Permit Technician I or II

City of Alexandria • Alexandria, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Permit Technician I and II are part of a career ladder with increasing responsibilities. As a Permit Technician I or II, you will review and process applications for permits, issue permits, collect data, and respond to inquiries concerning the Virginia building and construction codes. Incumbents in this class must be able to read and understand plats, construction plans, perform basic engineering calculations, and operate related professional office software. The incumbent performs related work as required.

Demonstrates knowledge and practice of outstanding customer service skills; Assist customers in reviewing necessary documents for approvals provided by other City departments prior to issuing permits from the Department of Code Administration; Provides information to the public regarding various Virginia building code regulations, City of Alexandria codes and the department’s permitting policies, procedures and licensing requirements; responds to telephone inquiries regarding permits, process, procedures and handles complaints; Review, process and issue electronic construction related permits; Verify contractor and business licensing by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Alexandria; Verify that plans are complete and all required information has been submitted; Interacts with outside architectural/ engineering and design firms, contractors and homeowners via in-person, telephone and e-mail; Refers callers to appropriate City agencies to handle request and/or complaints; Calculates permit fees based on established fee schedule; Determines the appropriate departments for review; Performs related work as required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience in paraprofessional engineering, drafting, or architectural work
• Customer service or construction or code related fields
• Completion of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Core Academy and Permit Technician Course modules
• Ability to read and understand plats and construction plans
• Ability to perform basic engineering calculations
• Ability to operate related professional office software
• Ability to acquire and apply knowledge of the City of Alexandria permit process and requirements
• Ability to understand and apply the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Codes
• Two years of experience in paraprofessional engineering, drafting, or architectural work; customer service; or experience in the construction or code related fields (for Permit Technician II)
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding residential plan review requirements (for Permit Technician II)
• At least one year of satisfactory performance if currently employed as a Permit Technician I level with the City of Alexandria (for Permit Technician II)

Nice To Haves

• Completion of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Core Academy and Permit Technician Course modules
• Successful completion of the following within the employee’s probationary period of twelve (12) months after their original appointment: Permit Technician I certifications and requirements as prescribed in the current Permit Technician Career Ladder Matrix and as may be required from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) ICS-700 certifications
• Completion of the Virginia Building Code Academy Residential Plan Review module (for Permit Technician II)
• Permit Technician II certification and requirements as prescribed in the current Permit Technician Career Ladder Matrix and as may be required by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (for Permit Technician II)
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) ICS-100 & 700 certifications

Responsibilities

• Review and process applications for permits
• Issue permits
• Collect data
• Respond to inquiries concerning the Virginia building and construction codes
• Read and understand plats and construction plans
• Perform basic engineering calculations
• Operate related professional office software
• Assist customers in reviewing necessary documents for approvals provided by other City departments
• Provide information to the public regarding Virginia building code regulations, City of Alexandria codes, and department permitting policies, procedures, and licensing requirements
• Respond to telephone inquiries regarding permits, process, and procedures
• Handle complaints
• Review, process, and issue electronic construction-related permits
• Verify contractor and business licensing
• Verify that plans are complete and all required information has been submitted
• Interact with outside architectural/engineering and design firms, contractors, and homeowners
• Refer callers to appropriate City agencies
• Calculate permit fees based on established fee schedule
• Determine the appropriate departments for review

Benefits

• The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED