Senior Permit Technician

Ready to take your career to the next level? We're looking for an experienced Senior Permit Technician to join the City of Chaska. If you're a detail-oriented problem solver with a passion for customer service and team leadership, we want you on our team!

The Senior Permit Technician administers the permit process and provides administrative support to the Community Development Department, serves as system administrator for the building permitting software, and provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers. The Senior Permit Technician will also provide work direction for the Permit Technician.

1. Coordinates and manages schedules for the Building Inspection Department.
2. Coordinates and provides work direction to the Permit Technician.
3. Coordinates and manages the permit intake process through mail, phone, email and walk-in requests. Executes the completion of permit applications and ensures all supporting documents are complete. Maintains and enters all permits into the permitting software. Sends invoices for permits. Works directly with contractors, builders, and homeowners to process and issue minor class and/or non-reviewed building permits.
4. Oversees the permitting software SmartGov and serves as main point-of-contact for employees using it. Administers, updates, and trains new employees on its use. Makes changes to the software and troubleshoots problems with SmartGov support as needed.
5. Provides customer service as the first point of contact for walk-in customers at the Building Inspections front desk. Responds to residents, businesses and contractor’s inquiries by phone, email and in-person.
6. Performs various administrative duties such as creating monthly reports for submission to F.W. Dodge & US Commerce, creating and printing Certificate of Occupancy and escrow forms, issuing certain correspondence, initiating refund payment processes, assisting with year-end reports, and other similar activities. Prepares the monthly permit surcharge & SAC report for payment to the State and the Metropolitan Council.
7. Coordinates and manages monthly Public Hearing notices for Planning Commission and Heritage Preservation Commission to ensure compliance with State statute and City ordinances. Drafts the notice language for submission and publication in the newspaper, drafts and prepares postcards for mailings to neighbors, ensures publication in the officially designated newspaper per state statue.
8. Oversees the organization and maintenance of Planning Commission case files. Processes and files City Council and Planning Commission meeting minutes to ensure completeness of their corresponding case files.
9. Prepares City Council, Planning Commission and Heritage Preservation meeting agendas, packets, and proposed ordinance changes within the electronic system.
10. Assists the public with routine concerns including general City ordinances, zoning requirements, costs, and property information. Routes other inquiries and concerns to appropriate individuals within the Planning and Zoning Department for resolution.
11. Ensures Building and Community Development Department pages of the City’s website are updated, including monthly updates to the Development Hub webpage and corresponding GIS webmap to reflect current site plan applications. Adds new property addresses to the City’s GIS system; updates and notifies relevant parties of new addresses.
12. Coordinates with Carver County Assessor’s office on Monthly & Annual Building activity.
13. Coordinates, publishes and distributes the Monthly Lot availability report.
14. Performs all other related duties as requested or assigned.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. and five years of relevant administrative or office experience required; or postsecondary degree in communications, public administration, buildings and trades, or related field and three years of relevant administrative or office experience.
• Minimum two years of experience with permitting or other database software.
• Experience in a municipality is preferred.

• Ability to become proficient with the City’s permitting software at a system administrator level
• Professional and appropriate customer service when interacting with the public
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (including Excel spreadsheets)
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and complete complex projects
• Possession of, or ability to obtain a state permit technician certification preferred
• Ability to speak a language in addition to English, in particular Spanish preferred

Equipment Used

• Computer, office machines

• Significant attention to detail
• Responding to the public in answering questions and explaining processes
• Ability to multitask and prioritize competing priorities and project needs

• Sitting/standing at computer for extended periods of time
• Varying and some prolonged periods of bending, stooping, reaching
• Lifting office supplies such as printer paper, large files, and basic office equipment and supplies

• Office environment
• Team environment