Community Development Technician - Associate

Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal

Building Division: This position will be assigned to perform duties related to building functions and services within the Community Development Resource Agency. The position will be primarily assigned to support Building Services Plan Check operations and will be responsible for providing information to the public regarding the application, review, and issuance of building permits, answering general building related questions, performing preliminary review of construction documents to ensure plan completeness, and preparing professional correspondence to coworkers, applicants, and outside agencies. The ideal candidate will possess excellent customer service skills and either have a background in or a willingness to learn the administrative functions associated with the acceptance, review, and issuance of building permits.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To receive, review, and process a variety of permits in one or more specialized land use areas; to perform a variety of research related to the permitting process, land development issues, and County requirements and regulations; and depending on assignment, to provide information and explanation to the public by telephone and at the public counter regarding permitting requirements and process and County requirements and regulations.

Receives supervision from department management or supervisory staff and may receive technical or functional supervision from other technical or professional personnel.

• Accepts applications for structural and wastewater permits and begins permitting process by entering information into land use system to initiate permit; assigns permit numbers; and accepts fees.
• Accepts and logs commercial and residential plans and associated documents for plan checking; processes, prepares, and issues permits; makes mathematical calculations related to permit and associated fees; accepts fees and issues receipts for permits; balances and prepares daily deposit of fees collected.
• Bills for service charges that are exempt from property taxes.
• Accepts and processes a variety of applications and reviews for compliance with land use standards and regulations.
• Performs site plan review.
• Performs parcel, permit and zoning research and/or permit history regarding parcel zoning, land use and subdivision restrictions to the public which may involve multiple County departments.
• Reviews commercial and home occupation business licenses for compliance with land use standards and regulations.
• Tracks a variety of information including inspection schedules.
• Gathers and interprets utility line information; locates utility easements and other encumbrance lines on maps.
• Reviews as-built maps prior to issuing permits; updates maps and Assessor's pages as needed.
• Makes preliminary determinations regarding environmental review requirements; provides information regarding environmental review process to customers.
• Provides information to customers regarding hearing process and pre-development meetings.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer services.
• Prepares correspondence and notifications providing and requesting information from customers related to application materials and permit.
• Provides information to the public by telephone or at the public counter regarding applicable ordinances, regulations, requirements, and procedures related to the permitting and land development process and County regulations and requirements; assists the public in completing and processing various permits.
• Interacts with other County departments and/or outside agencies as needed.
• Prepares and distributes a variety of self-help related materials pertaining to the permitting process.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: Two years of responsible permit processing experience comparable to an Assistant Community Development Technician with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.  Additional specialized training or coursework in drafting, principles of real estate, planning, construction, geometry, trigonometry, physics, hydrology, geography, economics, demography, or related field is highly desirable. 

Knowledge of: 

• Principles and practices of customer service and public contact.
• Basic arithmetic and mathematical calculations.
• Clear, effective and correct use of oral and written English including spelling grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
• Advanced operation of varied office equipment including computers and associated word processing, spreadsheets, and specialized application. 
• Methods of filing and tracking information. 
• Letter composition.
• Local ordinances and State statutes relative to land use, land development, and permitting process.
• Policies and procedures of the Community Development/Resource Agency and assigned department.
• Technical resource materials and information sources applicable to land development related activities.
• Agency and department specific software systems.

Ability to: 

• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time; intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write and use keyboard to communicate through written means; and occasionally lift moderate weight.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand assigned aspects of the job; identify and interpret technical and numerical permit processing activities; explain permitting process and procedures and County regulations and requirements to the public.
• Obtain information through interviews and dialogue; work fairly and courteously with the public; simultaneously process multiple permits; and work effectively with frequent interruption.
• Use a variety of modern office equipment, including but not limited to, computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, facsimile machine, microfilm reader/printer, and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Clearly and concisely explain permit requirements and procedures to those less knowledgeable.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, other County employees, outside agencies, and the public.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine appropriate course of action.
• Effectively use automated permit systems.
• Interpret and apply applicable ordinances, statutes and departmental procedures and policies.
• Read and interpret a variety of plans, maps, drawing, construction documents and specifications in the course of conducting research.
• Coordinate various permitting processes.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Kristen Cannon, Administrative Technician, at kcannon@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4661.