Planning Services - Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist

Allen County Indiana•Fort Wayne, IN

About The Position

The Allen County Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department providing permitting, enforcement, long-range planning, and support to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and five community jurisdictions. The Assistant Land Use Permit Specialist processes and issues address assignments using GIS software, supports zoning enforcement and compliance, retrieves and manages department records, and assists with permit review and issuance. The role also provides customer service and technical guidance to the public regarding zoning inquiries and permit procedures. The position performs standardized administrative and permitting work, including preparing and scanning documents, entering and tracking permits, assessing fees, receiving payments, issuing receipts, and maintaining accurate records. It requires regular communication with the public and county and city employees. The position works in a standard office environment and may require overtime.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
One year of customer service experience.
Strong customer service skills and willingness to work with others.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complicated information effectively and efficiently.
Willingness to learn city and county zoning ordinances to assist the public with questions and concerns.
Willingness to develop knowledge of permit-processing procedures and standards for reviewing construction drawings and applications for certificates of compliance.
Ability to read, interpret, and process departmental records and information.
Ability to compute percentages and use an engineer’s scale to review project plans.
Strong computer skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office and other job-related software.

Responsibilities

Process and issue address assignments for email and counter customers using GIS software.
Provide administrative support to the zoning enforcement and compliance process.
Prepare, organize, scan, and upload documents, files, and maps.
Retrieve permits, files, documents, and maps from department software for the public, coworkers, and other agencies.
Assist with ordinance-compliance reviews and issue Improvement Location Permits, Certificates of Compliance, Single Family Residence permits, and other permits.
Enter permits into the permitting system and provide technical direction to online permit applicants.
Track, distribute, or issue online permits and assess online permit fees.
Respond accurately to zoning ordinance inquiries and questions about permit processing procedures and policies.
Provide counter and phone customer service; gather information and resolve permit issues, coordinating with other departments as needed.
Read and interpret zoning maps and parcel information using GIS.
Help verify the accuracy of department records, including plot plans, land surveys, and certificates of compliance.
Monitor newspapers to verify legal notices were published and accounted for in accordance with Indiana Code; copy notices and file them in the appropriate case files.
Receive payments and post receipts for applications.
Assist with outgoing and incoming mail.
Verify and update data-entry information as necessary.
Perform other assigned duties, including overtime as required.