Permit Technician

Department: Planning and Zoning Position Status: Full-Time Position Function Summary Under the direction of the Chief Building Official and/or Planning and Zoning Director the Permit Technician reviews and processes applications for planning, zoning, engineering, building, construction, and/or other development permits. Assists with the scheduling of inspections and issuing certificates of occupancy. May perform routine administrative and complex clerical duties as needed to expedite the administrative, technical, or clerical functions of the planning department. Department Job Assignments This Job Description is intended to be somewhat general in nature with respect to the job family, and as such it does not detail all duties of a particular job assignment. Additional duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities may be assigned to an employee in this position depending on the Department Job Assignment. II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES The following statements are essential functions of this position and not intended to be all-inclusive; rather, they are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the employee, and an employee may be directed to perform other reasonably related job duties and responsibilities. The incumbent will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties reasonably requested by their supervisor. Taos County reserves the right to revise or change the job duties and responsibilities as the need arises, based on business need, and this Job Description may be updated accordingly. This Job Description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Job Duties Acts as receptionist; answers phone and routes calls; takes and relays messages; provides information to inquiring parties; responds to general questions related to department functions. Assists the general public with the permit application process; instructs applicants in the proper information and essential requirements to expedite requests and applications to approval. Receives and reviews applications for various types of building permits; accepts building plans as part of the permit application process; determines completeness of applications. Conducts initial inspection of plans to verify compliance with standardized requirements; verifies that required departments have reviewed and approved plans related to commercial and multi‑family projects; prepares plans for review by plan examiners. Confirms contractors are licensed and are currently in active status with State of New Mexico. Operates a personal computer; various software applications for word processing; composes formal documents, records maintenance, and data input; enters permit applications into computer system database. Verifies and collects appropriate fees, deposits revenues with county treasurer. Responds to inquiries and with builders, engineers, contractors, architects, and the public advising on permit requirements and permit application process; status of permits; fee calculations. Schedules inspections; follows‑up on various inspection activities during course of construction; organizes schedule for final inspections by county inspectors; receives notification of inspection status and prepares certificates of occupancy or temporary certificates of occupancy; assists code enforcement staff with various report processing and document maintenance. Prepares various documents and reports required by state agencies, Census Bureau, and County Commission; tracks building permit activity to required report content. Provides back‑up for other office administrative support personnel; attendance at Planning & Zoning meetings and record minutes as needed, etc. Acts as a liaison between the public and review staff to resolve problems and complaints. Performs document filing and maintenance; purges records according to established guidelines and regulations. Responds to inquiries for public information. General Duties and Responsibilities Works collaboratively, cooperatively, and in coordination with fellow team members and with others in the organization, treats them with respect, courtesy, and consideration, and shows understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done. Provides assistance, information, guidance, and resources to diverse groups of customers, clients, and others outside of the organization; treats them in a friendly manner with professionalism, helpfulness, respect, courtesy, and consideration at all times regardless of circumstances. Maintains regular, dependable attendance and punctuality, and physical presence at the assigned worksite; must interact directly with people at the worksite on a regular basis. Complies with and actively supports all applicable workplace environmental health and safety policies, work rules, and practices, giving maximum effort to performing job functions in a manner that protects the health and safety of the employee, co‑workers, and the general public. The incumbent in this position may have access to sensitive and proprietary company data, personal client/customer data, personal employee data, and other sensitive information, and an essential job duty is the maintenance of strict confidentiality of such information in accordance with Taos County policy, and federal/state/local laws and regulations (e.g., HIPAA, FACTA, etc.). Performs other duties as assigned and which are deemed necessary or desirable by Taos County. Values, Behaviors, and Competencies Quality/Compliance : Achieving a standard of excellence with our work processes and outcomes, honoring Taos County policies and all regulatory requirements. Customer/Client focus : Striving for high external and internal customer/client satisfaction, going out of our way to be helpful and pleasant, making it as easy as possible on the customer/client, rather than on self, department, or organization. Clear Communication : Expresses oneself clearly and effectively when speaking and writing to individuals and groups; listens attentively and ensures all parties involved understand communication; responds in a timely manner using appropriate communication methods. Interpersonal Skills : Interacts effectively with others using discretion, empathy and self‑regulation when working toward resolution of divergent interests; recognizes and appreciates the quirky or unusual traits of others. Professional Expertise : Achieves a proficient level of ability or knowledge in job‑related areas; continues to grow with the changing requirements of the job. Adaptability : Adjusts to changing circumstances by altering attitudes and behaviors; displays resilience and flexibility in response to setbacks and stressful situations with energy and optimism. Collegiality : Being helpful, respectful, approachable, and team oriented, building strong working relationships and a positive work environment. Initiative : Takes action to influence events, generate ideas for improvement, takes advantage of opportunities, and does not wait to be told what to do next. Efficiency and Continuous Improvement : Planning ahead, managing time well, being on time, being cost conscious, thinking of better ways to do