PW Permits Reviewer

City of Bellingham; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation leave

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Medical insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

457 deferred compensation

Job summary

City of Bellingham is seeking a permit reviewer to evaluate and approve applications for commercial and residential projects within the City rights-of-way. You will ensure compliance with water, sewer, and utility standards and provide technical information to applicants.

The role requires experience in construction inspection or related fields, plus a Washington driver’s license and certification timelines. This is a full-time position in Public Works with union representation.

Qualifications

• Six years of experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work.
• Formal education or training in engineering technology or related field may substitute year-for-year for the experience requirement up to a two-year maximum.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record; candidates must submit a three-year driving abstract prior to hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist within twelve months of employment.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and approves permit applications for commercial and residential projects within the City rights-of-way.
• Ensures compliance with water, stormwater, sewer, driveway, right-of-way, street obstruction, and utility installation standards.
• Provides customer service and technical information related to infrastructure requirements and processes, permit applications, and related issues.
• Collaborates with and reviews Whatcom County building permits involving City utilities.

Job description

JOB SUMMARY:

Reviews and approves permit applications for various commercial and residential projects within the City rights-of-way. Ensures compliance with water, stormwater, sewer, driveway, right-of-way, street obstruction, and utility installation standards. Provides customer service and technical information related to infrastructure requirements and processes, permit applications, and related issues. Collaborates with and reviews Whatcom County building permits involving City utilities.

For more information, please review the job classification.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

SALARY AND BENEFITS INFORMATION:

This position will start at Step 1 ($35.61/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $35.61- $46.46. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon., Nov 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM Pacific Time

• Six years of experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work. Formal education or training in engineering technology or related field may substitute year for year for the experience requirement up to a two-year maximum.

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. Candidates must submit a three-year driving abstract prior to hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist is required within twelve months of employment.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process:

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around November 9, 2026.
2. If there are six (6) or more qualified candidates:
   • Applications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around November 20, 2026.
   • The top six (6) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Review will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1, 2026.
3. If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all will be invited to the Oral Board Interviews, tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1, 2026.
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following:
   • If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, the Oral Board Interview will 100% of overall score. Applicants must have a passing total score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
   • If there are six (6) or more applicants that meet minimum qualifications, the Experience and Training Rating will 40% of overall score and Oral Board Interview will 60% of overall score. Applicants must have a total passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works. This position is represented by a union.

If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.