Permit Technician Supervisor

Permit Technician Supervisor

If you're an experienced permit professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, leading high-performing teams, and making a meaningful impact on your community, this is an exceptional opportunity to take the next step in your career at the City of Benicia. As the Permit Technician Supervisor, you'll play a vital role in shaping the City's development process by overseeing permit operations, mentoring staff, improving processes, and serving as a trusted resource for contractors, design professionals, residents, and City departments. This is more than a supervisory positionit's an opportunity to influence how development happens in a growing community while helping deliver outstanding customer service, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement in one of the City's most visible and essential public service functions. Don't wait, apply today!

Under direct supervision of the Building Official or general direction from the Development Services Director, the Permit Technician Supervisor assists in the planning, direction, coordination, and supervision of permitting activities and staff in the Development Services Department, including Building Safety and Development Engineering functions. The Permit Technician Supervisor coordinates, oversees, and participates in plan review operations and specifications for permit issuance. Provides information about permit requirements, codes, ordinances and inspection procedures to contractors, design professionals and the public. Reviews plan submittals for completeness as needed, calculates and reviews permit fees, routes plans and issues permits. This position also assists in developing and delivering staff training programs and performs related duties as assigned. This is the first-line supervisory classification within the Development Services Department. This position functions as a working supervisor, performing the most complex duties assigned within the series while providing day-to-day leadership and direction to assigned staff. Incumbent regularly works on tasks which are varied and complex requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. This position exercises direct supervisory responsibilities including evaluating the work of assigned staff; participating in the selection of staff; working with employees to correct deficiencies; and implementing discipline when necessary. Incumbent performs the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within the Department, including the responsibility for projects and/or programs of high complexity. The employee is required to be trained and proficient in all procedures related to the assigned area of responsibility. Assignments are varied and may require independent judgement authority in the application of codes and regulations, where authorized by the Building Official.

The representative duties listed include essential and marginal functions that vary by position. Individuals with disabilities will be considered for placement into positions in this class based upon an assessment of the essential functions of the particular position. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervise assigned personnel.
• Train staff in adherence to city policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, schedule, supervise, and review work of assigned personnel; inspect and evaluate work to ensure that permit processing and issuance activities are performed in accordance with applicable standards and requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate work in progress; evaluate work methods; recommend and implement work policies, procedures, and improvements.
• Provide responsible professional and technical assistance in the development, administration, and implementation of the Building Safety Division programs.
• Answer or respond to public inquiries regarding division policies, procedures and operations as necessary.
• Respond to technical questions from assigned staff; as necessary, meet with developers, contractors, design professionals and other individuals to resolve issues and concerns.
• Assist in the planning, design, and implementation of permit processes or improvements, and related projects.
• Assist with and make recommendations to support the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities of the division.
• Assist in preparing, monitoring, and administering the division budget.
• Manage data and information used in assigned area including administration of assigned databases and records systems; train staff on use of such systems; generate, review and distribute related reports.
• Lead and perform preliminary review of plans, including review for completeness and conformance with applicable regulations and procedures; ensure timely coordination of plan review; ensure maintenance of related records, files and reports in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Perform minor plan review to ensure applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations are met.
• Apply advanced permit fee calculations (including estimates, fee credits, fee deferrals and staff training) including interpreting regulations and policies applicable to fee calculations or auditing such calculations.
• Train users on the online permit application system and coordinate with the permitting software administrator to support any modifications to system processes according to the needs of the department.
• Assist in the continued development of the City's current building permit program. Evaluate and provide recommendations for best practices for the City's permit/development fee application process and forms.
• Represent the Development Services Department at public meetings as assigned.
• Prepare reports and memos regarding division operations and activities as requested.
• May respond to emergency situations in off-hours as necessary. Intermittent weekend and/or evening work other than normal business hours may be required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Knowledge of: Characteristics, services, and activities of Development Services Department functions, programs, and operational areas. Permit processing procedures and the relation of permitting functions to other divisions, agencies and organizations. Principles and practices in leading and training staff. Methods, materials, and progressive steps used in the construction of buildings and related structures. Pertinent codes, ordinances, and regulations enforced by the City including the California Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical Codes, Benicia Municipal Code, and related city, state and federal regulations. Applying federal, state and municipal codes, ordinances and regulations related to building construction, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, heating, and gas installations to assist the public and development community to obtain permits and information. Understanding of construction drawings and blueprints, construction types and occupancies. Plan review methods and procedures. Inspection methods and procedures. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff. Mathematical principles Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment for program, project, and task coordination including computers and software programs relevant to work performed, including permit, database, and spatial software or applications. Principles and procedures of record-keeping and reporting.

Ability to: Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned personnel; ensure safe working conditions. Advise and assist contractors, developers, architects, engineers, and homeowners in the procedures necessary to obtain permits. Participate in the management of assigned projects or project areas. Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Operate equipment necessary to perform division work functions, including computers, tablets and related devices, permit software, word processing and spreadsheet software, and related technology. Understand, explain, and enforce provisions of applicable codes and regulations. Review plan submittals for compliance with applicable codes and regulations as needed. Perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately including adding and subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and calculating percentages, fractions, and decimals. Use geographical software or applications and the assessor parcel map to locate property. Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact. Prepare and maintain records, memoranda, and reports in accordance with applicable policies and regulations. Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Build and maintain positive, professional working relationships with peers, co-workers and the public and exercise sound judgment in such communications and interactions.

Experience and Education: Any equivalent combination of training, education and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities below: Experience: Four (4) years of experience as a permit technician with a public agency, or equivalent, at least (2) years of experience at the level equivalent to the City of Benicia Development Services Technician II classification. Education: Equivalent to the completion of a high school diploma supplemented by college coursework in mathematics, construction, building inspection, plan review, drafting, architecture, or related fields. Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in a related field is highly desirable.

License or Certificate: Must possess a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment. Possession of a valid Permit Technician Certification from the International Code Council (ICC) at time of application. Ability to obtain an International Code Council (ICC) California Residential Building Inspector certificate within 1 year of employment. Required licenses and certifications shall be maintained as a condition of employment.

Working Conditions: Most work is performed in an office setting and may require prolonged sitting and standing. Work involves accessing and using office equipment, as well as, moving between office locations. Employees will use standard office equipment to communicate; may lift light weight objects; and navigate uneven surfaces. Position requires working extensively with the public.