Permit Coordinator

Join the City of Des Moines as our next Permit Coordinator!

To Apply

Complete the online application at https://desmoineswa.applicantpro.com/jobs/ and attach a resume and cover letter explaining how you meet the requirements.

Are you detail-oriented, community-focused, and ready to make an impact? The City of Des Moines is looking for a skilled Permit Coordinator to lead the charge in ensuring efficient and accurate processing of building, land use, and development permits. In this high-visibility role, you'll collaborate across departments, support community development projects, and help drive strategic initiatives through effective permitting and grant coordination.

We're seeking a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is well-versed in permit processes, and brings strong communication, organizational, and customer service skills. If you're ready to play a key role in helping our community grow-and want to do so in a supportive and mission-driven workplace-we'd love to hear from you.

Why Des Moines?

You'll join a city that values transparency, innovation, and service. We offer meaningful work, a collaborative team environment, and the chance to shape the future of our growing city. This position is eligible for 40 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick leave front-loaded on day one-so you'll have the flexibility and support you need right from the start.

Nature of Work

Under the general supervision of the Building Official, the Permit Coordinator coordinates community development projects to assure that permits for planning and building are properly applied for and issued in a timely manner with appropriate fees charged. Is responsible for accepting, reviewing, routing and issuing permit applications for building, land use and development applications. Provides customer service and information in specialized areas. Works with continual public and interdepartmental contact. Is responsible for the proper application and issuance of permits and compliance with City practices. Independently performs regular recurring complex work according to established procedures. Coordinates the permit process to assure that related permit applications are processed in a timely manner.

Essential Functions

• Provide research, analysis, planning, and coordination for grant-related programs, serving as a subject matter expert and advisor to key staff, and representing the City in strategic funding requests.
• Oversee or assist in managing grant applications, submissions, and compliance across departments, ensuring alignment with organizational requirements and coordinating with the Finance department for accurate accounting and financial reporting.
• Develop and maintain a centralized grants database to track applications, awards, and timelines, ensuring integration with the enterprise system for financial tracking and reporting.
• Support post-award implementation and oversight of funded projects, tracking outcomes, financial reporting, and fostering strategic partnerships with public agencies, community partners, and City departments.
• Provide grant management support to City departments, including post-award tracking, compliance, recordkeeping, and assisting with identifying grant funding opportunities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive process for pursuing grants, including internal needs assessments, proposal coordination, and approval workflows with finance, department heads, and executive leadership.
• Review new grant award contracts in to ensure legal review, management approval, and staff awareness of contract requirements, deliverables, and conditions.
• Assists with the preparation of Requests for Proposals (RFP), including developing criteria, standards, and rating guides, and supports decision-makers in selecting contractors, subcontractors, or consultants.
• Coordinates the administration of professional services agreements to ensure legal review, management approval, financial oversight, and accurate recordkeeping.
• Supports departments by identifying purchasing requirements, advising on products and vendors, and assisting with technical and contractual specifications, ensuring compliance with City policies and procedures, purchasing regulations/administrative codes, and applicable laws.
• Present information on grants and funding sources to City departments, elected officials, grant agencies, and community organizations.
• Represent the City in meetings regarding funding sources and program services.
• Maintain and update the City's grant web pages in collaboration with the Communication and IT department.
• Coordinate with department staff to ensure grant compliance, timely reporting, and accurate recordkeeping for auditing and fund disbursement.
• Cultivate strategic community partnerships to support future grant opportunities.
• Evaluate and implement strategies to achieve measurable progress toward the City Council's goals.
• Serve as a technical resource for departments on administrative and programmatic regulations, ensuring project success and compliance.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative, effective working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, and the general public using principles of good customer service.
• Reports for scheduled work with regular, reliable and punctual attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to being assigned to work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, equalize peak work periods, or balance the workload.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, and codes related to the permit process and building requirements.
• Operations of the Development Services and Building Division and other City departments as related to the permitting process.
• Operation of related software applications, including Permit Trax.
• Plan review procedures of appropriate departments.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Record-keeping techniques.
• Technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Telephone techniques and etiquette.
• Oversee the routing process for the review, approval, and compliance of building permits.
• Coordinate and track building-related permits.
• Provide information to the public regarding permit requirements.
• Issue a variety of building-related permits for the Building Division.
• Provide information to the public regarding permit requirements.
• Read and interpret maps.
• Maintain records, files, and logs.
• Complete work with many interruptions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including explaining detailed information to the public.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Operate a variety of office equipment, including computers and related software, calculator, copy and fax machine, telephone, recording, and transcription equipment.
• Read, interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Work courteously and tactfully with customers and employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree or two years of college coursework required, preferably in Planning, Engineering, Construction Trades, or a related field; bachelor's degree preferred, but not required; and
• Two years' experience in government operations, ideally in community development.
• Or equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Special Requirements

• ICC Permit Technician certification required.
• Attendance at night meetings may be required, and meeting project deadlines may require working more than forty hours per week.
• Possession of and the ability to maintain throughout employment a valid Washington State Driver's License with a good driving record.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment background and criminal history check.
• Because of the known effects of tobacco use, the City of Des Moines does not hire applicants who use tobacco products.

Working Conditions and Physical Abilities

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate various pieces of office equipment. Position requires the ability to travel to a variety of locations, primarily in and around King County.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to speak and to hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Duties are performed primarily indoors both individually and as part of a work team. The work environment is fast-paced and moderately noisy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

• The City of Des Moines is committed to hiring a diverse workforce, and all qualified applicants, including those from all ethnic backgrounds and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
• In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer is obligated to make a reasonable accommodation only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability. In general, it is the responsibility of the applicant or employee with a disability to inform the employer that accommodation is needed to participate in the application process, perform essential job functions, or receive equal benefits and employment privileges.