Permit Technician (Part-Time)

City of Benton; Benton (AR); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Benton seeks a Permit Technician (Part-Time) to provide professional administrative support to the City Planning Director and assist with issuing permits. You will serve as recording secretary for the Community Services Committee and handle essential duties for zoning, plans, and inspections.

The role requires basic housing/codes knowledge, a high school diploma, and 12–18 months of related experience, with strong Microsoft 365 skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 12–18 months of related experience.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft 365.
• Knowledge of building codes, building permits, and related ordinances.
• Knowledge of construction drawings for code compliance.

Responsibilities

• Answer questions and provide information to citizens, developers and others regarding planning procedures.
• Greet the public and address questions; answer calls.
• Assist with purchasing construction permits (electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and building).
• Create and maintain commercial building permit files.
• Receive plans for zoning, variances and new subdivisions, and maintain related files.
• Maintain information from inspectors regarding tabulation for pay.
• Balance cash reports from permits and transfers for deposit.
• Provide supporting documentation for re-zones and variance requests including pictures, maps and department head reviews.
• Secure construction sign-off sheets as needed.
• Schedule and attend department meetings regarding residential and commercial plats.
• Assist with correspondence to City personnel, developers and builders.
• Create and maintain files for correspondence, information and data.
• Issue street cut permits with date, location and cost of permit.
• Prepare agenda packets and supporting documents for Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustment, and Historic District Commission meetings.
• Notify Community Services, and Historic District Commission members and the press about scheduled meetings.
• Transcribe minutes for Community Services Committee Meetings.
• Prepare and disburse monthly activity reports.
• Provide technical information regarding permit procedures and relevant codes.
• Perform data entry related to permit sales and inspection process.
• Communicate inspection requests to inspectors and contractors.
• Record and maintain information from inspectors regarding structural violations.
• Maintain list of licensed City and State contractors.
• Remain familiar with City ordinances and regulations related to department.
• Record inspections by contract employees and submit reports to Accounts Payable for payment.
• Issue Certificates of Occupancy to contractors and relay to banks and mortgage companies.
• Distribute work orders to City and non-city utility departments.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Attention to detail

Ownership and initiative

Customer focus

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Job Title: Permit Technician (Part-Time)

Salary range: $14.02-$20.30 per hour

Department: Community Development

Hours: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Job Description:

The Permit Technician is provides professional administrative support to the City Planning Director. The incumbent also supports in the issuing of permits and acts as recording secretary for the Community Services Committee. Position is deemed essential personnel and safety sensitive.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the following Essential Duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position:

• Answers questions and provides information to citizens, developers, and other interested parties regarding planning procedures;
• Greets the public, addresses questions and answers calls;
• Assists with purchasing construction permits (electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and building);
• Creates and maintains commercial building permit files;
• Receives plans for zoning, variances and new subdivisions, and maintains related files;
• Maintains information from inspectors regarding tabulation for pay;
• Balances cash report from permits and transfers for deposit;
• Provides supporting documentation for re-zones and variance requests including pictures, maps and department head reviews;
• Secures construction sign-off sheets as needed;
• Schedules and attends department meetings as directed regarding residential and commercial plats;
• Assists with correspondence to City personnel, developers and builders;
• Creates and maintains files for correspondence, information and data;
• Issues street cut permits, along with the date, location, and cost of permit;
• Prepares agenda packets and supporting documents for Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustment, and Historic District Commission meetings;
• Notifies Community Services, and Historic District Commission members, and the press or other media of scheduled meetings;
• Transcribes minutes for Community Services Committee Meetings;
• Prepares and disburses monthly activity reports;
• Provides technical information regarding permit procedures and relevant codes;
• Performs data entry related to permit sales and inspection process;
• Communicates inspection requests to appropriate inspectors and respective contractors;
• Records and maintains information from inspectors regarding structural violations;
• Maintains list of licensed City and State contractors;
• Maintains familiarity with City ordinances and regulations relative to department;
• Records inspections by contract employees and submits report to Accounts Payable for payment;
• Issues Certificates of Occupancy to contractors and relays Certificate of Occupancy information to banks and mortgage companies;
• Distributes work orders to City and non-city utility departments;
• Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.

This job description and the enumerated Essential Duties are intended to provide general guidelines for job expectations and the employees’ ability to perform the position described. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned or assumed by the incumbent as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the position.

Minimum Requirements & Competencies

Basic experience, knowledge and training in housing and nuisance codes typically resulting from a combination of education or years of experience or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the positions.

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma, or equivalent
• Twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months of related experience.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Knowledge of building codes, building permits, and related ordinances.
• Knowledge of construction drawings for code compliance.

Skills

• Energetic personality with strong interpersonal communication.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong sense of ownership and initiative, collaborative and flexible attitude.
• Strong customer focus and relationship building skills.
• Strong problem solving and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Abilities

• Ability to communicate in a positive, friendly manner to employees, supervisor, coworkers, clients, etc. at all times.
• Ability to develop and accurately maintain departmental records as mandated or necessary.
• Ability to read, interpret, and comprehend laws, codes, and ordinances.
• Ability to read, interpret, and comprehend federal housing rehabilitation rules and regulations.
• Ability to identify code violations during the inspection of existing residential structures and vacant lots.
• Ability to locate, read, and interpret legal descriptions, maps, and ownership records.

SEE THE ATTACHED BELOW FOR A FULL JOB DESCRIPTION.