Building Permit Technician

Customer Service Position

Under the supervision of the Building Official, this customer service position is responsible for greeting customers, directing customer correspondence, providing technical information to the public, and performing advanced administrative functions. Primary duties include registering contractors, coordinating building plan reviews, issuing permits, and generally assisting the Building Official.

Examples Of Duties

Provide administrative support to the Inspections Division which is responsible for building plan reviews, permitting, health code compliance, housing and property maintenance, rental housing, nuisance enforcement, foreclosed/vacant/abandoned properties, and coordination with the Fire Marshal to ensure the safety of the built environment.

Educate and assist customers submitting plans, applications, or other documents. Provide information about general code requirements and respond to construction inquires.

Ensure completeness and accuracy of submitted information; route applications and plans from customer to appropriate individual or agency for interdepartmental review; coordinate building plan review process including permit authorization; and provide status updates.

Issue permits, licenses, certificates, and related documents. Collect and process associated fees.

Register contractors and other professionals. Collect and process associated fees.

Assist the Building Official with the drafting of meeting agendas, meeting minutes, staff reports, policies, procedures, resolutions, ordinances, and other similar documents.

Act as a liaison to the Inspections Commission on behalf of the Building Official when required.

Coordinate administrative adjudication cases on behalf of the Building Official when required.

Investigate and resolve customer complaints related to the Inspections Division.

Respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the Inspections Division.

Respond to customer correspondence; prove information in accordance with policies; direct phone calls and emails; and coordinate with other departments and divisions to provide uniform customer service.

Schedule appointments and meetings, greet customers, ascertain nature of business, and conduct customers to the appropriate person or place.

Perform routine budgeting and bookkeeping duties for the Inspections Division.

Organize and maintain all files, records, and archived materials including building plans.

Operate general and specialized office equipment.

Other duties may be assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Requires Associate's degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school plus two (2) years' related experience; or high school diploma or GED equivalent plus four (4) years' related experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Requires Certification from the International Code Council (ICC) as a Permit Technician or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire. Valid driver's license or equivalent also required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of fiscal and administrative office procedures, practices, systems and equipment; excellent knowledge of business English, arithmetic, spelling, grammar, and Robert's Rules of Order; and knowledge of project management practices.

Excellent skill in public and employee relations and in maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, officials, agencies, vendors and the public; presenting a positive image of the City as a first point of contact for the Inspections Division; organizing, completing and reporting on projects; multitasking and composing clear, concise and informative correspondence; proofreading and performing data entry with a high degree of accuracy; advanced skill in using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher as well as Adobe and accounting/payroll software. Knowledge of Tyler Technologies preferred.

Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of the materials and situations encountered on the job; define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; respond effectively to inquiries and complaints; solve complex problems involving several variables within a familiar context; calculate fractions, decimals and percentages; understand and carry out established policies and procedures; interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, picture or schedule form; perform routine budgeting and bookkeeping duties.

Ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish is highly desirable.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed mostly in office setting; hand eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk, and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Additional Information Selected candidates must meet a residency requirement, which includes living in the state of Illinois or Iowa and maintaining a sixty (60) minute response time.