Community Development Technician - Senior

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.

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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 the more complex research related to the permitting process, land development issues, and County requirements and regulations; and to provide information and explanation to the public by telephone and at the public counter regarding permitting requirements and processes and County requirements and regulations.

This is the third working level class in the Community Development Technician series.  Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing lead duties, performing the more complex planning, engineering and surveying and/or building functions, or by performing duties that demonstrate competencies in multiple specialized areas of the permitting process.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series which may include technical and functional supervision of technical and clerical personnel. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to the assigned area of responsibility and have technical knowledge of planning and building related codes and terminology or multiple specialized areas of permitting process.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• 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.
• Accepts and processes a variety of applications and reviews for completeness and compliance with land use standards and regulations; makes mathematical calculations related to permit and associated fees; accepts fees and issues receipts for permits; balances and prepares daily deposit of fees collected.
• Performs the more complex site plan review in support of the planning and/or building function; serves as a technical resource to lower level staff and the public in the interpretation and application of permit guidelines.
• Performs the more complex research involving parcel and permit history.
• Accepts, logs, and reviews commercial and residential plans and associated documents for plan checking; processes, prepares, and issues permits.
• Assists in developing and revising policies and procedures related to the permit process.
• Works on special projects as assigned.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Interacts with other County departments and/or outside agencies as needed.
• Prepares correspondence and notifications providing and requesting information from customers related to application materials and permit. May serve as backup to Community Development Supervisor in his/her absence.
• May train and lead lower level technical and/or clerical staff in technical and procedural aspects of land use regulations, in local and State land use and development requirements, and in Agency and Departmental policies and procedures; may exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and/or clerical staff.
• May serve as liaison between the Agency and the public, providing information regarding the entire permit process, requirements, and regulations. 
• May serve as technical advisor to less experienced Community Development Technicians.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Experience: Two years of responsible journey level experience comparable to an Associate Community Development Technician with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to 60 semester units of college coursework in drafting, principles of real estate, planning, construction, geometry, trigonometry, physics, geography, hydrology, economics, demography or related field is highly desirable.

Note: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department. Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of: 

• Local ordinances and State statues relative to land use, land development, and permitting process.
• Advanced principles and practices of customer service and public contact.
• Clear, effective, and correct use of oral and written English including spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Policies and procedures related to land development, permit process, zone changes and variances, use permits, occupancy requirements, code enforcement, and related County requirements and regulations.
• Advanced operation of varied office equipment, including computers and associated word processing, spreadsheet, and specialized applications.
• Technical resource materials and information sources applicable to land development related activities.
• Agency and department specific software systems.
• Principles and practices of research.
• Arithmetic and mathematical calculations.
• Principles of technical and functional supervision.
• Letter composition.
• Methods of filing and tracking information.

Ability to: 

• On a continuous basis, sit at 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. 
• Read and interpret a variety of plans, maps, drawing, construction documents and specifications.
• 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 complex 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.
• Train, assign, and review the work of technical and/or clerical staff.
• Assume a lead role to less experienced staff and work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Use independent judgment to resolve a variety of issues.
• Compile, analyze, and evaluate a variety of technical information related to the land use function.
• Effectively use automated permit systems.

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.

Pre-Hire Requirements

Candidates must complete the following requirements before their start date if an offer is extended:

• DOJ Criminal Background Clearance: Successfully complete a fingerprint-based background check through the California Department of Justice.
• Medical Evaluation: Pass a pre-employment physical, which may include drug screening and/or a psychological evaluation.
• Oath of Office: Subscribe to the constitutional oath or affirmation as required for all public employees by the California Constitution.
• Employment Eligibility Verification: Provide original documents that establish both identity and the legal right to work in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Position-Specific Requirements

In addition to the above, some positions may require one or more of the following:

• Age Verification: Provide documentation verifying that you meet the minimum legal age requirements for this position.
• Background Check: Some positions require a background investigation. This may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, polygraph, and/or proof of bonding.
• Law Enforcement: Applicants for law enforcement functions must complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process.
• Medi-Cal Access/Licensing: Applicants 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 all 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.

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful 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 the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, 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, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. 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.