Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Jobs Hiring Now

Job Summary

Are you looking to apply your advanced skills in customer service, attention to detail, and organization in a collaborative, team-focused setting? Consider growing your career at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Our Environmental Health Division is recruiting for a Regular, Full-time (1.0 FTE), Permit Technician II - Front Counter representative. This position will be responsible for providing information and permit requirements, intaking and receiving a wide variety of applications, payments and maintaining related records in a fast-paced and diverse front-counter environment. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to in-person customer service and proficient cashiering skills. The work is performed according to established Department policies and procedures, and the employee is expected to work independently with minimal supervision under a supervisor or program manager. This position has intermediate technical expertise in permitting, codes, and regulations, with subject matter expertise in at least one area. The Permit Technician II provides training and mentoring to Permit Technician I's. The expected starting salary range for this position is between $29.23 – $31.30 hourly.

Position Series

• Permit Technician I
• Permit Technician II
• Environmental Health Specialist I/II
• Environmental Health Specialist III
• EHS Supervisor

• Office Administrator
• Environmental Health Supervisor

• Provide customer service and education to the public and industry professionals on moderately complex environmental health applications, permits, applicable fees, and related codes in person, over the phone, and through written communication.
• Receive, review, and process applications for completeness, accuracy, and necessary documentation (e.g., plans, blueprints) before routing them for detailed plan review by reviewers or field staff. Research information related to a variety of permits and application types.
• Accurately input application information and documentation into database systems and maintain detailed records.
• Calculate and collect associated permit and applications fees and handle daily cash/payment balancing and deposits.
• Coordinate complex applications and serve as subject matter expert on complex application processes. Create, review, update, and maintain complex customer applications, permits, and accounts.
• Train Permit Technician Is and IIs on relevant environmental health codes, ordinances, regulations, processes, and procedures.

• Provides information to the public at the front counter, on the telephone, and via e-mail related to food and environmental regulations, application requirements, and permitting processes.
• Provides information regarding permitting requirements, performs status checks on various permit types, and informs customers of status and next steps in the permitting process.
• Assists customers in understanding technical worksheets and completion of application forms and documents so they can complete an application for a permit.
• Intakes applications and reviews application packages for accuracy and completeness.
• Reads and interprets maps, plans, and legal descriptions for compliance with ordinances and regulations.
• Performs research regarding permit applications to ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations, active code compliance violations, and other permits related to the project.
• Performs research related to lot boundaries, zoning designations, location details, code compliance violations, and related permits.
• Prepares permits for further review or issuance.
• Reviews, approves, and issues permits not needing review and enter inspection requests.
• Data entry and validation of permit data entered into a computerized tracking system.
• Creates, maintains, and updates all computer and paper office files and records on issued permits and related matters.
• Calculates and assesses fees.
• Handles monetary transactions. Balances receipts and prepares bank deposits.
• Assists the public in obtaining documents, information, and resources pertaining to permits from other County departments.
• Provides training on codes, ordinances, regulations, processes, and procedures to Permit Technician Is.
• Reviews and maintains customer permit and application accounts.
• Coordinates or serves as subject matter expert for complex applications and issues.
• The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Adheres to all workplace and trade safety laws, regulations, standards, and practices.
• Understands and properly follows established procedures in preventing and responding to unsafe or emergency situations. Identifies and reports potentially unsafe practices or conditions.
• Operates equipment, tools, machinery, and vehicles safely and understands processes for reporting an accident or injury.
• Understands and applies knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform assigned emergency response role during an emergency.

What you bring to the table

• Intermediate knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs and Bluebeam or similar construction software.
• Knowledge of codes, ordinances, and policies relevant to the body of work.
• Basic knowledge of terminology used in construction and land use.
• Skilled in reading and interpreting legal descriptions, maps, prints, property descriptions, charts, graphs, and drawings of plots, building sites, and water and sewage systems.
• Skill in performing research and independent investigation of assigned problems.
• Skill in evaluating data and clearly communicating potential implications.
• Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information.
• Skilled in communication:
  • Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner.
  • Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information.
  • Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
  • Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations.
  • Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information.
  • Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience.

• Knowing and managing oneself: Understands that all equity, trauma-informed, and restorative practices start with oneself. Exercises a high degree of self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. Is willing to learn, apply, and model agency values and ethical standards.
• Restorative practices and conflict resolution: Articulates through words and actions authentic commitment to create an environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal opportunities and impartial treatment. Centers work inequity and trauma informed and restorative practices to achieve and maintain collaboration and teamwork and to effectively work with historically underrepresented and/or underserved populations to advance community health. Utilizes restorative practices to address harm and promote healing to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities.
• Collaboration and engagement: Provides balanced and objective information to help teammates, partners, and the public understand problems, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Works directly with partners within the Department, in the community, and members of the public affected by the work to obtain feedback and understand diverse points of view, concerns, and aspirations. Identifies preferred solutions together, incorporating advice and recommendations to the maximum extent possible.
• Evidence informed practices and decision-making: Applies evidence informed practices and methodologies to achieve the greatest impact in delivery of services to internal and external customers and partners. Incorporates the social determinants of health into public health work. Integrates research and evidence into the decision-making process. Seeks to systematically identify and eliminate inequities resulting in differences in health and in overall living conditions. Utilizes evidence informed practices to increase equity in systems and policy. Creates a robust culture of assessment and evaluation and continuous process improvement.
• Cross cultural communication and Engagement: Understands that cultural awareness, appreciation, and humility can only occur when you practice curiosity and open-mindedness. Operates with a high level of humility and cultural agility to achieve effective intercultural communication, engagement, and collaboration in the workplace and in the community. Is open to feedback and continuously self-reflects on one’s own actions and responses. Centers personal accountability on the Department’s mission, values, and ethical standards.

Who should apply

The items below are the requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values work experience, lived experience, and education and realizes that people take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• High School Diploma or GED; and
• 2 years of experience in government permitting; or
• 2 years of experience as a Permit Technician I at the Health Department and satisfactory job performance.

• N/A

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Work Environment

• Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in office environments.
• The potential for dealing with dissatisfied or angry customers exists, requiring skills in conflict resolution.
• Attendance is up to 100% in person.

• Regularly required to sit or stand continuously.
• Regularly communicate clearly in-person, over the phone, and via written communication, including communicating with dissatisfied or angry individuals.
• Capable of reading physical and electronic documents and working for prolonged periods on a computer monitor.
• Visual acuity sufficient to read source materials, plans, and drawings, including details.
• Fine motor skills sufficient to grip and manipulate paper, operate a telephone, and operate a computer mouse and keyboard.
• Reaching and gross manipulation capabilities sufficient to pick up and use standard office supplies.
• This position may require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving objects up to 10 pounds consistently, 20 pounds frequently, and exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally.
• Work effectively when exposed to workplace stressors, such as emotional and/or confrontational individuals.
• Regularly follow sequential processes, including long and/or complex processes.
• Learn, recall, and apply specialized information.
• Regularly work effectively in the presence of visual, auditory, or other distractions.
• Effectively perform frequent task-swapping and work with frequent interruptions.

• Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, copy machine, etc.)

• Occasional travel may be required, and is typically local or regional, to meet with clients, conduct business, or attend training.