Permit Technician I

City-of-Las-Cruces; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Las Cruces is seeking a paraprofessional to perform a variety of planning and building inspection-related activities. The role includes front desk duties, permit processing, customer service, data entry, and cashier work in a fast-paced office environment.

The position requires a high school diploma with two years of paraprofessional or technical experience in municipal planning or customer service. Bilingual English/Spanish skills and ICC permit technician certification are desirable.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to a High school diploma AND two years paraprofessional, technical experience in municipal planning/customer service.
• A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied per City policy.
• Associate's degree is desired.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) and ICC permit technician certification are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Performs front desk operations, including intake and processing of construction plans and permits.
• Maintains tracking system for building permits, registrations and planning-related development applications.
• Provides customer service in a fast-paced environment and handles inquiries.
• Reviews applications for completeness and tracks fees and credits.
• Maintains accurate records of building, subdivision and business registrations.
• Schedules, coordinates, and tracks inspection activity for inspectors.
• Performs cashier duties and handles payments.
• Provides administrative support to supervisors, planners and inspectors.

Skills

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Data entry

Cash handling

Education

High school diploma

Associate's degree desired

Tools

ICC permit technician certification

Job description

Performs a variety of paraprofessional and technical planning and building inspection-related activities.

Environmental Factors

Work is performed in a fast paced and demanding office environment.

Physical Factors

Light physical demands; mostly deskwork; frequent use of a personal computer.

Work Situation Factors

Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, occasional work beyond normal business hours, and responding to customer issues. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.

Meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.

FIRST CONSIDERATION MAY BE GIVEN TO CURRENT CITY OF LAS CRÚCES EMPLOYEES WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.

Full-time regular, non-exempt position.

The first review of applications will occur on October 19, 2026.

This position is graded RN07.

• Performs front desk operations, which includes but not limited to in-taking and processing of construction plans, maintains orderly and efficient tracking system for building permits, business registrations and planning-related development applications; provides technical support and assist in the development of technical solutions and reports; manages special projects as assigned; administers permit and registration tracking software; issues construction permits, business registrations and licenses.
• Provides customer service in a fast paced environment; responds to internal and external inquiries pertaining but not limited to planning and zoning, business registrations, building inspection activity and permit history request; responds to requests for information; provides technical information to City staff as authorized; provides assistance to the public within scope of authority.
• Receives and processes documents and applications; reviews applications for completeness, accurately calculates and tracks applicable fees and credits; creates and maintains accurate and detailed records of building, subdivision and business registration files;
• Participates in data collection, computer data entry, report generation, and coordination between planners, inspectors, developers, consultants, contractors, and the general public; schedules, coordinates, and tracks inspection activity for inspectors.
• Performs cashier duties; operates a cash register/cashbox; accurately receives and processes cash, credit card and check payments; issues receipts to customers remitting payments; balances cash drawer daily and corrects errors; maintains accurate and detailed records of daily financial activities; makes daily bank run/deposits.
• Provides administrative support services to supervisor, planners and inspectors on various projects and/or activities; assists with property research, mailings and windshield surveys, within scope of authority and training.

Equivalent to a High school diploma AND two years paraprofessional, technical experience in municipal planning/customer service. A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy. Associate's degree is desired.

Licenses/Certification(s)

Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) and ICC permit technician certification are desirable.

Knowledge of: Property descriptions, zoning concepts and related terminology; principles and concepts of architectural drawings, blueprints and building plans; permitting processes and procedures; principles of record keeping and records management; business and personal computers, and standard business software applications; City policies and procedures.

Ability to: Assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms; maintain a professional and composed attitude under demanding circumstances; establish and maintain effective working relations with employees and the general public.

Skills in: Using courtesy and respect in providing customer service to internal and external customers; reading, understanding and applying permitting rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures; resolving customer service issues with tact and diplomacy and according to policies and procedures; making arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately.