Utilities Permitting Technician

Full-Time Benefits: Health, vision, dental, and life insurance; annual and sick leave; paid holidays; pension and tax-deferred compensation (457) plans; and more.

The employee in this class of work is responsible for 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. Work is performed under general supervision with assistance available from higher level technical/professional personnel in dealing with problems and technically demanding questions, and is reviewed through observation and spot checking of documents processed.

Serves as permitting liaison between the Water Department, the  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 on projects requiring additional money or documents; removes  utility holds from building permits.

Provides atlas and as-built information to assist customers, engineers, and developers on the methods and improvements needed to provide utility service to proposed projects.

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 to customers; 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 one (1) year of administrative or technical experience (drafting, surveying, plans review or other construction technology) to include permit processing and support; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Possession of a valid drivers license may be required.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.

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