, and issuing building, fire and special event permits; performs related clerical tasks with accuracy and compliance.

The position emphasizes routine, specialty administrative work with limited independent responsibility, requiring strong data

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the building permit process, and of how planning and building functions interrelate amongst themselves and to other City departments and external organizations; building construction practices and materials; applicable local, state, and federal codes, regulations, and requirements; modern office practices and procedures; modern office equipment including computers and computerized recordkeeping systems; filing, indexing and cross-referencing methods; correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; report preparation.
• Ability to effectively perform specialized clerical and computerized work involved in the receipt, processing and review of building permit applications and in the issuing of building and related permits; read, understand, implement and explain specialized information, materials and documents; perform assigned clerical work with speed and accuracy; perform routine and complex arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy; operate a variety of modern office and other specialized equipment; maintain and utilize designated specialized computer software; effectively perform computerized data entry, data organization and records access; interpret and apply established City Policies and governmental guidelines and regulations; compile and summarize data and prepare reports, statements or logs; use initiative and exercise

Responsibilities

• Receives and reviews permit applications, construction plans, blueprints and other supporting documents for completeness, accuracy and conformance with local, state, and federal building codes, regulations, requirements, and other established criteria.
• Processes and issues various building and other related permits; routes application and permit materials to appropriate parties; verifies receipt of proper approvals.
• Calculates, collects and accounts for permit fees.
• Provides information and instruction to property owners, architects, contractors and developers regarding planning review, permit processes, related codes and ordinances, and common related issues; provides assistance in completing permit applications and other required forms and notices.
• Records, logs and tracks permit application and issuance activities; monitors permit processing time limits and policies; identifies application and processing problems and recommends corrective action; researches permit application and issuance status.
• Helps coordinate permit activities with the County, special districts and other agencies.
• Performs extensive complex specialized computerized data entry, data organization, and records access.
• Composes routine correspondence or prepares draft documents for review.
• Maintains complex files and recordkeeping systems; maintains inventories and orders supplies; maintains various manuals, logs and schedules, and updates resource materials; copies, collates and distributes information.
• Assists in the development of administrative procedures.
• Collects and reviews information; prepares various reports and summaries.
• May provide lead direction and training for other clerical employees.

Education

High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent

Job description

Under general direction of the Permit Center Supervisor, Chief Building Official or designee performs responsible specialized clerical work involved in the receipt, processing and review of building permit applications, and in the issuing of building, fire and special event permits; performs other related work as required.Positions in this class perform specialized clerical work. Incumbents perform a variety of routine tasks involved in the receipt, review, and processing of applications and in the issuing of permits. Work in the class is distinguished from that of higher classes by the routine nature of the work performed and by the limited level of independent responsibility. Work in the class is distinguished from that of lower classes by its specialized nature.

Benefits of Employment

For a comprehensive listing of benefits, see the Benefit Matrix here (Download PDF reader).

• CalPERS Retirement: Classic Members: 2% at 55 formula, 8.868% contribution; New Members 2% @ 62 formula, 8.75% contribution.
• Medical: The City contracts with CalPERS to provide comprehensive health coverage to employees. Multiple HMO and PPO plans available
• Dental: Comprehensive dental coverage provided to employees and their eligible dependents.
• Vacation: Starting with 75 hours annually and increasing with years of service.
• Holidays: 11 holidays per calendar year
• Floating Holidays: 6 floating days
• Sick Leave: 90 hours annually; unused sick leave is converted to service credit at retirement
• Deferred Compensation: After 1 year of service, the City will contribute 1% base salary for employees who contribute at least 0.5% of their base salary

The following list of duties is intended only to describe the various types of work that may be performed and the level of technical complexity of the assignment(s) and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The omission of a specific duty statement does not exclude it from the position if the work is consistent with the concept of the classification or is similar or closely related to another duty statement.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Essential Duties

1. Receives and reviews permit applications, construction plans, blueprints and other supporting documents for completeness, accuracy and conformance with local, state, and federal building codes, regulations, requirements, and other established criteria.
2. Processes and issues various building and other related permits; routes application and permit materials to appropriate parties; verifies receipt of proper approvals.
3. Calculates, collects and accounts for permit fees.
4. Provides information and instruction to property owners, architects, contractors and developers regarding planning review, permit processes, related codes and ordinances, and common related issues; provides assistance in completing permit applications and other required forms and notices.
5. Records, logs and tracks permit application and issuance activities; monitors permit processing time limits and policies; identifies application and processing problems and recommends corrective action; researches permit application and issuance status.
6. Helps coordinate permit activities with the County, special districts and other agencies.
7. Performs extensive complex specialized computerized data entry, data organization, and records access.
8. Composes routine correspondence or prepares draft documents for review.
9. Maintains complex files and recordkeeping systems; maintains inventories and orders supplies; maintains various manuals, logs and schedules, and updates resource materials; copies, collates and distributes information.
10. Assists in the development of administrative procedures.
11. Collects and reviews information; prepares various reports and summaries.
12. May provide lead direction and training for other clerical employees.

Other Duties

1. Performs related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Office environment.
• Noise level is usually moderate, ambient office sounds such as speaking, working office equipment, and software.
• Frequent interaction with City departments, the general public, and/or citizens which may include responding to variousinquiries, providing City or department information, and interacting with upset customers, staff, and the public in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Operate a computer keyboard and office equipment.
• Seeing to interpret, read, and maintain various documents, such as files, contracts, and reports, in electronic and non-electronic formats.
• Hearing and speaking to present and exchange information and to communicate in person and by telephone.
• Frequent sitting for extended periods of time.
• Frequent standing to assist customers at the permit counter.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.

Education/Experience

Any combination equivalent to education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education

High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Experience

Three years of responsible clerical experience involving public contact. Experience related to building permits, architecture or building design, construction, civil engineering, planning or a closely related field is desirable.

Knowledge

Knowledge of the building permit process, and of how planning and building functions interrelate amongst themselves and to other City departments and external organizations; building construction practices and materials; applicable local, state, and federal codes, regulations, and requirements; modern office practices and procedures; modern office equipment including computers and computerized recordkeeping systems; filing, indexing and cross-referencing methods; correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; report preparation. Knowledge of applicable computer software and operating programs is desirable.

Ability

Ability to effectively perform specialized clerical and computerized work involved in the receipt, processing and review of building permit applications and in the issuing of building and related permits; read, understand, implement and explain specialized information, materials and documents; perform assigned clerical work with speed and accuracy; perform routine and complex arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy; operate a variety of modern office and other specialized equipment; maintain and utilize designated specialized computer software; effectively perform computerized data entry, data organization and records access; interpret and apply established City Policies and governmental guidelines and regulations; compile and summarize data and prepare reports, statements or logs; use initiative and exercise