Planning Specialist - Permit Technician

City of Richmond, Virginia; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Virginia Retirement System (VRS)

Language Incentive

Referral Bonus

Tuition Assistance Program

Job summary

The City of Richmond, Virginia, seeks a Planning Specialist to support building and planning permitting activities. The role involves intake reviews, plan evaluation, answering questions, issuing permits and occupancy certificates, data entry, and fee calculations.

Responsibilities include processing documents, updating records, and coordinating administrative aspects of permitting, with opportunities to assist at different stations as needed.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with city planning and building permit processes.
• Strong data and numerical skills for fee calculations and records.
• Ability to read architectural drawings and professional plans.

Responsibilities

• Receives and reviews documents ensuring accuracy and compliance with city guidelines.
• Assesses project scope and determines required permits and approvals.
• Issues permits and certificates of occupancy for residential or commercial projects.
• Responds to customer inquiries and provides information on permitting.
• Maintains and updates permit records and data entry.
• Performs related duties such as permit research, extensions, and cross-station coverage.

Skills

Relational data

Geodatabases

Communication

Reading drawings

Attention to detail

Tools

AutoCAD

EnerGov

GIS

Blue Beam

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity… YOU !!!

About

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• T uition Assistance Program

Description

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• VirginiaRetirement System (VRS)
• LanguageIncentive
• Referral Bonus
• TuitionAssistanceProgram

The City of Richmond, Department of Planning and Development Review , is seeking a highly qualified individual to fill the position of Planning Specialist. This class is devoted to providing specialized and technical activities in support of building and planning permitting activities. As assigned, work may include assisting applicants who are applying for building and trade permits; performing initial intake plan reviews; reviewing preliminary drawings; responding to code questions; issuing permits; issuing Certificates of Occupancy; entering data; calculating fees; and coordinating the administrative aspects of the permitting process.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Receives and reviews documents and verifies information is accurate and conforms to City guidelines. 30%
• Assesses the scope of projects including required permits and decides whether or not to accept proposals. 20%
• Issues documents such as permits or certificates of occupancy for residential projects or new building change-of-use projects. 20%
• Responds to customer requests and inquires and provides information. 10%
• Maintains and updates records. 10%
• Performs additional duties at the local level, such as researching, extending and killing permits, verifying permits have the required information, performing initial review of permit applications, or filling in at a different station. 10%

Note

• Class description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. The employee may perform other duties of a similar nature or level subject to the needs of the department.

Qualifications, Special Certifications And Licenses

KNOWLDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge

• Some combination of: construction terminology; International Building, Plumbing and Electrical Residential and Commercial Codes; Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 of the Virginia Construction Code; Chapter 3 of the Virginia Residential Code; organic agriculture practices; brownfields; polluted soils; city property boundaries and the pertinent laws; crop seasons; permit processes; and construction industry and standards of workmanship
• Basic understanding of the functions of different City departments and organizations
• General mathematical knowledge including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic
• Computer programs and software such as Microsoft Office Suite, architectural and engineering software and programming, EnerGov, word processing programs, GIS systems, scanners, Blue Beam, Auto CAD, etc.
• Basic computer knowledge Designing and building a complete working plan

SKILLS

• Relational data skills
• Managing geodatabases
• Performing calculations such as fees, square footage, and acreage Oral, graphic, and written communication
• Customer service including listening to and interpreting customer needs and assisting when needed
• Reading and understanding architectural drawings including plumbing, mechanical, electrical, gas piping, and fire alarms (both manually and via computer)

Abilities

• Pay attention to detail Multi-task Learn new information (such as new codes, systems, and technology)
• Communicate with individuals of varying experience levels
• Think critically
• Maintain composure in stressful situations
• Work in a large and diverse team environment
• Demonstrate patience in difficult circumstances

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Americans With Disabilities Act Requirements

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at [e-mail].

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company.

The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.