Permit Technician - Environmental Health Services

Join our team! The Environmental Health Services Division of Seattle & King County Public Health is seeking to select a career service Permit Technician. Qualified candidates will have excellent customer service and technical skills to support and perform a variety of duties focused on serving the public to help us meet our mission. The Permit Technician works as part of a team to collect and process permits, conduct in-take for plan review, letters, and site applications, and perform customer service-related duties.

The Environmental Health Services Division takes over $6 million in revenue annually from processing over 13,000 permits for food establishments, pools/spas, meat cutters, solid waste services, pet business, and on-site septic and plumbing and gas piping services. The successful candidates in this position will be extremely motivated to provide excellent customer services in a fast-paced environment and independently prioritize work while working as a member of a team. This position will report to the Program Supervisors for our Downtown/Chinook-based Permit Technician team within the Environmental Health operations section.

Through the work of over 190 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) promotes healthy and equitable environmental conditions and prevents disease through sanitation, safe food, air, and water (drinking, surface, and recreational), and reduction of exposure to hazardous materials. In addition to permitting and inspecting public pools, spas, pet businesses, plumbing installations, on-site septic systems, and solid waste facilities, the Division also works in partnership with community to address unhealthy environmental conditions and leads the department’s climate change efforts. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender or economic status. The Division’s core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve. To learn more about EHS, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months. 

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Typical work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. In-office 5 days a week while on probation. Alternate schedule may be available with supervisor approval. This position is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

Work Location

The primary location for this position will be based at the Chinook Building located at 401 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

As an Environmental Health Permit Technician, you will:

• Process permit renewals, and provide application in-take for permits, re-inspection, plan review and other billings. May involve scanning a high volume of permits using a barcode scanner or manual data entry into database (currently EnvisionConnect).
• Process change of ownership applications.
• Answer incoming calls, that may include, intaking of complaints, permit adjustments, payment intake and triaging calls.
• Read and interpret maps and legal descriptions.
• Assure permits are issued to the correct parcel number & address.
• Accept applications and calculate correct fees for various Environmental Health applications.
• Process billings and refunds, and route requests appropriately.
• Provide internal and external customer service; may include providing specialized and/or technical information that requires moderate interpretation of established codes, policies, regulations, procedures, and guidelines by email, phone and in person.
• Process letters and public disclosures requests.
• Set up and monitor status of applications, coordinated with program staff to avoid backlogs and ensure applications are processed and followed-up on in a timely manner.
• Monitor accounts for payment and coordinate collection process for unpaid accounts.
• Compile data that may require information searches through files, including spreadsheets and/or customized database applications including financial research questions.
• Prepare daily cash worksheet and daily reconciliations.
• Run existing ad hoc reports using EnvisionConnect and Excel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to communicate with customers using discretion, patience, etiquette, and professionalism.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions; adjust to changes in workload demands; and research, gather and compile technical information from a variety of sources.
• Strong organization, problem solving and researching skills.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including MS Office application such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Skill in maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Strong math and analytical skills.
• Skill in the use of automated financial and management information systems, word processors, spreadsheets, database, and similar software applications.
• Excellent time management and priority setting skills; able to handle multiple tasks with accuracy.
• Skill in tracking and following through on assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new computer applications.
• Knowledge and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to positively contribute in a team environment; actively listens to others and builds trust and confidence.
• Demonstrated reliability.
• Skill in teamwork and collaboration.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired): 

• Experience using EnvisionConnect and/or Tyler.
• Accounts receivable experience.
• Demonstrated experience with complex reconciliations.
• Bilingual in Spanish.
• Experience applying equity and social justice principles to work approach and implementation.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all eligible applicants.

Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Union Membership

This position is represented by PROTEC 17 labor union.

Contact

For questions about this recruitment, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov.

Salary : $6