Zoning Specialist

The mission of the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department is to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations by promoting protection of natural resources and facilitating the development of safe, sustainable and resilient communities.

PDS seeks employees who are self-managing high performers, accountable for their actions, and dedicated to providing superior customer service. Ideal candidates are excited about change and learning, are innovative, organized, exceptionally customer-service oriented, and have a passion for public service.

This job posting will be used to fill one or possibly two open Zoning Specialist positions.

PDS is seeking a highly motivated, self-directed, solution-oriented individual to be a Zoning Specialist within the Permitting Division of PDS. This position will be part of a team involved in permit application intake and processing; technical review and coordinating a team of technical reviewers for a variety of ministerial permit applications; customer service including assisting residents and interested parties in person, by phone or email; and providing information related to permit processes and regulatory requirements.

A successful candidate will have a strong knowledge of the following: federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to land use planning and permitting; principles and practices of planning and organization; and principles of workplace and process design/redesign. Candidate will be expected to provide excellent customer service; work well across a group of teams; train others; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and participate in continuous improvement practices.

Not sure you meet the minimum qualifications? Apply and let us decide. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage everyone to apply.

Benefits

Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, pension opportunities, and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).

• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county's contribution to this benefit is significant.

• Flexible work schedules for some positions.

• Career development training.

• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.

• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.

• Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.

• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including medical and dental, vision, life insurance, Long Term Disability, deferred compensation and more.

• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.

• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.

• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.

Teleworking Options:

After a successful onboarding and training period the work associated with the position can, at present, be performed by a combination of teleworking and onsite work.  Duties of this position include assisting the public and customers in person at the customer service counter, and staff in this work unit provide in-office coverage on a rotating basis.  Snohomish County has implemented a pilot telework policy. It is anticipated there will be long-term hybrid telework options for many positions including this one. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop, and if approved for teleworking must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

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

About Snohomish County

Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose - video

BASIC FUNCTION

To receive, review, and coordinate technical submittals and permit applications for residential construction projects; reviews applications for zoning compliance; provide assistance to customers regarding interpretation of land use and zoning codes; assists customers to resolve permit processing problems and conflicts as they arise.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Accepts residential permit applications. Reviews for completeness and zoning compliance; Determines requirements for additional reviews and coordinates with internal and external agencies.  Authorizes permit issuance when all conditions met and reviews complete.

• Provides information and guidance regarding zoning, land use, right of way use, development and building issues; explains a variety of permit, land development and construction plan review processes.

• Advises customers of zoning requirements; explains uses permitted outright within each zone and those allowed conditionally, temporarily or administratively; performs initial assessment of environmentally sensitive areas and explains the SEPA and Critical Areas Regulation.

• Advises applicants of permit, site or construction plan requirements, and application procedures; reviews a variety of residential permit applications or construction plans to determine if the application/plans contain the required information for submittal; calculates fees.

• Coordinates all residential permit review requirements; tracks the progress of applications to ensure timely completion.

• Meets with applicants/consultants to discuss application submittal requirements; reviews submittal materials; receives, forwards and responds to applicant questions; prepares a coordinated list of application requirements for the applicants.

• Advises management and other appropriate PDS staff members of potential problems and procedures requiring change; recommends new or revised policies and procedures as needed.

• Ensures the completion of the permit/project review process by tracking deadlines through weekly tracking reports; coordinates data entry, application status report preparation, and data needs assessment for the tracking, processing, approving and issuing of permits or projects; designs, creates and produces special reports that track work loads, time frames, projects and permits.

• Acts as a procedural and technical resource of the permit review process, current code requirements, recent code changes, and computer tracking/reporting methods for the technical department, other county/agency staff, and private consultants.

• Develops and revises procedures, application materials and handouts as appropriate relating to the permit process; recommends policy changes as appropriate.

• Researches and responds to complex technical project questions and project development issues related to Snohomish County codes, plans, policies and administrative determinations of PDS and other departments.

• Attend professional seminars, training and meetings as required.

• May perform all the duties of Sr. Permit Technician in addition to related duties as required.

A degree in urban planning or geography; OR, five (5) years land development experience or related field; OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides for the required knowledge and abilities.  Must pass all job related tests.  KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• work related codes, ordinances, resolutions, legal opinions, guidelines and regulations governing the permit application process

• departmental policies and procedures

• Growth Management Act

• Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan

Ability to:

• read, interpret and apply work related laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, technical data and related materials
• read and interpret legal descriptions
• read and interpret a variety of maps, charts, drawings and blueprints
• identify and resolve work related problems and conflicts
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with management staff, associates, subordinates and the general public
• work effectively under stress and to meet deadlines as required
• work independently with minimal supervision

SUPERVISION

Employee works semi - independently and receives direction from a supervisor as assigned. The work is reviewed through meetings and periodic status reports and by evaluation of results obtained.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The majority of work is performed in the usual office environment.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

EEO policy and ADA notice