Planning Services - Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Allen County Department of Planning Services seeks an Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist to support address assignments, permitting, and document handling. You will assist the public, review submissions, and help ensure zoning compliance with GIS-enabled workflows.

We value accuracy, strong communication, and willingness to learn zoning ordinances. This role offers standard 40-hour weeks in a county office environment with customer-facing duties.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required with customer service exposure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for public interactions.
• Willingness to learn city/county zoning ordinances and permit procedures.
• Ability to read, interpret, and process departmental records and information.
• Computer proficiency with GIS and standard office software is required.

Responsibilities

• Process and issue address assignments using GIS tools.
• Provide full administrative support to zoning enforcement/compliance processes.
• Scan and upload electronic documents, maps and plans.
• Assist the public and staff by retrieving permits, files and maps.
• Explain permit processing procedures and policies to applicants.
• Enter permits into the permitting system and track online permits.
• Provide technical direction for online permit submissions.
• Ensure accurate data entry and handle payments and receipts.
• Deliver excellent customer service at counter and phone.

Skills

Customer service

Verbal and written communication

Willingness to learn

Reading maps

Data entry

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

GIS software

Microsoft Office

Job description

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES

The Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department that provides permitting, enforcement, long range planning and staffs the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and 5 community jurisdictions.

Vision

Planning Leadership, Community Collaboration, Service Excellence

Mission

We are dedicated to superior economic development and land planning services through:
Proactive Approach to Responsible development and growth
Empowered and knowledgeable employees
Supporting Communities
Providing accurate, consistent information
Offering technological resources
Timely and responsive service

Service Commitment

DPS is committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner

Allen County Department of Planning Services

ASSISTANT LAND USE PERMIT SPECIALIST

The Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department that provides permitting, enforcement, long range planning and staffs the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and 5 community jurisdictions.

Our Vision:

• Planning Leadership
• Community Collaboration

Our Mission:

• Empowered and knowledgeable employees
• Supporting Communities
• Providing accurate, consistent information
• Offering technological resources
• Timely and responsive service

Our Service Commitment:

Committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner

Essential Functions

• Responsible for the processing and issuance of address assignments for email and counter customers using geographical information systems (GIS) software.
• Responsible for providing full administrative support to the Zoning Enforcement/Compliance process.
• Responsible for scanning and uploading electronic images of a wide variety of documents, files, and maps.
• Prepares and organizes documents for scanning.
• Responsible for assisting the public, co-workers, and other agencies by retrieving permits, files, documents, and/or maps from department software.
• Assists with reviews for Ordinance compliance, and issues Improvement Location Permits, Certificates of Compliances, Single Family Residence permits, and other permits.
• Assists with the entry of permits into the permitting system.
• Responsible for providing technical direction for applicants submitting on-line permits.
• Assist with the tracking of on-line permits, distributing or issuing on-line permits, assessing on-line permit fees.
• Responsible for providing excellent customer service by giving accurate and precise responses regarding general zoning ordinance inquiries and permit processing procedures and policies.
• Responsible for providing counter and phone customer service.
• Gathers information and resolves issues with permits for over-the-counter/telephone requests and works with other departments to resolve issues.
• Reads and interprets zoning maps and parcel information through geographical information systems (GIS).
• Assists with the Verification of the accuracy of department records which includes plot plans, land surveys, and certificates of compliance.
• Monitors newspaper daily after legal notices are submitted to the paper to ensure all legal notices were published and accounted for, were published in accordance with Indiana Code, copies newspaper notices and files in appropriate case file.
• Receive payments and post receipts for applications submitted.
• Assists with daily outgoing mail and distributes incoming mail.
• Verifies data entry information is correct and updates as necessary.
• Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED with one year of experience in customer service
• Strong customer service skills with the interest and willingness to work with others
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey complicated information in an effective and efficient manner
• Willingness to learn city and county zoning ordinances to assist the public with questions and concerns
• Willingness to develop knowledge of permit processing procedures and standards to review construction drawings and applications for certificate of compliance
• Ability to read, interpret, and process departmental records and information
• Ability to compute percentages and to use an engineer’s scale in the review of project plans
• Strong computer skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office and other job-related software

Difficulty Of Work

The Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist performs moderate routine duties when working with customers on the phone, through email, reviewing and issuing permits. Knowledge of standard bookkeeping procedures and practices are required in order to receive payments and issue receipts at the counter.

Responsibility

The Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist is responsible for performing a variety of relatively standardized assignments. Errors in work are revealed through adverse effects on subsequent operations. including creating, preparing, and assembling documents for the zoning enforcement and compliance process. Work requires some judgement when assisting with circulating documents to various officials, media representatives, and the general public.

Personal Work Relationships

The Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist maintains frequent communication with other county and city employees, the general public when giving accurate and precise responses regarding zoning ordinance inquiries and department policies and procedures.

Working Conditions

The Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist works in a standard office environment with the ability to sit, stand, and move around freely involving some lifting up to twenty pounds, bending, typing, attention to detail, monitoring equipment, and noise.

Supervision

None

Licensing

None

Immediate Supervisor

Office and Finance Manager

Hours

40 hours/week; overtime as required

Eeo Category

1006

Workers’s Comp Code

8810

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