things. Coachability : Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement in personal and professional growth & development, performance, and productivity. Team Player : able to work collaboratively with others in the organization, and to work well with diverse groups of people and gain and maintain the respect of others, both inside and outside Taos County. Decision Making : Uses sound judgment to make good decisions based on information gathered and considers all pertinent facts and alternatives before deciding. Commits to decision. Performance Standards : Sets and maintains high performance standards. Pays close attention to detail, accuracy and completeness and follows up on work outputs. Problem‑Solving : Analyzes problem by gathering and organizing all relevant information. Identifies cause and effect relationships and comes up with best solution. Integrity : Shares complete and accurate information. Maintains confidentiality and meets own commitments and adheres to organizational policies and procedures. Motivation : Displays energy and enthusiasm, commits additional effort, and maintains a high level of productivity and self‑direction. IV. POSITION SPECIFICATIONS This position is non‑exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is subject to the organization’s policies and procedures pertaining to overtime hours. Independence of Action; Supervision Received The Permit Technician works under the general supervision of the Chief Building Official and/or Planning and Zoning Director. Employee works alone on routine work and checks with supervisor only when in doubt. Production generally precedes a check on quality control. Established methods and procedures are clearly established, and general instructions provided. Supervision Exercised The Permit Technician is responsible for own work and has no supervisory authority or responsibility; although the Permit Technician may be responsible for organizing and reviewing the work of volunteers or others working on special projects s/he is overseeing that are assigned by the position’s supervisor. Coordination and Cooperation with Internal and External Parties Internal Responds to requests for information from the Chief Building Official and/or Planning and Zoning Director; and works with other department staff on issues and special projects that may have a moderate impact on provision of Taos County’s programs and services. External Employee has a substantial amount of independent contact with external parties. Under the direction of the Chief Building Official and/or Planning and Zoning Director, may work with external vendors, applicants, agencies, and others to provide accurate services. V. POSITION AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES General Position has low level of line responsibility and moderate authority to make independent decisions over an assigned function. A person in this position regularly takes responsibility for a key operation or function due to their level of accountability. Budgetary/Financial Authority and Accountability Position has low to no level of accountability for budgetary or financial decisions, and decisions will have a low level of impact on resource utilization within Taos County. Not responsible for impact on an operating budget for the Department. Equipment/ Asset/ Material Authority and Accountability Position has a low level responsibility for equipment & other assets, material s, and supplies; proper utilization is required plus accountability for first‑level maintenance may be required. VI. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Education and Experience Required: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence). Two (2) years of responsible experience related to the above duties. Substitution Additional education or professional training may substitute for experience requirement. Language Requirements Required: Ability to read and write English in order to understand and interpret written procedures and technical manuals. Certification, Licenses and Registrations Must possess a valid New Mexico State Driver’s License; must have and maintain a Taos County‑insurable driving record. Must become an ICC Certified Permit Technician within three (3) years of employment. Must maintain certification through continuing educational requirements. Training/Professional Development Requirements Must successfully complete all Taos County‑required safety and other training within required timeframes. Must successfully pass and maintain training certification in all state, Taos County, and/or other training requirements of the position and job assignment. Additional training requirements for this position may be mandated by Taos County. Tools and Equipment Used Standard office equipment and software, including desktop computer, and standard MS‑Office applications or equivalent. Must be able to operate a company vehicle. Other In accordance with the conditional offer of employment, individual must pass drug screens, and other required background investigations. Additional drug screening and background investigations may be required depending on the job assignment, regulatory or policy requirements, job transfer, or in accordance with Taos County’s Drug‑Free Workplace policy. VII. PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS The physical and mental demands, and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Physical Effort and Demand Little to no physical demand is required to perform the work; an employee in this position frequently sits at a desk or workstation. Must have visual acuity and manual dexterity to perform timely and accurate data entry. Must be able to make individual, small group, and large group presentations as required by position. Must effectively convey ideas, images, and goals to diverse groups of personalities. Mental Demand Effective performance requires continual thinking and attention to work/detail demanded by the essential functions of the job. Must be able to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect pertinent data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and initiate appropriate course of action. Must be able to work non‑standard work hours occasionally, as required to fulfill job responsibilities. Environment/Working Conditions Little to no hazardous conditions exist in the work environment. The work environment is pleasant; only minimal negative physical factors exist. A minimal amount of negative psychological factors; these factors must be addressed and considered in the performance of duties and have minimal potential for a negative impact on job employees. Driving/traveling needs May be required to use a county vehicle during working hours to travel to various sites throughout the county. May have occasional need to travel for training and conferences both in and out of town. Safety-Sensitive Position Designation This position is not classified by Taos County as “safety sensitive.” Conditions of Employment Employees are required to be in compliance with Taos County’s policy on current influenza and other vaccination requirements for employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr