Permit Technician

Permit Technician

The Environmental Health Services Division of Seattle & King County Public Health is seeking to hire one (1) candidate for a career service in the Permit Technician role. Seeking to select qualified candidates with excellent customer service and technical skills to support and perform a variety of duties focused on serving the public to help us meet our mission to identify and sustain environmental conditions that promote health equity, healthy people and communities in Seattle and King County. The Permit Technician works as part of a team to collect and process permits, conduct in-take for plan review, letters, and perform customer service-related duties.

The Environmental Health Division processes over 13,000 permits for food establishments, pools/spas, meat cutters, solid waste services, pet business, and plumbing and gas piping services. The successful candidates in this position will be extremely motivated to provide excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment and independently prioritize a high volume of work while working as a member of a team. These positions will report to the Program Supervisor for our Permit Technician team within the Environmental Health operations section at the Chinook/downtown offices. The Program is committed to the principles of racial equity and social justice and values diverse perspectives and life experiences in its workforce. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Through the work of over 190 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) promotes healthy and equitable environmental conditions and prevents disease through sanitation, safe food, air, and water (drinking, surface, and recreational), and reduction of exposure to hazardous materials. In addition to permitting and inspecting public pools, spas, pet businesses, plumbing installations, on-site septic systems, and solid waste facilities, the Division also works in partnership with community to address unhealthy environmental conditions and leads the department's climate change efforts. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender or economic status. The Division's core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve.

King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures. The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

The work schedule is Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm. The Environmental Health Services team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is building name and address. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Job Duties

• Process permits renewals, and provide application in-take for permits, re-inspection, plan review and other billings.
• Scanning a high volume of permits using a barcode scanner or manual data entry into database
• Answer incoming calls, that may include intaking of complaints, permit adjustments, payment intake and triaging calls.
• Incoming mail processing
• Read and interpret maps and legal descriptions. Assure permits are issued to the correct parcel number & address.
• Process letters and public disclosures requests.
• Set up and monitor status of applications, coordinated with program staff to avoid backlogs and ensure applications are processed and follow up in a timely manner.
• Monitor accounts for payment and coordinates collection process for unpaid accounts.
• Compile data that may require information searches through files, including spreadsheets and/or customized database applications including financial research questions.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum:

• Two (2) years of customer service experience demonstrating the ability to communicate with customers using discretion, patience, etiquette, and professionalism.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
• Experience with complex accounts receivables/payable functions.
• Experience in automated financial and management information systems, word processors, spreadsheets, database, and similar software applications.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions; adjust to changes in workload demands; and research, gather and compile technical information from a variety of sources.
• Strong organization, problem solving and researching skills.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including MS Office application such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Skill in maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Strong math and analytical skills.
• Excellent time management and priority setting skills; able to handle multiple tasks with extreme accuracy.
• Skill in tracking and following through on assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new computer applications.
• Knowledge and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to positively contribute in a team environment; actively listens to others and builds trust and confidence.
• Ability to be reliable and dependable with assignments and work schedule.
• Skill in teamwork and collaboration.

Desired:

• Demonstrated experience providing customer service.
• Demonstrated experience with complex reconciliations.
• Bilingual skills.

Supplemental Information

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alexis Owens: View email address on click.appcast.io.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Internal and external applicants may apply. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

(Please note: Cover letters and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined