Lead Utilities Permitting Technician

The employee in this class of work is responsible for acting in a lead capacity and performing tasks of more than average difficulty in:  providing the first level of support for all customers (telephone, e-mail, and walk-ins) on how to apply and permit utility service request applications; complex records keeping; administrative and financial activities; and, related support duties.  The exercise of reasonable initiative and independent judgment is required in the interpretation of permitting requirements and regulations.  Because public contact is an integral part of the job, considerable tact and courtesy are required.  Under general supervision, the employee may serve as the second level contact for escalated problems requiring assistance from a higher level technical/professional in dealing with problems and technically demanding questions.  Work is reviewed while in progress and upon completion through observation documents and reports submitted, and results obtained.

Acts as lead worker and assists in the review, evaluation and delegation of subordinate work assignments. 

Determines resources needed for projects and ensures responses are returned to requests.

Serves as permitting liaison between the Water Department, Wastewater Department, the Construction Services Division, the Contract Administration Department, the Hillsborough County Health Department, and the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission; receives and processes utility service applications for all residential and commercial projects in order to establish utility service for the project, collect related fees and release building permits.

Discusses with and provides advice to customers (telephone, e-mail, and walk-ins) on how to apply for and permit utility service request applications; receives applications and plumbing plans, collects fees and prepares receipts for customers, creates file for each service request application; researches and assembles information needed for department engineers to determine methods and improvements needed to provide utility service to new commercial projects and subdivisions.

Reviews and approves applications and plumbing plans for the interior remodel and finish projects; researches and approves other documents for permitting requirements – State of Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants On-site Sewage Evaluation and Seating Change Evaluation, City of Tampa demolition permits, and Verification of Availability of Infrastructure application; writes commitment letters and reviews those prepared by others, forwards for engineer’s signature as needed; copies, scans and mails to appropriate personnel.

Places and removes conditions on building permits requiring additional money or documents; removes utility holds from building permits. Provides atlas and as-built information to assists customers, engineers, and developers on the methods and improvements needed to provide utility service to proposed projects.

Works with Design Division to prepare and mail FDEP or Hillsborough County Health Department applications for department’s in-house projects; discusses general requirements for submitting and permitting FDEP or Hillsborough County Health Department applications with commercial engineer-of-record; verifies accuracy of data and approves to form the separate applications being submitted by the engineer-of-record on commercial development projects; provides and enters information for the City of Tampa portion of the application; once construction or as-built approval has been granted, obtains signature from Chief Engineer, copies and mails to engineer-of-record.

Updates and maintains the City’s permitting tracking system used to track developer projects and records information on these projects which is used for developing and updating statistics used for permit compliance and regulatory issues. Updates and maintains service requests files; closes files out, sends files to archives and maintains archive file list; is responsible for retrieving and replacing various service request files that are needed for research.

Creates utility accounts in the City’s utility management system. Issues service orders for simple utility service installation; updates the City’s utility management system with the new or updated utility asset information.

Performs various support duties as needed such as receiving plans and as-builts and serving as receptionist.

Performs related work as required.

Considerable knowledge of:  standard office practices and procedures; Microsoft Office applications.   

Working knowledge of:  utility construction permitting; municipal rules, regulations and ordinances relating to utility service.   

Some knowledge of:  basic building and utilities construction; state regulations relating to utility services. 

Ability to:  read and interpret plans and applications and provide guidance and direction to customers and employees; perform basic mathematical calculations with accuracy; read and comprehend codes and requirements; complete forms and other documents; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, developers, engineers, and the public.

Graduation from an accredited high school and three (3) years in administrative or technical experience (drafting, surveying, plans review or other construction technology) to include permit processing and support, including 6 (six) months lead or supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Possession of a valid drivers license be required.

Evaluation of education and experience.

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